Photo: Courtesy Komorous-Towey Architects

Stopwaste.org is a nonprofit whose mission is to reduce the waste stream of Alameda County, California. So it was natural for them to push the limits of reuse and green design. When it came time to find a new home, the organization decided to rehabilitate a dilapidated building in downtown Oakland. Despite the need for significant mechanical and interior modifications, the project team was committed to reusing as much of the original building as possible.

The team was able to reuse 95% of the building’s structure.  Additionally, materials found on and off site were repurposed. For instance, the decorative exterior metal panels on the façade were found by the architect at a local salvage yard. The panels were modified to fit between the existing windows, enlivening the street-facing facade. Other applications of reused materials include furniture from Stopwaste.org’s previous offices, countertops made of granite off-cuts, old exterior windows relocated to the interior to provide “borrowed light” for a conference room, relocated steel beams, and more. Through dynamic collaboration, the project team successfully negotiated the challenges of reclaimed materials. The project exceeded the 10% threshold for material reuse, earning LEED credits MR 3.1 and 3.2 as well as certification as the first LEED-NC v. 2.2 Platinum renovation in the nation.

Reclaimed Materials (by application): Concrete/Masonry, Doors and Windows, Furnishings, Metals

Key Info
Location: Oakland, CA
Date of Completion: 2007
Architect: Komorous-Towey Architects
Client: Alameda County Waste Management
Contractor: BBI Construction

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Project Case Study