Sustainability Series with Corentin Fivet / SXL

The construction sector stands out as a major contributor to Earth's pollution levels. Yet there is a growing trend for buildings to be demolished, even though their components are in excellent condition. The reuse of these components in new construction activities represents a circular strategy offering significant environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and material extraction. While this approach has yet to reach its full industrial potential, it is reshaping designers' workflows and prompting the development of new computational methods and construction processes. After a contextualization of the current state of practice, Prof. Corentin Fivet will discuss recent research outputs from EPFL's Structural Xploration Lab and their potential societal impact, with a focus on the reuse of obsolete timber, steel, and concrete elements in new building structures.