Project
Deconstruction Spotlight Series
Contributions
Project Management — Grant Writing & Administration — Stakeholder Engagement
About the Deconstruction Spotlight Series
In 2020, the Office of Historic Preservation received grant funding to conduct in-person community engagement around its deconstruction and salvage policy initiative. Due to the pandemic, the project pivoted to the creation of a suite of four videos that highlighted the unique local reuse ecosystem in San Antonio. The project distilled complex information - landfill tonnage, demolition data, carbon emissions - into engaging, shareable, shortform videos.
Intentionally designed to be evergreen in nature, the videos have been shared more than 50k times on social media with more than 200k total impressions. The deconstruction animation has become a go-to resource for professionals, advocates, and practitioners nationally and internationally seeking to communicate the importance of building material reuse to a wide array of audiences, and has been integrated into university curricula.
Deconstruction Animation
Sometimes called “construction in reverse” or “unbuilding,” deconstruction removes a building through careful disassembly of its parts and pieces to maximize material reuse. Learn all about the benefits of deconstruction - for the environment, for the economy, and for the community - by watching our short animation.
Reuse Workforce
Deconstruction is an employment multiplier and a cornerstone of a just, sustainable workforce. Take a quick look at San Antonio's building materials reuse ecosystem and learn how reuse can be a driver for workforce development.
Featuring:
Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio
Kirt Haeberlein, Pickers Paradise,
Emily Lowry, local salvage contractor
James Cooper, Project Quest
Cultural Heritage
Like an organ donor, an older building may have reached the end of its life, but its parts and pieces can give new life to dozens of other structures. Learn how deconstruction and reuse plays an integral role in not only the preservation quality building materials, but the continuity of our neighborhoods and communities.
Featuring:
Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio
Jim Bailey, AIA, Alamo Architects
Sustainability
Fostering a local circular economy for building materials is a key way to reduce landfill waste. Learn how deconstruction and reuse contributes to goals in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and the development of a healthy community.
Featuring:
Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio
Shanon Miller, Office of Historic Preservation
David McCary, City Manager’s Office / Solid Waste Management Department
Consultant: Animation & Videography
Contributors
Shanon Miller
Dr. Jenny Hay
Cory Edwards
Jessica Anderson
Lauren Sage
Rachel Rettaliata