
Second Life for Stanford’s Signature Tiles
What would have been demolition debris turns into design assets that preserve Stanford’s iconic architecture and divert 141 tons of clay tiles from landfill.
Lessons learned from the Frederick E. Terman Engineering Center’s construction methodology, operational history, and eventual demolition inform sustainable construction, operation, and demolition practices. The life-cycle approach to sustainable building ensures the Terman Engineering Center continues to add value to Stanford’s campus today.
Completed in 1978, the Terman Engineering Center, iconic former home to the School of Engineering, incorporated innovative sustainability features, including operable windows to facilitate passive ventilation and timber structural members sourced locally. Both natural ventilation and sustainable material sourcing are now common practice in Stanford’s new high-performance buildings.
The Terman Building demolition project diverted 99.6 percent of all building materials and components from the landfill.
Conscientious demolition reflects Stanford’s commitment to sustainability and responsible management through the end of a building’s life. The Terman Building demolition project diverted 99.6 percent of all building materials and components from the landfill. Material unfit for salvage was recycled, with preference given to onsite recycling where feasible.
For example, concrete from the Terman Building was pulverized into compactable rock and used to infill portions of the basement to stabilize the structure during demolition and the subsequent park construction. This strategy reduced the need to truck in soil to serve the same purpose and therefore decreased the carbon footprint of the project as a whole. Where soil was required for rough grading above the pulverized concrete, it was obtained from excavation spoils associated with concurrent campus projects.
Stanford used a balanced approach to evaluate material salvage opportunities, weighing the feasibility of reusing building elements against the recovery cost, schedule, and other impacts on the surrounding community. Input from the university community, including faculty and staff and the project’s contractors and consultants, guided the selection process.
Salvaged elements of the former structure can be found integrated into other buildings across campus:
The Department of Project Management, working with Sustainable Stanford, found a new home or use for just about everything from the generator to the fire alarm equipment.
Sustainable demolition efforts like these have helped increase the university’s landfill diversion rate.
What would have been demolition debris turns into design assets that preserve Stanford’s iconic architecture and divert 141 tons of clay tiles from landfill.
Stanford designs, constructs, and operates beautiful, high-performing sustainable buildings. Explore our sustainable building portfolio.
Stanford’s commitment to sustainable design is evident in every corner of its campus.