Circular design in vertical extensions: reclaimed steel in structure
Circular design in vertical extensions: reclaimed steel in structure
Based on the Global Status of Buildings and Construction report, approximately 37% of global CO2 emissions are from materials in building construction. Additionally, with the Government's requirements to achieve Net Zero emissions in the UK by 2050, rapid solutions are required to decrease carbon and CO2 emissions. Moreover, 80% of today’s buildings are expected to be in use by 2050, which shows retrofit strategies are a more sustainable solution. This paper explores the potential of circular design strategies with a focus on reclaimed steel in structural systems by using the Crowndale Centre in London as a live case study. The research explores how parts of the existing structure can be retained for rooftop extension. Preliminary findings suggest that reclaimed materials can substantially reduce embodied emissions, but wider adoption requires overcoming technical barriers and concludes with practical recommendations for integrating reclaimed elements into structural systems, contributing to more circular design strategies.
Ghenaat, Zahra
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Altamirano, Hector
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Brotas, Luisa
44ab859c-b1ab-40a3-aedf-82d4f7624f09
Gauthier, Stephanie
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Nicol, Fergus
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Schiano-Phan, Rosa
5a80d383-3e96-462e-bc0b-4a5127e019c7
15 September 2025
Ghenaat, Zahra
1e61217f-84c9-4ec8-b745-1fc39aa98954
Altamirano, Hector
9c06526d-78ab-451f-9dcd-0211a3d220ed
Brotas, Luisa
44ab859c-b1ab-40a3-aedf-82d4f7624f09
Gauthier, Stephanie
4e7702f7-e1a9-4732-8430-fabbed0f56ed
Nicol, Fergus
55e3b6e4-885d-4aa4-96a8-441ed11e1eaa
Schiano-Phan, Rosa
5a80d383-3e96-462e-bc0b-4a5127e019c7
Ghenaat, Zahra
(2025)
Circular design in vertical extensions: reclaimed steel in structure.
Altamirano, Hector, Brotas, Luisa, Gauthier, Stephanie, Nicol, Fergus and Schiano-Phan, Rosa
(eds.)
14th Masters Conference: People and Buildings, , London, United Kingdom.
15 Sep 2025.
6 pp
.
(doi:10.5258/SOTON/P1252).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Based on the Global Status of Buildings and Construction report, approximately 37% of global CO2 emissions are from materials in building construction. Additionally, with the Government's requirements to achieve Net Zero emissions in the UK by 2050, rapid solutions are required to decrease carbon and CO2 emissions. Moreover, 80% of today’s buildings are expected to be in use by 2050, which shows retrofit strategies are a more sustainable solution. This paper explores the potential of circular design strategies with a focus on reclaimed steel in structural systems by using the Crowndale Centre in London as a live case study. The research explores how parts of the existing structure can be retained for rooftop extension. Preliminary findings suggest that reclaimed materials can substantially reduce embodied emissions, but wider adoption requires overcoming technical barriers and concludes with practical recommendations for integrating reclaimed elements into structural systems, contributing to more circular design strategies.
Text
MC2025KT2001_Zahra Ghenaat
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Published date: 15 September 2025
Venue - Dates:
14th Masters Conference: People and Buildings, , London, United Kingdom, 2025-09-15 - 2025-09-15
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 505834
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/505834
PURE UUID: 0c336c9b-6bfb-451e-897d-5477801da446
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Date deposited: 21 Oct 2025 16:37
Last modified: 24 Oct 2025 01:47
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Contributors
Author:
Zahra Ghenaat
Editor:
Hector Altamirano
Editor:
Luisa Brotas
Editor:
Fergus Nicol
Editor:
Rosa Schiano-Phan
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