Architectural salvage : its use and validity within the preservation field

Architectural salvage can be incorporated into historic preservation projects and new construction by following The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Buildings and the US Green Building Council’s LEED standards. Through an inventory of salvageable materials found within 20 abandoned and dilapidated homes throughout Muncie, Indiana and a survey of Midwestern salvage, deconstruction and demolition companies, it is determined that the supply and demand for architectural salvage is growing. Through an analysis of the cultural, economic and material value architectural salvage holds, it was also determined that cities throughout the United States should encourage landfill evasion through the use of deconstruction and architectural salvaging for all demolition projects. Overall, this thesis details where architectural salvage is found, how it is removed from buildings, and what materials are available for use within the preservation and construction fields.