January 14, 2008

Expert: Sustainability, emotion main factors in whether to demolish or renovate

Mark Shaurette, a visiting professor of building construction management at Purdue University, says that, unlike a residence, sports arenas become obsolete quickly. This is why there have been a number of new, multimillion-dollar facilities built in the last decade or so.

"What used to be state-of-the art 25 years ago is outdated today," he says. "Sporting events have changed dramatically in that time and require more high-end seating and other amenities.

"The question is, what do you use an old sports arena for? It's hard to add onto these stadiums, and they don't have any other uses. That's why you see so many facilities like the RCA Dome demolished and another facility built in its place."

The RCA Dome, formerly the Hoosier Dome, opened in 1984 and has been the home field for the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts played their last game there on Sunday (Jan. 13), and the demolition of the facility, which will take several months, is expected to begin in the spring. A new home for the Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium, is being constructed south of the current facility and will be completed by the start of the 2008-09 season.

"What often comes into play in the decision whether to renovate or demolish and rebuild are two factors: sustainability and emotion," Shaurette says. "Is there still a practical use for it, and does it hold sentimental value?"

In the case of some sports facilities, such as Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Field, built in 1957, the choice was made to extensively renovate the field in 2003 to modernize it while retaining a retro look.

This also is true for many residences, Shaurette says. Since so much can be renovated in a home, it often makes sense to work with the existing structure instead of starting anew, even if rebuilding would cost less.

"Homeowners can make an older house modern fairly easily by updating the mechanical systems, such as electric and plumbing," he says. "That way, the historic features, such as ornate woodwork that are not found in today's homes, are preserved and the home is brought up to today's standards."

However, Shaurette says in the case of retail buildings, the choice is often made to demolish and rebuild because the space and floor-plan needs of department stores of the past fail to meet the requirements of today's megastores.

"We're seeing many retail buildings constructed in the post-World War II era and designed to last 40 or 50 years have reached the end of their useful life," he says. "Decisions are having to be made on whether to demolish structures if they can't be easily converted for another use."

Shaurette, who since 1988 has owned Meridian Homes Inc., a custom homebuilding business in Indianapolis, teaches courses in the demolition and reconstruction specialization in the Department of Building Construction Management at Purdue. It is believed to be the only such specialization in the country.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Mark Shaurette, (765) 494-6812, mshauret@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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