In 2013, Japanese construction company Taisei Corporation developed a building demolition process that’s far more quiet, healthy and environmentally friendly than traditional methods involving wrecking balls or explosives. The disassembly process is called “Ecological Reproduction System" and uses a crane to remove material from the interior of the building. That includes beams, concrete, paneling, etc. In this way, the process is kind of like a reverse assembly line, taking apart the structure bit by bit. Basically, the building disappears floor by floor, and as the material is taken out, the company makes sure that anything reusable is recycled and repurposed. Even the energy generated by lowering the materials to ground level is used to offset overall CO2 emissions. The other added benefit is that because the demolition is being done in an enclosed area, weather doesn’t become a factor, allowing for a more rapid disassembly time, and the dust is also contained. The green demolition process was used to take down Tokyo’s landmark Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka, which can be seen in the video below.
