ABSTRACT
The paper presents a comparative environmental and economic analysis of several steel structures, starting from an optimal design case considering a new steel structure made with new materials, along with further design possibilities of the same steel building made using reclaimed elements. The analysis is based on a single-storey industrial hall, quantifying the savings achievable by reusing construction materials in a comparative life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment. The paper shows the environmental benefits together with the structural feasibility of a strategy based on the reuse approach in construction. The results show that the greatest gain is achieved in the production stage when the reuse approach is adopted rather than recycling. A 29-35% reduction in emissions is observed when the structure is built with reused steel, while the potential financial benefits are greater.
