Clunkers for Steel at Stonehill

Using recycled materials on campus construction projects is an aspect of building green that doesn't seem to get as much attention as more visible, cutting-edge features and systems. Taking a "clunkers for steel" approach, Stonehill College (Mass.) got 95 percent of the structural steel framing for its new $34 million science center from recycled old cars. (And for that more visible "we take recycling seriously" piece, the building's carpets and countertops are comprised of 40 percent recycled materials.)

The facility, with nearly 90,000 square feet, houses the departments of biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology and includes labs, classrooms, and faculty offices.

Read more about the sustainable features of the building here.

The online version of a March 2009 University Business article on adaptive reuse of buildings included some additional examples of re-using materials for building projects. That article can be viewed here.