Creating Treasure From Trash
Sawdust blows into the air as carpenters cut plywood, creating an office out of what could have been trash. Architect Julia Mollner is on hand while she works with Portland nonprofits such as HBF to create new structures out of “mock-ups”. These are two sided structures developers build to test out proposed construction details such as siding or roofing. “Generally, the response to requesting materials is really great. Architects, contractors, and developers appreciate the idea. People like diverting materials and helping the community. “
Mollner was inspired to make use of mock-ups while volunteering for one of HBF’s shelter building projects, Kenton Women’s Village. She later created a non-profit “The Useful Waste Initiative” to encourage businesses to donate mockups for reuse. So far, the Useful Waste Initiative has donated 10 mockups and other extra building material from construction sites and HBF supporters, including windows, doors, insulation, and even a 4x8-ft roof mockup to test how to install a solar panel attachment.
For example, Portland State University’s Vanport Building in downtown Portland at 4th and Montgomery spawned what HBF now calls the “Seahawk Pod “. HBF arranged for the pod to be craned into place at the Clackamas Veterans Village. The black ribbed metal siding of the downtown building was painted dark blue with a neon green door for the pod, which is now the therapist’s office at the Village. Social Worker Desiree Catalano tells us “It is so nice to have my own private space for talking with the clients. It is so important for my work."
HBF has installed three of Useful Waste Initiative’s mock-up pods to the Veterans Village, one donated by Andersen Construction, and two from LMC Construction. Chris McDowell, HBF program manager explains “Julia identifies the pods available and lets me know in case we can use them. I coordinate the placement of them and getting them hooked up to utilities for all of them.” McDowell also has found volunteers and secured HBF funding to help the mock-ups become shelter beds.
The idea that these mockups would have been thrown out is more surprising when you learn how much they can cost. Mollner estimates building a mockup can range from $10,000 to $100,000. Repurposing the mock-ups diverts materials from landfills, increases sustainability goals for projects, reduces carbon impact, and allows builders to receive tax benefits. If contractors finish the pods to make four walls and a roof, Mollner says she can complete the structures for a few thousand dollars. HBF’s McDowell adds “Our local construction companies have resources and often excess materials on job sites to build these small shelters. We should encourage others with a similar position to come up with innovative solutions like the mockup pods to help in the housing crisis. “
We watched Mollner and her crew on a Saturday in East Multnomah County as they finished the interior of two mock-up pods for the nonprofit “Play Grow Learn”. The pods will serve as storage and offices for a community garden. Managing her nonprofit, coordinating with nonprofits such as HBF, and juggling a full- time job is admittedly challenging. We asked Mollner, what motivates you to take on these projects? She explains, sustainability is important to her, but so is providing people a warm place to sleep. “Everyone deserves a home.”
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