Salvaging, and Cherishing, the Elements of a Discarded Building

The old Hillel building at the University of Pennsylvania was demolished recently, but Hillel officials kept the cornerstone and the dedication stone — and the community took home some other items as well.

A story in The Daily Pennsylvanian says that Penn hired Second Chance, an architectural-salvage company, to go through the building and take out items that could be reinstalled in new or renovated construction. Railings, moldings, mantels, doors, windows, tubs, sinks, and other antique and decorative items are typically removed. This careful deconstruction process, sometimes called “unbuilding,” strives to recycle valuable materials. (The current issue of This Old House, which is devoted to green issues, has an article about unbuilding, and a book about the process has just come out.)

As for the cornerstone and dedication stone, Penn’s Hillel may find some way to display them in its new building.