Rex LaMore, Director Center for Community and Economic Development Presented April 22, 2016

1. Advancing the Science of Domicology
Rex LaMore, Ph.D.
Director
Center for Community and Economic Development
domicology.msu.edu

2. Domicology….what is it?
Domicology:
The study of the economic, social and environmental factors relating to the
“life cycle” of structures.
What might Domicologists do?
• Examine the life cycle continuum of building and infrastructure use and
abandonment from planning, design, construction, building use, reuse,
abandonment, demolition/deconstruction and material reuse.
• Identify potential innovative tools, models, policies, practices and programs
that can sustainably address structural life cycles and abandonment.
• Conduct research on the technical, economic and policy challenges present in
structural abandonment and seek to reduce the negative social, economic
and environmental impacts associated with structural abandonment.

3. Nature of the Challenge
Private Sector
Constructs
Property
Private owner
uses/reuses
structure and
eventually
“walks away "
from the
structure
Abandoned
Structure
becomes
blighted and a
threat to public
safety
Public Sector
left with the
burden of
cleanup and
structural
demolition
Tax payers
ultimately bears
the cost of blight
and clean up

4. The Alternative Paradigm
Private Sector
designs and
constructs
structure
anticipating an
end of useful
life and
incorporates
assurance to
fund
deconstruction
Structure is
abandoned
or becomes
obsolete
The
abandoned
structure is
deconstructed
with the funds
from the
financial
assurance
The parcel
is returned
to the
original
state
The
“negative”
affects” of
abandoned
properties are
reduced or
eliminated

5. Domicology: An alternative paradigm for structures

6. 1. Deposit
2. Disposal fee
3. Recycling &
waste
management plan
1. Government
waste recycling
requirement
2. Deconstruction
Policies to finance
end of use
1. Disposal ban
2. Disposal tax
3. Tipping fee
Material
recycling
requirement
Salvage
requirement
1. Percentage recycling
requirement
2. Government recycling
purchasing requirement
Policy Inputs In Domicology:

7. Thank You!
Up Next:
Dr. Matt Syal, MSU Construction Management
Dr. Venkatesh Kodur, MSU Civil Engineering
Dr. George Berghorn, MSU Construction
Management
Dr. Julie Brockman, MSU School of Human Resources and Labor Relations
Resources and Labor Relations
domicology.msu.edu

8. Questions?
domicology.msu.edu