The construction sector is facing increasing pressure to reduce environmental impacts and to adopt the principles of the circular economy. One promising strategy is the reuse of structural steel, as it offers a lower carbon footprint, reduced energy consumption, and less construction waste. Although technically feasible, reuse remains rare in practice, primarily because most buildings are not designed with future disassembly in mind. This thesis is divided into two main parts. The first part provides a theoretical overview of steel reuse, including a review of European standards and technical guidelines, as well as findings from European research projects such as ADVANCE and PROGRESS. The discussion focuses on design for deconstruction (DfD) in new steel structures and outlines key design principles such as modularity, reversible connections, standardisation, and traceable documentation thatfacilitate efficient reuse in future applications. The second part of the thesis presents a case study of a three-storey steel building designed for future reuse. The design follows the principles of standards and technical guidelines for reuse, with particular emphasis on the use of bolts as shear connectors in composite beams. The case study demonstrates how reuse can be encouraged already at the design stage, thereby contributing to the circular economy and promoting a more sustainable approach to construction.
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