ReBuilding Center JAPAN upcycles gym floors from Suwa public buildings

Suwa City in Nagano Prefecture has launched a project to rescue and reuse building materials from public facilities scheduled for demolition. B-Corp certified ReBuilding Center JAPAN, a local reclaimed wood specialist, secured the rights to salvage floorboards from the former Johoku Elementary School gymnasium and the Suwa City Budokan, with plans to upcycle them into construction materials and furniture.

The city aims to reduce demolition costs and circulate resources through the project. Traditionally, architectural components from public buildings are discarded regardless of their condition or cultural value. By implementing a bidding system for the sale of these materials, the city transforms disposal costs into revenue while preventing the loss of historical assets.

The Johoku Elementary School gymnasium holds particular cultural significance as a filming location for the 2023 film Monster. The facility has remained a point of interest for local residents and film enthusiasts since its closure. ReBuilding Center JAPAN intends to preserve the memories that resides in the wood by manually removing each floorboard, extracting nails, and cleaning the timber for future use.

The salvaged wood will be repurposed into interior construction materials and furniture. The company also plans to develop original products from these materials to be offered as return gifts for Suwa City’s hometown tax programme.

The rescue operations involve ReBuilding Center JAPAN staff and a group of volunteers known as Rebisenn Supporters. These participants, coming from both within and outside the prefecture, assist in the labour-intensive process of dismantling and nail removal.