(RE)EUSTON Towards Concrete Reuse at Scale
(Re)Euston – Towards Concrete Reuse at Scale represents a ground breaking step toward a truly circular building industry. Developed by GXN, Arup, and British Land, the research explores the structural reuse of disused concrete — the first attempt of its kind in the UK. With concrete responsible for nearly a third of construction waste and immense carbon emissions, the study aims to demonstrate practical ways to retain value and reduce impact.
The team extracted a ribbed concrete slab from the 1970s Euston Tower and collaborated with the University of Surrey to test its structural integrity. The results confirmed that the reused slab could safely serve in a new structural application, such as an office floor, while achieving a carbon saving of over 60% compared to producing a new precast element.
Beyond its technical success, (Re)Euston establishes a scalable roadmap for future projects — from slab extraction to testing and reintegration. It challenges the industry to rethink demolition, replace downcycling with genuine reuse, and design with future material lifecycles in mind. The study not only bridges academic research and practice but also sets a precedent for a low-carbon, resource-efficient construction paradigm that responds to the environmental demands of our time.
