Environmental impacts of building demolition waste research paper wins Telford Premium Prize

Date: Monday, August 18, 2025

A Wrexham University academic’s research paper on reducing the environmental impacts associated with building demolition waste for a leading supermarket has been awarded the prestigious Telford Premium Prize by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE).

Dr. Augustine Blay-Armah, Lecturer in Quantity Surveying within Built Environment at the University, was recognised for his paper, which he co-authored with colleagues, titled, ‘A life cycle assessment of building demolition waste’, published in the ICE journal Waste and Resource Management.  

The paper received a Telford Premium Prize, awarded to recognise key papers, which are judged to be of outstanding quality and make a significant contribution to the civil engineering community.

The research study proposed a mathematical model to assess the life cycle of carbon dioxide emissions from the end-of-life perspective of a supermarket building. The model was illustrated by a case study of three approved building construction systems by the supermarket firm to identify the construction system with the fewest carbon dioxide emissions.

Dr Blay-Armah’s contribution focussed on the end-of-life of a supermarket building, while other colleagues focused on the construction phase and the operational ‘in use’ phase of the building. The academics set out to identify the best method for a reduction in carbon emissions.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been awarded the Telford Premium Prize 2025 by the Institute of Civil Engineers for our paper, which examined the environmental challenges of managing building demolition waste and proposed innovative strategies to reduce carbon emissions.

“To add another dimension to this recognition, it was wonderful to attend the ICE celebratory awards ceremony in London to collect the award – and meet and network with colleagues from all around the world, who were at the event.

“I’d also like to mention my colleagues and co-authors of the paper, Professor Ali Bahadori-Jahromi, Dr. Anastasia Mylona and Mark Barthorpe. This award is testament to our research as a collective.”

Photo caption: Professor Jim Hall, current President of the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), presenting Dr. Augustine Blay-Armah, Lecturer in Quantity Surveying, with his award.