Old Bricks Get a Second Life

As part of The Lovett School's ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, materials salvaged from campus renovation projects are finding new life across Atlanta.

Through a partnership with the Lifecycle Building Center (LBC), bricks and other equipment from Lovett’s Community Center, which was torn down in summer 2026, are being processed and restored for future construction projects. LBC, an Atlanta-based nonprofit focused on material reuse and waste reduction, recently debuted a state-of-the-art brick-cleaning machine designed to efficiently remove old mortar from reclaimed bricks, making them ready for reuse.

The effort reflects a broader philosophy guiding how Lovett approaches its campus. Rather than treating older buildings as simply due for replacement, the school looks first for ways to preserve and adapt what already exists. Gray Kelly, Lovett's Chief Operating Officer, said the idea behind the effort is straightforward. 

"The greenest buildings are the existing buildings," he explained. “A huge amount of energy and material already went into constructing these structures, so keeping them standing cuts down on waste.” He said when the school evaluated the Community Center, every effort was made to find a renovation plan that could maintain the main structure. Where barriers such as stairs, elevators, and mechanical systems ruled out a full renovation, the team instead evaluated ways to capture and reuse as much of the existing infrastructure as possible, extending the building's life and keeping materials out of landfills.

Kelly added that Lovett also looks beyond its own campus to other construction activity happening nearby in Atlanta that can offer cooperative resources and efficiencies. "This is the connection that LBC provides," he said. While Lovett's own salvaged bricks are being reserved for strategic spots on campus, other furniture, fixtures, and equipment from the Community Center, along with systems, kitchen equipment, and lighting, have gone on to serve other Atlanta schools and organizations. "We could not have found all those partners and receivers without community," Kelly said, "nor could they have found us."

That broader community reach is central to LBC's mission. Shannon Goodman, Executive Director of LBC, said Lovett's approach is a model for how institutions can put sustainability into practice. 

"Saving and reusing bricks not only lowers material costs for homeowners, nonprofits, and businesses with limited resources; it also creates jobs, reduces waste, saves energy, and connects members of our community in new ways," Goodman said.

By diverting construction materials from landfills, Lovett is reducing its own environmental footprint while extending that stewardship to the wider Atlanta community, supporting workforce development and access to materials for local nonprofits along the way. It's a model the school expects to keep building on as future campus projects take shape.