--- title: Inspiration --- [Skip to content](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/inspiration#main-content) ![Hand holding model of modern skyscraper with recycle sign on top](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hubfs/Hand%20holding%20model%20of%20modern%20skyscraper%20with%20recycle%20sign%20on%20top.jpg "Hand holding model of modern skyscraper with recycle sign on top") **A recapturit resource** ## The BRICK™ The BRICK™ is a body of resources curated for you to help you get inspired, collaborate, and learn more about reclamation and reuse. BRICK™ stands for Building Resources for Inspiration, Community, and Knowledge.       # Inspiration Get inspired about your next project -- whether you are creating a statement wall in your living space or performing adaptive reuse on a historic building!  - ![farmhouse-style-bathroom-with-rustic-barn-door-4858d97f-b6afd8ef16554820a78ade0506403004](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/farmhouse-style-bathroom-with-rustic-barn-door-4858d97f-b6afd8ef16554820a78ade0506403004.webp?width=750&height=1238&name=farmhouse-style-bathroom-with-rustic-barn-door-4858d97f-b6afd8ef16554820a78ade0506403004.webp) Farmhouse Bathroom with Rustic Wood Door  Photo - Jason Donnelly,  Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![slate-blue-dining-room-antique-features-788af683-3e74f7f99da347a2b86bc79073f3d26c](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/slate-blue-dining-room-antique-features-788af683-3e74f7f99da347a2b86bc79073f3d26c.webp?width=750&height=932&name=slate-blue-dining-room-antique-features-788af683-3e74f7f99da347a2b86bc79073f3d26c.webp) Salvaged Fireplace Mantel Photo - Nathan Kirkman, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit!   - ![eclectic-office-desk-zebra-rug-840e8de6-afdbdf92abf44fe79a908eae1a4c198b](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/eclectic-office-desk-zebra-rug-840e8de6-afdbdf92abf44fe79a908eae1a4c198b.webp?width=750&height=1074&name=eclectic-office-desk-zebra-rug-840e8de6-afdbdf92abf44fe79a908eae1a4c198b.webp) Desk made with Antique Corbels Photo - Michael Partenio, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![wrap-around-porch-dutch-door-dd77743c-ee7b42bc478f48f79669f8ca7e765679](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wrap-around-porch-dutch-door-dd77743c-ee7b42bc478f48f79669f8ca7e765679.webp?width=750&height=500&name=wrap-around-porch-dutch-door-dd77743c-ee7b42bc478f48f79669f8ca7e765679.webp) Salvaged Wooden Theater Seats as Outdoor Seating Photo - Jeff Herr, Better Homes and Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![white-bedroom-antique-headboard-372aa0fb-8f937bc83f8d4a3e844b82e15269a79f](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/white-bedroom-antique-headboard-372aa0fb-8f937bc83f8d4a3e844b82e15269a79f.webp?width=750&height=504&name=white-bedroom-antique-headboard-372aa0fb-8f937bc83f8d4a3e844b82e15269a79f.webp) Headboard made of Wood Doors Photo - Paul Dyer, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![cream-bedroom-blue-pink-accents-8ef3e787-e1e3895d291f444abcacfa9de73892d4](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cream-bedroom-blue-pink-accents-8ef3e787-e1e3895d291f444abcacfa9de73892d4.webp?width=750&height=1000&name=cream-bedroom-blue-pink-accents-8ef3e787-e1e3895d291f444abcacfa9de73892d4.webp) Bedroom Decor - Mantelpiece, Shutters, Wood Trim, Iron Frieze, Lighting Sconce Photo - Laurie Black, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![white-dining-room-blue-accents-table-ee6d7cd1-fb735c30bb2c46dd99aa49e3585cc992](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/white-dining-room-blue-accents-table-ee6d7cd1-fb735c30bb2c46dd99aa49e3585cc992.webp?width=750&height=986&name=white-dining-room-blue-accents-table-ee6d7cd1-fb735c30bb2c46dd99aa49e3585cc992.webp) Table made from Salvaged Wood Photo - Kim Cornelison, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![airy-bedroom-canopy-antique-accents-0f4989bb-cc91931879b84c38bc6cce0384faee6e](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/airy-bedroom-canopy-antique-accents-0f4989bb-cc91931879b84c38bc6cce0384faee6e.webp?width=750&height=611&name=airy-bedroom-canopy-antique-accents-0f4989bb-cc91931879b84c38bc6cce0384faee6e.webp) Salvaged Window used as Frame Photo - Kim Cornelison, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![rustic-antique-doors-white-bedroom-f28398bc-685bcd559d6a40549495bc0df51d3189](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rustic-antique-doors-white-bedroom-f28398bc-685bcd559d6a40549495bc0df51d3189.webp?width=750&height=1125&name=rustic-antique-doors-white-bedroom-f28398bc-685bcd559d6a40549495bc0df51d3189.webp) Salvaged Antique French Double Doors Photo - Michael Portenio, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![dining-room-wooden-shutters-antique-table-432f8dd1-91e84a5681d144b8bed8cd4ca9e15e5f](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dining-room-wooden-shutters-antique-table-432f8dd1-91e84a5681d144b8bed8cd4ca9e15e5f.webp?width=750&height=1000&name=dining-room-wooden-shutters-antique-table-432f8dd1-91e84a5681d144b8bed8cd4ca9e15e5f.webp) Repurposed Vintage Shutters Photo - Laurie Black, Better Homes & Garden Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![neutral-entryway-table-antique-mirror-4851cf94-3effa4e93cdb4e4fa0592f11da30e29b](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/neutral-entryway-table-antique-mirror-4851cf94-3effa4e93cdb4e4fa0592f11da30e29b.webp?width=750&height=1125&name=neutral-entryway-table-antique-mirror-4851cf94-3effa4e93cdb4e4fa0592f11da30e29b.webp) Window Frame with Mirror Panels Photo - John Bessler, Better Homes & Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![four-poster-antique-bed-dressing-table-ef7c6c5f-f36af28b8c1b412fbf426138164722ca](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/four-poster-antique-bed-dressing-table-ef7c6c5f-f36af28b8c1b412fbf426138164722ca.webp?width=750&height=1048&name=four-poster-antique-bed-dressing-table-ef7c6c5f-f36af28b8c1b412fbf426138164722ca.webp) Bed made from Porch Columns, Door, and Reclaimed Wood Elements Photo - Jay Wilde, Better Homes and Gardens Click on Photo to see Similar Items on ReCapturit! - ![saved piece of wood](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/savedpieceofwood.jpg?width=768&height=960&name=savedpieceofwood.jpg) - ![Old House Owner Halloween Costume](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/313169064_871495127178958_2211967216512757532_n.jpg?width=788&height=960&name=313169064_871495127178958_2211967216512757532_n.jpg) - ![Hardwood floors](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/facebook_1653720271589_6936205550008064055.jpg?width=750&height=799&name=facebook_1653720271589_6936205550008064055.jpg) - ![Sweet-Auburn-before-and-after](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Sweet-Auburn-before-and-after.webp?width=768&height=1106&name=Sweet-Auburn-before-and-after.webp) Before & After ~ Sweet Auburn, Natchez, MS Built in 1884 The before photo shown here is from the 1970s when the current owners bought the property. Over time, they fully restored the house, including reconstructing its missing elements based on 19th-century photographic documentation. Yourhistorichouse.com --- ## Spotlight on Reclamation We love shining light on special projects using recaptured and reclaimed materials -- whether it's a specific fixture, an entire room, or a whole building. We want you to see the true breadth of possibilities when it comes to sustainable building. We hope these features will help inspire your own projects or help you discover who to hire when you are ready to create! [![the-link-front-facade-2000x_1670287896-1](https://8727092.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8727092/hubfs/the-link-front-facade-2000x_1670287896-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=the-link-front-facade-2000x_1670287896-1.jpg)](https://www.gensler.com/case-study/the-link) **The 12-story, 230,000-square-foot telecom tower formerly owned and operated by CenturyLink was built in the early 1960s.** The structure sat in a prime location in downtown Denver’s business core — but for years it had gone underutilized and was almost forgotten. When CenturyLink sold the building in 2018, they insisted the new owners imbue it with new life to heighten the experience of those who would occupy the building over the ensuing years and enrich the city in the process.     ![the-link-ground-floor-2000x_1670287097-1](https://8727092.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8727092/hubfs/the-link-ground-floor-2000x_1670287097-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=the-link-ground-floor-2000x_1670287097-1.jpg) CHALLENGE While it might sometimes appear that demolishing an older building and erecting a new one is the way to revitalize a street corner or even a city block, the reality is that such an approach can often be more wasteful and more harmful to the community and the environment at large. In the pursuit to shape a new identity for The Link, we sought to address one crucial piece of the carbon emissions puzzle — the problem of embodied carbon, which are the carbon emissions associated with the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. This led the team and the clients’ prioritization of building and material use throughout this effort. SOLUTION The Gensler team identified several design interventions to reinvigorate the building. We took advantage of The Link’s existing concrete and steel structure, to give it a new life. We preserved the structure’s existing core walls, elevators, heating systems, and plumbing, only integrating minor upgrades to bring necessary systems up to code. A new facade was introduced to improve the interior experience of the building by bringing daylight into the space, while simultaneously elevating its curb appeal. The team introduced several new amenities to reinvigorate the ground-level lobby  and encourage pedestrians to interact with the structure. ![the-link-fireplace-2000x_1670287159](https://8727092.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8727092/hubfs/the-link-fireplace-2000x_1670287159.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=the-link-fireplace-2000x_1670287159.jpg) ### LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS A Life Cycle Analysis, or LCA, is a tool used to understand the implications of design decisions and material procurement on embodied carbon and other environmental impact indicators. While our team utilized the tool after completing The Link — which served to validate our efforts and provide more detailed carbon savings metrics — the LCA can also serve as a powerful resource in early design phases to inform several ways in which to pursue a given design approach. ![the-link-deck-2000x_1670287229 (1)](https://8727092.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8727092/hubfs/the-link-deck-2000x_1670287229%20(1).jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=the-link-deck-2000x_1670287229%20(1).jpg) ### HIGH-PERFORMANCE GLAZING The tower’s heavy concrete facade panels were replaced with high-performance glazing and operable windows at the ground and top levels, allowing for natural light and ventilation to passively flow throughout the public spaces. It also heightens the experiential quality of the space for tenants. Moreover, upgraded insulation around the tower enabled modernized climate control and energy savings throughout the interior spaces for an Energy Use Intensity reduction of approximately 85 EUI down to 40 EUI. ![the-link-breakroom-2000x_1670287195](https://8727092.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8727092/hubfs/the-link-breakroom-2000x_1670287195.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=the-link-breakroom-2000x_1670287195.jpg) PROJECTED OUTCOMES - 68% reduction in embodied carbon emissions - Approximately 9.17 million pounds of WW compared to a new building - Approximately 18.1 million pounds of concrete and masonry saved - Approximately 3.83 million pounds of steel saved - Recipient of a 2021 AIA Colorado Award of Merit - Recipient of a 2021 Mayor’s Design Award [![the-link-front-facade-2000x_1670287896](https://8727092.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8727092/hubfs/the-link-front-facade-2000x_1670287896.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=the-link-front-facade-2000x_1670287896.jpg)](https://www.gensler.com/case-study/the-link) **The 12-story, 230,000-square-foot telecom tower formerly owned and operated by CenturyLink was built in the early 1960s.** The structure sat in a prime location in downtown Denver’s business core — but for years it had gone underutilized and was almost forgotten. When CenturyLink sold the building in 2018, they insisted the new owners imbue it with new life to heighten the experience of those who would occupy the building over the ensuing years and enrich the city in the process. ![the-link-ground-floor-2000x_1670287097](https://8727092.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/8727092/hubfs/the-link-ground-floor-2000x_1670287097.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=the-link-ground-floor-2000x_1670287097.jpg) CHALLENGE While it might sometimes appear that demolishing an older building and erecting a new one is the way to revitalize a street corner or even a city block, the reality is that such an approach can often be more wasteful and more harmful to the community and the environment at large. In the pursuit to shape a new identity for The Link, we sought to address one crucial piece of the carbon emissions puzzle — [the problem of embodied carbon](https://www.gensler.com/blog/next-phase-for-climate-action-an-embodied-carbon-revolution), which are the carbon emissions associated with the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. This led the team and the clients’ prioritization of building and material use throughout this effort. SOLUTION The Gensler team identified several design interventions to [reinvigorate the building](https://www.gensler.com/blog/the-link-adaptive-reuse-sustainable-design-downtown-denver). We took advantage of The Link’s existing concrete and steel structure, to give it a new life. We preserved the structure’s existing core walls, elevators, heating systems, and plumbing, only integrating minor upgrades to bring necessary systems up to code. A new facade was introduced to improve the interior experience of the building by bringing daylight into the space, while simultaneously elevating its curb appeal. The team introduced several new [amenities to activate the ground-level lobby](https://www.gensler.com/blog/amenities-at-the-edge-where-the-workplace-meets-the-street) and encourage pedestrians to interact with the structure. [![Letterhead Logo-1](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Letterhead%20%20Logo-1.jpg?width=200&height=121&name=Letterhead%20%20Logo-1.jpg "Letterhead Logo-1")](https://recapturit.com/?hsLang=en) THE online marketplace for recaptured building materials. facebook-f icon linkedin-in icon twitter icon instagram icon **Pages** [BRICK Home](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/the-brick?hsLang=en) [Inspiration](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/inspiration) Community [Knowledge](https://thebrick.recapturit.com/knowledge?hsLang=en) **Resources**   Webinars Directory Copyright © 2026, ReCapturit - www.ReCapturit.com