The University of Wisconsin-Superior's effort to recycle demolition material from the Rothwell Student Center far exceeded its goal and kept thousands of tons of building material out of local landfills.

Rothwell Student Center was dismantled last summer following completion of the university's new Yellowjacket Union. The goal set by the state of Wisconsin for removing the building was to recycle at least 50 percent of its materials.

A report from the demolition contractor shows approximately 5,860 tons of materials were recycled, amounting to 80.6 percent of the building's material as measured by weight. The figure includes 5,320 tons of concrete and brick and 540 tons of steel and other metals.

"We're pleased that so much of the building materials could be recycled," said Tom Fennessey, director of facilities management at UW-Superior. "That amounts to 320 truckloads of materials that did not go into local landfills. That's good for the environment, and it's good business."

The former Rothwell Student Center site at the intersection of Catlin Avenue and 16th Street also will be recycled. Next year the university will construct a parking lot on the site using water-retention features to reduce its impact on storm water runoff.