With reuse widely accepted as one of the quickest routes to decarbonisation of the construction industry, how can we expect to see design and construction methods change over coming years? Are buildings going to be dismantled, rather than demolished? Are design teams going to be working with libraries of salvaged structural members, rather than starting with new products? And will this happen in response to governmental policies, or will it be driven by the private sector?
This technical debate looked at the ways in which circular economy thinking is being implemented within construction already, from both a technical and logistical perspective.
The discussion panel was made up of experts representing both design and construction. Each will bring their unique views about how we can make the most of this new approach to construction, in order to answer these questions:
- What does a good circular brief and programme look like?
- How do you quantify or define circularity?
- What is the future of circular economy in construction?
- Gain a better understanding of what ‘the circular economy’ is
- Understand how to embed circular economy thinking into project briefs
- Hear insights into the future of construction, and a world where nothing is wasted, everything is reused
Engineers, designers or clients with an interest in circular economy, reuse, or sustainability.
Laura Batty is a chartered structural engineer and leads the research, testing and development of new structural techniques and technologies, with a focus on sustainability. She is committed to strengthening knowledge to address the critical issues in our industry and bring about positive change within the built environment.
Andrea Charlson is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist. In collaboration with private and public sector partners she delivers research, demonstrations, awareness raising and capacity building to increase the reuse and recycling of construction waste and to embed design for adaptability, flexibility and deconstruction into developments across London. She is coordinating the London cluster of the EU Horizon 2020 funded project, Circular construction in regenerative cities (CIRCuIT).
Penny Gowler has over 15 years’ structural engineering experience and an interest in the sustainable refurbishment of existing buildings. As sustainability lead, Penny is instrumental in embedding embodied carbon analysis across Elliott Wood projects. She is passionate about low carbon design and aims to drive structural engineering projects towards a lower carbon circular economy approach.
Charlie Wedgwood has a passion for sustainable and practical designs that drive better performing processes within construction. Since joining McGee in 2020 he has been helping drive the company’s sustainability strategy and engaging in industry working groups to help bridge the gap between the consultant and the contractor. Having spent 7 years as a consultant structural engineer, Charlie believes early involvement of the Specialist Engineering Contractor in the design process can produce unrivalled results.
Circular economy panel debate