Member Lean In | Delivering Circularity, Reuse, and Regeneration in Practice

When:  Aug 13, 2026 from 12:30 to 13:30 (ET)
The built environment is increasingly shifting from a focus on “less harm” toward regenerative design - where buildings actively contribute to the health of people, ecosystems, and material cycles.  This is the third and final session in a three-part Lean In series exploring regenerative materials and the role of specification, research, and design decision-making in enabling this shift in practice. Across the series, speakers examine how architects and designers can rethink material selection through the lenses of human health, carbon, circularity, and ecological regeneration. Building on recent industry momentum around circularity, Part 3 focuses on implementation - how regenerative intent can be translated into documentation, procurement, and construction processes. The session explores how circular thinking can move beyond isolated acts of reuse toward more integrated approaches to material lifecycles, deconstruction, procurement, and long-term stewardship. Join Bettina Robinson and Tim Brooks (Fieldwork), alongside Richard Stokes and Cameron McIntosh (Arup), as they discuss practical approaches to circular specification, designing for deconstruction and material reuse, and the realities of implementation across projects and supply chains. Through applied case studies and interdisciplinary perspectives, the session will explore contractor considerations including cost, risk, warranties, logistics, and the opportunities for embedding circular thinking into everyday practice. Each session will prioritise practical insights and clear takeaways, enabling participants to apply learning directly to their projects and practice and to consider ‘What should I do differently on Monday morning?’.