Join us for a PHA Live conversation with Brad Guy, architect, researcher, and owner owner of Material Reuse LLC, in conversation with Michael Ingui, exploring how design for deconstruction and material reuse strategies are redefining construction, reducing waste, and unlocking long-term value in the built environment.
Our industry still operates largely within a linear model, where buildings are constructed, used, and ultimately discarded. But that approach is increasingly at odds with the realities of climate, resource constraints, and the need to dramatically reduce embodied carbon. This session looks at what it takes to move toward a more circular model, one where materials are seen as assets, not waste.
Brad brings decades of experience in green building, deconstruction, and materials reuse. His work spans research, policy, and on-the-ground implementation, advancing practical strategies for design for deconstruction, sustainable materials, and community-centered reuse systems. From national research initiatives to real-world projects, he has been at the forefront of rethinking how buildings come apart and how their materials can live on.
In this interview-style conversation, Brad and Michael explore:
• What construction for deconstruction looks like in practice
• How early design decisions impact future material recovery and reuse
• The environmental, economic, and social value of keeping materials in circulation
• Key barriers to adoption and where momentum is building
• How practitioners can begin integrating reuse and disassembly strategies into their work today
This session is designed for architects, builders, developers, and anyone working to reduce waste and embodied carbon while delivering high-performance buildings.