Creating a heritage conservation field that is more circular - and more socially, environmentally, and economically just.
Heritage conservation plays an active and essential role in the transition to a circular economy, specifically the repair, reuse, and adaptation of buildings and building materials. The Circular Heritage Project seeks to strengthen and define the alignment between the heritage conservation field and the growing circular economy movement in North America.
We strongly believe that heritage conservationists can - and should - be leaders in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry’s transition to a more circular building ethic. Our mission is to equip professionals with the knowledge and resources to incorporate circular economy principles into their own work and to expedite policy changes that result in the recapture and reuse of more building materials.
We are also amplifying the critical importance of including cultural heritage sectors in circular economy policy and program development, including deconstruction policies and ordinances, green building rating systems, code updates, and climate action planning.
Why the circular economy?
Why now?
Our Work
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Circular Heritage Toolkit
With support from the Harrison Goodall Fellowship, a circular economy toolkit and materials reuse field guide will be developed specifically for American and Canadian preservation professionals for the first time.
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Resource Bank
Amazing people are working at the intersection of heritage conservation and the circular economy all over the continent. Our Resource Bank will centralize their efforts to increase access to and understanding of their work.
Image courtesy of Re:Purpose Savannah, the women-led leaders in heritage-driven deconstruction
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Digital Community + Amplification
We want to shout from the rooftops about how our linear economy is destroying cultural heritage, habitats, and social fabric, but we know social media is the next best thing. Our Instagram will amplify our work far and wide with a goal to inspire collective action that tips our development policies towards reuse.