On March 24th, Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) hosted a workshop at Akademiska Hus in Stockholm, in collaboration with Ragn Sells, focusing on strategies for adopting and integrating circular practices in the construction industry.
The session brought together a diverse group of professionals – including sustainability managers, project leads, consultants, and procurement and facility experts – and provided a space to test tools developed within the Reincarnate project, including the Reincarnate language model for circularity support.
The workshop was designed to help participants identify key challenges and develop actionable solutions for incorporating circularity into their work, exploring the following key points:
1. Identifying and overcoming the three main barriers: Participants examined the primary challenges hindering the adoption of circular practices in the construction and demolition and discussed practical approaches to overcoming these barriers.
2. Integrating circularity into the stakeholder analysis: The workshop highlighted the importance of collaboration across the supply chain, with suppliers, partners, and customers all playing a vital role in creating a circular ecosystem.
3. Guidelines and action points to mitigate barriers: Participants gained hands-on tools and strategies to address the barriers to circular adoption in construction, empowering them to take tangible steps towards circularity.
4. Testing Reincarnate Language Model: Participants tested the Reincarnate language model developed by Erasmus University. This allowed participants to explore the potential of AI-driven solutions in addressing circularity challenges within the construction industry. By testing this model, it was aimed to demonstrate how advanced technologies can be used to support data-driven decision-making and improve the integration of circular practices across the industry.
5. Building a circular mindset: The session also focused on how to cultivate a circular mindset throughout the organization, ensuring that circularity is embraced at all levels of life cycle.
The workshop provided participants with valuable insights and practical guides to navigate the transition to circular practices in construction, emphasizing collaboration, actionable strategies, and mindset shifts.
Teknikhöjden Site Visit. EUR team visited Teknikhöjden, a 1960s building on the northern part of the Albano campus in Stockholm, owned by Akademiska Hus. The building was previously slated for demolition due to an old zoning plan, but it is now part of a dismantling and innovation project aimed at reusing materials to build anew.
During the visit, Ragn Sells conducted glass measurements, providing EUR team an opportunity to explore and discuss the potential for reusing flat glass in the reusability, which aligns with Reincarnate’s sustainability goals. EUR team also interviewed the site manager to delve into the exciting potential of transforming Teknikhöjden into a modern, sustainable structure while preserving valuable materials. Additionally, EUR team discussed the current situation regarding workers’ adaptation to this transformation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities as the project progresses.