From Deconstruction to Restoration: Scaling Reuse Through Public-Private Partnerships

This session explores how targeted investment in reuse delivers measurable environmental, economic and community returns while building scalable models for circularity. Featuring leaders from the Building Deconstruction Institute and the Billion Oyster Project, the session connects large scale deconstruction with community-driven ecological restoration to demonstrate how reuse generates quantifiable impact. Dave Bennink will share how partnerships with Skanska and the New York City Economic Development Corporation are embedding deconstruction into mainstream construction delivery. Through projects such as SPARC he will highlight measurable results including thousands of tons of material diverted from landfill increased reuse rates reduced disposal costs improved project efficiency and job creation in material recovery. Attendees will learn how early planning cross sector alignment and clear performance metrics transform deconstruction from a pilot effort into a repeatable investment strategy. Kristi Chaudhuri will demonstrate how oyster shell recovery and reuse programs convert a local waste stream into long term ecological value. By partnering with restaurants, institutions, schools and municipalities the Billion Oyster Project has established a reliable material recovery network that supports reef restoration improved water quality enhanced biodiversity and coastal resilience. The model also advances workforce development environmental education and sustained community engagement. Together these case studies show that when investment is paired with partnership accountability and measurable outcomes reuse becomes a driver of economic resilience systems change and long term sustainability.