As the world becomes increasingly focused on circularity, companies are discovering just how circular metal materials can be.  By understanding how to utilize these materials, all members of the construction and design industry can design and construct for reuse, deconstruction, and recycling. By embracing these practices, professionals across construction and design can meet regulatory and market demands by aligning with stricter environmental standards and low-waste building practices. They can also maximize material efficiency to reduce long-term costs while demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability—an attribute increasingly valued by investors and end-users. Additionally, they can reduce landfill waste and carbon emissions associated with traditional building methods by extending the life cycle of building components and stay competitive by positioning themselves as leaders in sustainable construction. Attendees will gain actionable insights and real-world examples to help implement circular economy strategies in their projects—ensuring their businesses remain resilient and aligned with the future of sustainable building.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the concept of circularity and its relevance to the metal building industry.
• Identify strategies for designing metal buildings with modular components and bolted connections to facilitate easy disassembly, reuse, and recycling.
• Describe how steel’s durability, recyclability, and use of recycled content contribute to reducing embodied carbon and landfill waste.
• Use lifecycle assessments to measure and minimize environmental impacts of metal building projects.
• Analyze case studies of successful circular economy applications in metal buildings and develop actionable strategies for integrating these practices into future projects.

Presenter:

Presenters:

Amanda Turner

Cornerstone Building Brands

Amanda Turner is a Sustainability Specialist specializing in integrating sustainable practices into design and construction. With a 15 year background in energy management and sustainability and a passion for driving environmental impact, Amanda works to advance the use of innovative strategies that enhance energy efficiency, reduce carbon footprints, and promote circular economy principles in metal buildings. Amanda has collaborated with architects, builders, and manufacturers to align metal building projects with green building certifications such as LEED, while advocating for renewable energy integration and low-carbon material solutions. A member of NAWIC Chapter #13, Amanda is committed to supporting the industry’s transition toward resilient, future-ready building solutions. As an active voice in sustainability education, Amanda has developed training materials to guide stakeholders in leveraging the unique advantages of metal buildings for achieving ambitious sustainability goals.