IGBC Lunch & Learn: Advancing Circularity in Construction- Mass Engineered Timber Crèche & Community Centre Demonstrator Project

About the Session

Is circular construction the future – or just another buzzword?

In this Lunch & Learn, we move beyond theory and showcase real, built examples of circular economy principles applied in practice. This session explores two demonstrator projects delivered by D/RES Properties: a Mass Engineered Timber (MET) Community Centre and a Crèche, developed using off-site construction, Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA), and just-in-time delivery.

Also, the Winner of Green Awards 2026 under the category The Green Transformation Award

Mass Engineered Timber is increasingly recognised as a viable alternative to traditional construction methods, offering significant environmental, structural, and efficiency benefits. These projects demonstrate how MET, combined with circular design thinking, can support adaptable, low-impact buildings across the built environment.

Although the projects are public buildings, the insights and lessons are highly transferable to residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.

This Lunch & Learn is part of the Transition to a Circular Economy project funded by the Community Foundation Ireland. This project aims to support industry in implementing circular economy strategies at the design stage by developing practical, industry-ready guidance and template for circular construction. The guidance will help design teams, home builders and developers embed circular principles such as design for disassembly, adaptability and flexibility, material reuse, and resource efficiency into construction projects. It will provide clear direction, tools, and case studies to overcome common barriers and enable the delivery of buildings that are more resilient, low-waste, and aligned with circular economy objectives.

What You’ll Learn

During this session, participants will gain insight into:

• Circular Economy Design Strategies
  How circularity was embedded across design, material selection, construction, and future adaptability.
• MET Standardised Detailing
  Standard detailing approaches that enable repeatability, efficiency, and potential disassembly.
• Lessons Learned from Delivery
  Practical challenges, opportunities, and key takeaways for applying MET and circular principles in real projects.

Speaker

Sombi Stephen
Sustainability Design Assistant, D/RES Properties

Sombi is a sustainable construction specialist with expertise in Life Cycle Assessment, Home Performance Index, material optioneering, and adaptive reuse research. He approaches projects with a strong “do-no-harm” ethos, prioritising environmental and social impacts while delivering practical, buildable solutions.

Registration

🎟 This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Once registered, you will receive the Teams link in 48 hours.

👉 Reserve your place now to learn how circular economy principles and Mass Engineered Timber can deliver real, scalable impact across the built environment.

Event Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Fernanda Rocha– [email protected]
Sombi Stephen – [email protected]