#26 Stephanie Phillips
Deconstruction and Material Reuse through Policy and Education
Media Detail
Podcast with Stephanie Phillips, Senior Deconstruction & Circular Economy Program Manager at the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation.
The video explores the rising significance of deconstruction and material reuse in the realm of sustainability, underscoring the crucial role of education and awareness. Over the past five years, this once-niche topic has gained substantial momentum, transitioning into a vital component of climate action plans. The discussion emphasizes how deconstruction and material reuse not only offer environmental benefits but also preserve the cultural stories and histories of buildings and neighborhoods, making the concept more engaging and relatable.
Key terms like “embodied carbon” and “deconstruction” have been integrated into long-term climate action plans, which are designed to remain relevant across political cycles and ensure sustained efforts towards sustainability. Collaborative efforts, including partnerships with universities and data-driven studies, are highlighted as essential in promoting these practices and demonstrating their economic value both in the short and long term.
The narrative is shifting from waste management to creating sustainable, thriving communities by reusing materials and capturing their stories. This approach presents a compelling argument against traditional landfill practices. The video concludes by stressing the importance of education and optimism in inspiring a new generation to engage in deconstruction and material reuse, essential for building sustainable communities and combating climate change.
Host: Juan A. Morillas – Share Your Green Design
Stephanie Phillips is an urban planner, circular economy policy leader, public speaker, and most importantly, a relentless optimist. She is currently the Senior Deconstruction & Circular Economy Program Manager at the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation. Her role in developing and administering groundbreaking deconstruction policy in the United States’ seventh-largest city has helped inform efforts in communities around the nation, ranging from Baltimore to Pittsburgh to Seattle to Nantucket and beyond. In addition to policy administration, she oversees the City’s deconstruction contractor training program, advances local building material recovery and reuse through the City’s Material Innovation Center, and elevates the important role embodied carbon plays in local climate resilience.
Beyond the City, her work contributes to non-profits and coalitions that focus on embodied carbon and circular economy policy and advocacy, including the Climate Heritage Network and Build Reuse. She is the co-founder of Circular San Antonio, a local non-profit aiming to transition San Antonio to a circular city, and is a 2023 J.M.K. Innovation Prize awardee.
