The Shareable Building: How to unlock material reuse in the built environment

Earlier this month, Civic welcomed a cross-sector group of industry leaders to our Manchester studio for a roundtable discussion on material reuse in the built environment. The session, chaired by James Bruce, director in our North studio, explored how circular economy principles can be applied not only to existing buildings, but also embedded into the DNA of new developments.

While the concept of the circular economy has traditionally been associated with fast fashion and furniture, its application to entire buildings is now emerging as a powerful strategy for sustainable development. Tactics for building reuse are gaining momentum in existing assets – but just as important are sustainable approaches to new-build, implementing future-thinking, adaptability and deconstruction strategies from the outset.

The conversation was framed around a central question: What does it mean to build less and share more? 

Data and transparency

A recurring theme was the lack of accessible, reliable data on materials available for reuse. Participants highlighted the need for tools like material passports, demolition audits, and digital twins to catalogue and track materials throughout a building’s lifecycle. While the technology exists, the cost and time required to implement these systems remain barriers.

Deborah Fuller, Manchester City Council, noted, “We should be looking at reuse first". Yet without a definitive catalogue or exchange list, decision-makers are often left in the dark. The opportunity lies in creating platforms that make reuse visible, viable, and valued, turning what’s currently stored across estates into a shared resource.

Designing for Future Reuse

Designing for adaptability – whether through enhanced technical specifications, flexible layouts, or higher-quality materials – was discussed as a way to futureproof assets. James Hind, SimpsonHaugh, pointed out: “Higher spec design is a capital cost now, but it could reduce the carbon cost in the future.”

The group explored how new developments can be designed with reuse in mind from the outset. Examples ranged from demountable pavilions to magnetic tiles and modular fit-outs. These strategies not only reduce waste but also extend the lifecycle of buildings by allowing them to evolve with changing needs. Ollie Cook, director in our archaeology and built heritage team, added that this approach to reuse can be traced back over centuries and that we can learn a lot from the past, sharing an early example of Jersey Street Mill in Manchester, an industrial mill which was later remodelled to provide homes in the 1890s. 

Collaboration and culture shift

Material reuse is not just a technical challenge; it’s a cultural one. Participants agreed that successful reuse often depends on the ethos of the developer, the tenacity of the consultant, and the willingness of funders to embrace perceived risks. Fragmented supply chains and siloed development practices were cited as major hurdles, especially in markets like Manchester where planning processes are faster but less integrated.

Participants called for stronger policy drivers, incentives, and shared repositories to support reuse at scale. From local authorities to national estates, the potential to circulate materials across projects is enormous. But it requires a shift in mindset: away from shiny new materials and toward a more resourceful, resilient approach to design.