Transforming Buildings into Material Resources

Demolition projects have a significant impact on climate change due to the energy and resources required, as well as the emissions created during the process. Material recovery through deconstruction is an unparalleled opportunity for reducing embodied carbon, while also diverting construction waste, reducing exposure to toxic pollutants, protecting natural resources, and creating green jobs. In pursuit of a regenerative future, Genentech and Gensler are pioneering a deconstruction process that transforms aging buildings into resources for future campus projects. By reimagining waste as a valuable resource, their team is creating a circular system that significantly reduces carbon emissions and promotes sustainable development. This session will explore the environmental, economic, and social impacts of deconstruction, showcasing how it contributes to a thriving, inclusive, and cooperative economy while tackling urgent climate challenges in the building sector.


Marcus Hopper, AIA, NCARB, LEED ID+C

Regional Design Manager/ Senior Associate

Gensler

Marcus Hopper, AIA, NCARB, LEED ID+C, is the Northwest Regional Design Management leader for Gensler. With a depth of experience in workplace environments, Marcus is passionate about design’s capacity to shape the built environment with creativity, environmental conscientiousness and material sustainability. He has contributed to Gensler’s Design Resilience team that completed high profile projects for Etsy in New York City and the NRDC space in San Francisco. In 2018, he was part of a research team that studied five Gensler offices that had recently undergone renovation to see how reused materials played a role. The goal of the research was to bring awareness to the circular economy and identify how the industry can bolster and encourage reuse processes within design work. Findings from this initial study were published in the Gensler Research Institute white paper, What’s Old is New Again – Circumnavigating the Circular Economy.

Mark Klein

Senior Sustainability Manager

Genentech

Mark Klein manages Genentech's Sustainable Workplaces Program at their South San Francisco Campus, overseeing sustainability initiatives across 5.1 million square feet. With over 15 years of experience in sustainability, urban planning, and sustainable design and construction, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge in integrating regenerative practices into large-scale corporate environments, directly addressing Genentech’s themes of climate resilience and nature integration in the built environment.
This content will not be available until 06/09/2025 at 8:00 AM (EDT)