Remain Workshop To Teach Sustainable Deconstruction and Material Reuse
NANTUCKET, MA — Remain, in collaboration with Nantucket Community School and Boston Building Resources, announced today the upcoming “Deconstruction, Adaptive Reuse and the Circular Economy Workshop,” a four-hour course open to the public and designed to explore sustainable strategies for deconstruction and material reuse in construction. The curriculum is rooted in the principles of a circular economy and aims to provide participants with practical tools for extending the life of building materials.
“Reusable building materials have immense economic value, in addition to carrying the legacy of our past,” said Virna Gonzalez, project and marketing manager at Remain. “By honoring Nantucket’s cultural history of reuse, we’re not only giving these materials a second life, but we are also creating a new chapter in their story and opening the door to a new industry.”
Led by Kord Jablonski, executive director of Boston Building Resources, the workshop will offer step-by-step guidance in deconstruction techniques, adaptive reuse examples and real-world strategies for reducing construction waste. Attendees will gain hands-on insights into how deconstruction compares to demolition, how to identify materials for salvage and how to make the case for deconstruction to project owners.
“Deconstruction is about seeing possibility where others see waste,” said Jablonski. “Every beam, door or window that can be salvaged is one less item sent to a landfill and one more resource kept in circulation. Our goal is to give participants the skills and confidence to turn that mindset into action.”
The workshop has also been approved by the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) for two Continuing Education Unit credits for Construction Supervisor Licenses. Attendees seeking CSL-CEU credits must provide their license numbers during registration and will receive certificates from the Nantucket Builders Association upon successful completion of the training.
Remain’s Salvage and Reuse initiatives are designed to raise awareness about and reduce the over 17,000 tons of salvageable building material transported off-island each year. Through training, community partnerships and real-world application, Remain aims to transform recoverable materials that become unnecessary waste into opportunity.
Two identical sessions will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 12 and 13 at 56 Centre Street. The workshop costs $200 to attend. Register on the Nantucket Community School website. Partial and full scholarships are available, provided by Remain. Click “View” under program details to apply.
About Remain
Remain works to bring creative thinking to environmental and community challenges, elevate local industry and encourage innovation and resilience. Remain Nantucket engages in charitable work to support the evolution of a healthy year-round community across the island. Remain Ventures invests in buildings and mission-related businesses that strengthen Nantucket’s year-round economy and spark innovation that brings long-term value to the island’s residents. Both Remain Nantucket and Remain Ventures are funded by Wendy Schmidt and her husband Eric to support the local economy, community and environmental vitality of the island of Nantucket.
About Nantucket Community School
The mission of the Nantucket Community School is to engage, strengthen, and connect our community. We provide a diverse level of high-quality, affordable programs, encourage life-long personal growth, and reach out to all members of the community; spanning every age and stage.
About Boston Building Resources
Boston Building Resources is a nonprofit consumer co-op and reuse center that empowers homeowners and organizations through sustainable solutions, affordable building materials and educational resources.