CHALLENGE
Convene industry experts to promote economic activity through building materials reuse.
In 2017, Chicago-based nonprofit Archeworks approached Do It Better to spearhead WA$TED MARKET: Convenings, a panel event series promoting waste reduction in the construction and demolition industries. The series objective was to deepen public understanding of and scale business activity across Chicago’s building materials reuse sector.
STRATEGY
After outlining Archeworks’ goals and objectives, we scoped a work plan to coordinate, produce, and report on the Convenings series.
Do It Better spearheaded outreach and coordination for 20+ panelists. Diversity of background, experience, and gender were core values underlying the panelist selection process.
We managed full-service event production, from booking venues relevant to each conversation topic to coordinating external contractors.
DESIGN
Convenings required a distinct project identity aligned with Archeworks’ brand aesthetic and existing WA$TED MARKET collateral. Do It Better designed a promotional postcard and project website to promote the series. After establishing a digital presence, we promoted Convenings via Eventbrite, social media, and targeted e-blasts.
COMMUNICATIONS
Do It Better drafted panel topics and structured each Convenings conversation to promote critical dialogue on innovation in building demolition and lifecycle management. Panelists were prepped with an understanding of each conversation’s objectives before the event to ensure a productive discussion.
Ownership explored the lifecycle of secondhand building materials, from deconstruction, to transportation and logistics, and resale.
Scale invited reuse entrepreneurs and academic experts to share their professional experiences and ideas for achieving scale across the industry.
Vision convened leaders from the architecture and design communities to brainstorm interventions to reduce waste from building construction and demolition at the systems level.
PODCAST
Convenings panel discussions were recorded and edited into a podcast available on the project website. Do It Better conducted post-event surveys with panelists and attendees and organized our findings and recommendations in a brief for Archeworks, who authored the final grant report.
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