Full Circle Construction: Circular Strategies for the Built Environment

CCES 2025 Delegates will have the opportunity to join a special tour to two innovative buildings and spaces in the Greater Montreal area focused on showcasing circular design and construction strategies in action. 

• Stop 1: RÉCO.  RÉCO is a circular economy center specializing in the recovery and resale of new and old architectural components and construction materials. It offers consulting services for deconstruction and reuse projects as well. RÉCO is one of Quebec's flagship stores for the salvage of built heritage, and one of the few specializing in social, solidarity-based, ecological and circular economy principles. During this tour, you will be able to enjoy the experience of the path taken by donated materials, from their arrival in the backstore to their resale in the various sections of the store with its neatly arranged rows of items, as well as the little story behind this promising initiative.

• Stop 2: Le Phénix: Architecture firm Lemay's circular award-winning office building in Montreal is home to 300 professionals working within a true experimental laboratory for the firm's innovations in sustainable development and workspace design. Instead of designing a new building, Lemay chose to adopt circular design principles and strategies to transform a neglected warehouse from the 1950s into offices for its expanding trans-disciplinary team.

Why Attend?  Learn more about circular design and construction strategies including the partnership and business models for each initiative, as well as circular principles and practices applied in areas related to adaptive reuse and design, deconstruction, and material recovery / reuse. 

Itinerary: 

• 10:15: Tour departs from the lobby of the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth

• 10:15-11:00: Transport

• 11:00-12:00: Tour of RÉCO

• 12:00-12:30: Transport (includes lunch onboard the bus) 

• 12:30-13:30: Tour of Le Phénix

• 13:30-13:45: Transport 

• 13:45: Return at Fairmont Queen Elizabeth

Capacity: 40 people max.

Cost: $45 (includes boxed lunch)

What to wear / bring:  Comfortable clothing, closed-toed shoes, and a water bottle.  A ‘zero-waste’ lunch will also be provided by Still Good Foods.

PLEASE NOTE: Participation may be denied to join the tour based on concerns around competition (if this occurs, individuals will be notified in advance and refunds will be issued).

Site Tours are booked on a first-come, first serve basis. However, preference will be given to delegates attending CCES 2025.