SEMINAR OVERVIEW
This seminar will explore the role of deconstruction and reclaimed lumber in supporting a circular wood economy. As buildings reach the end of their service life, significant quantities of high-quality wood are often lost from the construction cycle. Deconstruction offers an alternative approach by allowing structural lumber and other building materials to be recovered, assessed, and returned to use.
Drawing on projects completed by Ouroboros Deconstruction across Southern Ontario, including Toronto’s first municipally supported deconstruction pilot at 1113 Dundas Street West, the presentation will discuss the process of identifying, recovering, processing, and redistributing reclaimed wood. Topics will include material audits, on-site recovery strategies, lumber regrading, and the opportunities and challenges of integrating salvaged wood into contemporary construction.
The seminar will also examine the systems needed to support a circular wood economy, from recovery and storage to testing, certification, and market adoption.
SEMINAR DETAILS
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM MT / 1:00 PM ET
Duration: 1 hour
Topic: Keeping Value in Circulation: Reclaimed Lumber and Deconstruction in Toronto
Format: Virtual (Zoom)
Join Zoom Meeting: Click here to join
https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/99107871872?pwd=bHfNhbcJTWcjqonbkiomS4DkjiHIY8.1&jst=2
Meeting ID: 991 0787 1872
Passcode: 773538
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Meredith Moore
Founder and CEO, Ouroboros Deconstruction
Meredith Moore is the Founder and CEO of Ouroboros Deconstruction, a Toronto-based company specializing in building material recovery, deconstruction, and reuse. Since founding the company in 2022, she has led more than 40 deconstruction, salvage, and material recovery projects across Ontario, achieving average landfill diversion rates approaching 90%.
Meredith holds a Bachelor of Arts in the History of Art and Architecture from Brown University and a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design. Through Ouroboros Deconstruction and the registered charity Ouroboros Salvage, her work focuses on developing the systems, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to bring reclaimed building materials, particularly lumber, back into productive use.
SHARE & PARTICIPATION
Thank you for your continued participation in the HQP Seminar Series under the NSERC Alliance Grant – Next-Generation Wood Construction.
Students participating in the grant are expected to attend at least 50% of the HQP Seminar Series. Please share this seminar with colleagues, collaborators, and anyone interested in sustainable construction, deconstruction, reclaimed lumber, and circular economy practices.
We look forward to your participation in HQP Seminar XXXIV.