United States
Podcast Episode
Inside NYC’s Push for Building Circularity Re-Release
September 8, 2026
In honor of Zero Waste Week, join Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group (STOBG), Ryan Hughes, Sustainability Manager at Structure Tone New York, and Tiffany Williams, Sustainability Manager at Rudin, as they explore how selective deconstruction, material recovery, and take-back programs are transforming NYC construction.
Key Takeaways
- Deconstruction takes a more intentional approach than traditional demolition, carefully dismantling spaces to recover materials for reuse, recycling, and manufacturer take-back programs.
- Materials including furniture, millwork, carpet, ceiling tile, glass, doors, lighting, drywall, and other building components can potentially be recovered or redirected from landfill.
- Successful deconstruction begins early, with pre-demolition assessments helping teams identify recoverable materials, manufacturers, potential reuse opportunities, and logistical requirements.
- Incorporating reuse, salvage, and take-back requirements into bid and contract documents can improve pricing, subcontractor understanding, and overall execution.
- Material recovery requires additional planning around staging, storage, transportation, labeling, vendor capacity, and end-use markets—particularly on space-constrained urban jobsites.
- Closed-loop recycling programs can return recovered materials to manufacturers to be used as feedstock for new products, helping advance a more circular construction economy.
- Collaboration between owners, contractors, designers, sustainability consultants, manufacturers, salvage partners, and other stakeholders is critical to making circularity programs successful.
- Client sustainability goals, brand value, ESG benchmarks, and emissions-reduction strategies are helping drive greater interest in deconstruction and material reuse.
- Tight schedules, legal and insurance requirements, limited storage capacity, hazardous materials, and site logistics remain significant challenges to scaling deconstruction practices.
- Expanding material circularity in New York City will require greater education, clearer standards and incentives, stronger reuse infrastructure, and increased industry collaboration.
Highlights In This Episode
Ryan explains how deconstruction shifts the focus from demolition and disposal to carefully recovering materials for reuse and recycling.
The key difference is intention: demolition prioritizes speed and removal, while deconstruction takes a more strategic approach to preserving material value.
The team discusses the work underway with Rudin and Pavarini McGovern, including site surveys, material assessments, vendor coordination, sustainability consultants, and bid planning.
Staging, storage, transportation, labeling, vendor capacity, and tight site conditions all require additional planning.
Owners, designers, contractors, consultants, manufacturers, salvage partners, and other stakeholders need to align early around responsibilities, logistics, handling, and reuse opportunities.
Sustainability goals, brand value, ESG benchmarks, emissions reduction, and a broader desire to build responsibly are increasingly influencing client decisions.
Tiffany discusses using current projects as learning and benchmarking opportunities to determine what is feasible, track outcomes, and develop more informed future goals.
The group explores whether incoming or expanding tenants could evaluate existing spaces before demolition and retain materials or finishes that still have value.
The guests point to clearer standards, incentives, more reuse infrastructure, education, stronger vendor networks, and greater collaboration across the industry.
Closing Summary
In this episode of Building Conversations, Jennifer Taranto, Vice President of Sustainability at STO Building Group, is joined by Ryan Hughes, Sustainability Manager at Structure Tone New York, and Tiffany Williams, Sustainability Manager at Rudin, to explore how material circularity and deconstruction are changing the approach to building renovations in New York City. The conversation examines how project teams can move beyond traditional demolition by identifying opportunities to recover, reuse, recycle, and return building materials to manufacturers. Through real-world examples, the guests discuss the importance of early planning, material assessments, bid specifications, logistics, vendor coordination, and collaboration across the project team. They also explore the challenges that can make deconstruction difficult to scale—from tight project schedules and urban site constraints to storage, insurance, legal requirements, and material handling—and what the industry needs to do next to make circularity a more practical and widespread part of construction.
Host
Jennifer Taranto
VP, Sustainability
STO Building Group (STOBG)
With over two decades of experience shaping the commercial real estate and construction industry, Jennifer Taranto has become a driving force in sustainable innovation. Since joining Structure Tone in 2001, she’s worn many hats—superintendent, project manager, and now Vice President of Sustainability for STO Building Group (STOBG)—blending hands-on expertise with visionary leadership.
In her current role, Jennifer is rewriting the playbook for sustainability in construction. She ensures that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles aren’t just box-ticking exercises, but transformative strategies woven into client projects and STOBG’s organizational DNA. From navigating complex climate regulations like California’s Climate Rules and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to championing voluntary reporting through platforms like CDP, EcoVadis, and SBTi, Jennifer’s impact reaches far beyond compliance.
Jennifer is most in her element when collaborating with clients to embed sustainability from the ground up—literally. Whether it’s reducing environmental footprints, enhancing occupant well-being, or creating innovative roadmaps to achieve bold CSR goals, her work consistently sets new industry benchmarks.
Beyond her corporate role, Jennifer is a founding member of Built Environment Plus, a nonprofit advancing the green building sector, where she now serves as Chair of the Board. A recognized thought leader and sought-after speaker, she has earned accolades such as the WELL AP and WELL Faculty Awards, underscoring her global impact.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s in Construction Engineering and Management from North Carolina State University, but her true expertise lies in bridging the gap between visionary ideals and tangible, measurable impact.
Guests
Ryan Hughes
Sustainability Manager
Structure Tone New York
Ryan D. Hughes is a dedicated Sustainability Manager at Structure Tone, leveraging over a decade of experience in sustainable construction practices to drive impactful change within the industry. With a profound commitment to advancing environmentally responsible solutions, Ryan focuses on revolutionizing construction methodologies through the lens of the circular economy. His expertise lies in spearheading initiatives that champion closed-loop recycling efforts and forward-thinking water-saving solutions to mitigate waste and promote sustainable usage practices, aligning with Structure Tone’s commitment to reducing environmental impacts while also enhancing project efficiency. Ryan’s innovative strategies pave the way for the integration of circular principles, ensuring materials are repurposed and regenerated within the construction lifecycle. Ryan Hughes is recognized as a thought leader in the realm of sustainable construction, emphasizing the critical role of circular economy models and their transformative potential for the future of the construction industry. His insights and dedication to fostering environmental and social sustainability outcomes on jobsites position him as a key influencer in shaping more resilient construction processes. He holds a MS degree in Urban Sustainability from the City College of New York (CCNY) and maintains both the LEED AP and WELL AP credentials. Ryan also leads the Sustainable Construction Leaders (SCL) Northeast Cohort, a local group of construction professionals working towards market transformation. He embraces diversity and values the importance in balancing people, profit and planet.
Tiffany Williams
Sustainability Manager
Rudin
Tiffany Williams is an experienced assistant project manager with a demonstrated history of working in the AEC and higher education industries. Skilled in AutoCAD, Microsoft Word, Sales, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Strong program and project management professional with a master’s degree focused in Sustainability Management from Columbia University in the City of New York.
Similar Episodes
Ask the Expert: Cost, Sustainability & Long-Term Value with Jennifer Taranto
When it comes to construction costs, it’s easy to focus on what’s right in front of you— but what happens after the project is complete? In our latest Ask the Expert series, STOBG’s Vice President of Sustainability, Jennifer Taranto, dives into the balance between capital costs and long-term operational savings—and why thinking beyond the upfront investment can make all the difference.
Listen Now
Breaking Ground: Circularity Through Partnerships
How can the construction industry shift from a “take, make, waste” cycle to a circular economy? In celebration of Zero Waste Week, host Jennifer Taranto, VP of Sustainability at STO Building Group (STOBG) is joined by Tim Conway, VP of Sustainability at Shaw Industries, and Avery McKitrick Sustainability Coordinator to explore how takeback programs and supplier partnerships are transforming waste management on job sites.
Listen Now