CIRCLE: Circular Innovations for Resilient Communities and Livable Environments

We combine sustainability science, building design, urban planning and policy, environmental justice, and engineering methods to work on solutions for circular, sustainable, equitable, and resilient built environments.

Our team

Led by Dr. Fernanda Cruz Rios, CIRCLE brings together a diverse, interdisciplinary team of students—from first-year undergraduates to PhD candidates—studying Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, and Architectural Engineering. We welcome students from Environmental Science and Engineering, as well as those whose interests bridge law, policy, and public health. Our collaborative projects thrive on varied perspectives and a shared commitment to sustainability, equity, and innovation in the built environment.

Current research projects

Uncovering the untapped potential of circular material stocks and flows in urban areas

We’re developing an urban database of building material stocks and flows in Philadelphia to support reuse and recycling efforts. By analyzing materials from past and future demolitions, we aim to quantify material availability, environmental impacts, and circular economy opportunities. Our methods include GIS, photogrammetry, LCA data, machine learning, and stakeholder interviews.

Collaborators: Dr. Feng Liu

Team: Cagla Keles, Audrey Ling, Enzo Fetter-Garcia, Kevin Nally, Jie Dong

Investigating the impact of decentralized circular water strategies on flooding

We are modeling how circular water strategies—like rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and efficient fixtures—can reduce combined sewer overflows and increase climate resilience in marginalized urban communities. By combining LCA, economic analysis, and hydraulic modeling, we aim to identify low-impact, cost-effective solutions for Camden and Philadelphia.

Collaborators: Dr. Amanda Carneiro Marques, Dr. Franco Montalto

Funding: Longsview Fellowship

Measuring and improving the circularity of prefabricated building materials

We are advancing the circularity of prefabricated building envelope products through design innovation, life cycle assessment, and technoeconomic analysis. This project aims to reduce construction waste, enhance material reuse, and create sustainable, profitable solutions in the building sector.

Collaborators: Advanced Glass & Metal

Funding: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

RECLAIM: Robotic Evaluation for Circular Lifecycle Assessment of Infrastructure Materials

We are exploring how robotics, AI, and nondestructive testing can enable the recovery, repair, and reuse of building materials from demolitions, reducing waste and environmental impact. By combining structural evaluation with life cycle assessment and digital tools, we aim to create automated pathways for circularity in the built environment.

Collaborator: Dr. Arvin Ebrahimkhanlou

Creating a sustainability and climate resilience roadmap for civil, architectural, and environmental engineers

We are developing a sustainability roadmap for Drexel’s civil, architectural, and environmental engineering programs, integrating the Engineering for One Planet framework and climate pedagogies across exposure, competency, and mastery stages. Through curricular redesign, faculty collaboration, and public-facing educational resources, the initiative embeds sustainability and justice throughout the student journey while creating lasting institutional change.

Collaborators: Dr. Michael Waring, Dr. Simi Hoque, Dr. Joseph Hughes, Dr. Matt Reichenbach, Dr. Amanda Carneiro Marques, Dr. Mira Olson, Dr. Adams Rackes

Funding: American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Lemelson Foundation