Circular LA: A Day of Ideas, Systems & Action
Date: April 14, 2026
Location: Buro Happold Downtown LA Office (633 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071)
Join us for an engaging event focused on building a more affordable, equitable, and circular Los Angeles.
Circular LA brings together leaders in construction, food, fashion, workforce development, transportation, and energy for immersive conversations and roundtable discussions. Designed with a no‑slides format, the event creates space for collaboration focused on real commitments, solutions and action.
Jessica Talia from Rehumanize Upcycle Bar will be set up to upcycle clothing for $15 a piece to reimagine a pre-loved garment.
You can expect cross sector discussions, systems mapping sessions, and a closing happy hour to keep the momentum going.
The event is hosted at the Buro Happold Downtown LA office. Please join us in shaping the pilots, partnerships, and policies that will define LA’s circular future.
Happy hour is included! This event is open to the public; please RSVP to reserve your spot.
Program:
8:30-9:15am: Opening remarks and coffee / networking
9:15-10:00am: Circular Construction featuring Todd Lynch from UCLA, Mersy Maradiaga from Turner Construction, Alex Kolodziejczyk from CIM, Giovanna Araujo from Primestor
10:00-10:30am: Networking
1030-11:15am: Farm, Food, Future: How Circularity Can Reshape the Food System featuring Jeff Kampfe from Forward Farms, Neeti Jain from BITE, Valeria Velazquez Duenas from LA Food Policy Council
11:15-11:30am: Networking
11:30-12:15pm: Fashion, Design and Culture Circularity featuring Liz Kennedy from UCLA and Jorge Baez from A Better Way Santa Barbara/Founder of Sana Wear Co
12:15-1pm: Networking Break
1:00-1:45pm: Workforce Development in the Circular Economy featuring Christos Chrysiliou from LAUSD, Noah Kaufman from Go2Zero Strategies, Laurel Joe from Santa Monica College
1:45-2:00pm: Networking
2:00-2:45pm: Circular Transportation and Logistics featuring Celina Oliveri from Caltrans, Hoan Tang from LA Metro, and Ryan Lansden from APM Terminal
2:45-3:00pm: Networking
3:00-3:45pm: Energy's Role in Circularity featuring Leslie Chang from Caelux, experts from Element Resources, Colin Mangham from USGBC
3:45-4:00pm: Networking
4-5pm: What if we get it right? Facilitated brainstorm session
5pm: Happy Hour!