Are Architects Failing Nature? Reclaiming Buildings as Living Systems – Ep 96 with Philip Donovan
In this episode of Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski welcomes Todd Thomas, founder of Woodchuck.ai, to reveal how AI is revolutionizing construction waste—and fueling a circular economy. Todd explains how Woodchuck uses smart dumpsters and computer vision to identify, sort, and transform tens of millions of tons of discarded wood into new materials, clean energy, and even hydrogen. From reducing landfill volume by 40% to creating zero-carbon biomass processing, Todd breaks down why sustainability doesn’t have to cost more—it can save money and extend landfill life. They also explore the future of mass timber, the promise of molten salt reactors, and the power of planning for circularity at the design stage. This conversation is a fascinating look at how technology can close the loop in building and demolition.
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More About Philip Donovan
Philip Donovan is an architect, partner, and national director for sustainability and regeneration at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. With over 25 years of experience, he specializes in designing high-performance, zero-carbon environments that deliver resilient, regenerative outcomes for the larger communities of life they are a part of. Philip has served as project architect on five net-zero energy schools, including Discovery Elementary School, the first LEED Zero school in the U.S., NeoCity Academy, Florida’s first zero-energy school; and the 4Roots Carbon Neutral Mass Timber Education Building.
He has also been a project leader for two AIA COTE Top Ten award-winning projects: Discovery Elementary and Alice West Fleet Elementary. A passionate advocate for sustainability and resiliency, Philip is a member of the Florida State AIA Advisory Council on Resilient Design, the Green Energy Taskforce for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the Orange County Sustainability and Resiliency Committee. He has contributed as a technical peer reviewer for the Advanced Energy Design Guide for K-12 Schools: Achieving Zero Energy and as a reviewer for the USGBC’s Center for Green Schools.
Philip has served on the Mount Dora Historic Planning Commission and currently sits on the advisory board for the College of Community Innovation & Education at the University of Central Florida. An accomplished speaker, he has presented at national and international conferences including Greenbuild, on zero-resource buildings, resiliency, and climate adaptation.
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