The construction industry is shifting towards circularity, with researchers exploring innovative approaches to reduce resource consumption and waste production. Accounting for 40% of global resource use and waste generation, the construction sector faces significant challenges in sustainability. Therefore, since its beginning in June 2022, the Reincarnate project, comprising 16 partners from universities, SMEs, NGOs, and construction companies, has been dedicated to reshaping the built environment into a circular sector.

The Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) and the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und—prüfung (BAM) are leading the charge in this collaborative endeavor. They have delved into the circular material field within the project. Moreover, the Technical University of Delft (TUD) has contributed to the criteria unfolding throughout each adaptive reuse decision-making process phase, a circular practice gaining prominence in addressing social, environmental and economic challenges.

This article compiles 8 research developments achieved by these partners, specifically summarising key points and findings:

• 14 Examples of How LLMs Can Transform Materials Science and Chemistry: A Reflection on a Large Language Model Hackathon

The paper published in the Digital Discovery Journal explores the potential impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) in chemistry and materials science, showcasing the synergy of AI and human intuition. It demonstrates AI's capacity to resolve complex, real-world problems, transcending structured environments like mathematics

• Data-driven Alkali-activated concrete using Sequential Learning (SL)

The study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production utilises ecologically informed Sequential Learning (SL) to accelerate material development, demonstrating reductions in development time and research costs enabled by machine learning predictions. It underscores the importance of adopting data-driven approaches to meet sustainability goals, particularly in reducing emissions from cement production.

• Presenting SLAMD – A Sequential Learning Based Software for the Inverse Design of Sustainable Cementitious Materials

The paper published in the Nano World Journal introduces SLAMD, Reincarnate’s open-source app that simplifies the material design process and aids in the development of sustainable materials, particularly from recycled sources. Moreover, it advocates for data-driven methods in producing sustainable materials, fostering open science and data sharing to transform design workflows.

• LLMs can Design Sustainable Concrete – a Systematic Benchmark

The publication underlines LLMs' pivotal role in material design, surpassing traditional Data-Driven Design (DDD) methods through an innovative approach. It demonstrates AI's prowess in real-world problem-solving, revolutionising material design in the construction industry.

• Beyond Theory: Pioneering AI-Driven Materials Design in the Sustainable Building Material Lab

The paper showcases the superiority of AI-driven materials design over traditional methods, supporting the validation of Reincarnate's digital innovation – SLAMD. It emphasises AI's effectiveness in accelerating the design process and improving material quality, paving the way for a more environmentally conscious and competitive construction industry.

• Reincarnate: Shaping a Sustainable Future in Construction Through Digital Innovation

The study was presented at the RILEM Spring Convention in Milan and it highlights the Reincarnate project's aim to promote circular practices by extending material durability through digital methods, integrating NDT techniques and AI methods for material recycling. Furthermore, it explains how it will demonstrate innovations in six European pilot projects, aiming to extend material durability assessment through real-time evaluation and longevity predictions.

• Concreting a sustainable future: A dataset of alkali-activated concrete and its properties

The peer review published in the ELSEVIER Journal shares astandardised dataset of alkali-activated concrete mixes sourced from literature references, aiming to facilitate collaboration and research in the AAC field. Moreover, it underlines the importance of providing high-quality data for various research areas despite certain limitations, such as time frame constraints and challenges in representing curing processes consistently.

• What matters when? – An integrative literature review on decision criteria in different stages of the adaptive reuse process

The article published in the Journal of Developments in the Built Environment is the first to provide a comprehensive overview of the decision criteria for adaptive reuse throughout the process. It follows an integrative review approach to identify the requirements, generating unique perspectives by synthesising existing research to contribute to theory.

Through these research endeavours, the Reincarnate project is driving forward the agenda of circular construction, leveraging AI and data-driven approaches to usher in a more sustainable future for the industry. The project will continue to work for two more years and test 10 digital innovations embedded in a Decision-Making Platform (CP-IM Platform) in 11 real-world scenarios across Europe.