Category: Ann Arbor

Renovation is often overlooked as a sustainability strategy. Yet reusing existing buildings can preserve greenfield land, reduce embodied carbon, and avoid the emissions associated with manufacturing new construction materials.

On Thursday, February 26, the Sustainable Innovation Meet Up will feature a conversation with Mark Smith of MI-HQ East, focused on how sustainability shows up in real renovation decisions. This session will explore the tradeoffs, constraints, and opportunities that emerge when adapting an existing structure to meet evolving needs.

MI-HQ East offers a particularly interesting lens because sustainability is not limited to the building itself. The team also salvages and reuses equipment and materials from other sites, helping reduce costs while limiting the carbon footprint associated with producing new goods. The result is a pragmatic, experience-driven approach to reuse that balances sustainability, profitability, and customer needs.

As with all Sustainable Innovation Meet Ups, the session will be interactive and discussion-oriented, with time for questions and conversation. The goal is to surface lessons attendees can apply in their own work, whether they are thinking about buildings, infrastructure, or other long-lived assets.

Event Details

February 26, 2026

8:00–8:30 AM – Coffee and conversation

8:30–9:00 AM – Featured talk

9:00–9:30 AM – Q&A and more networking

MI-HQ East, 300 W. Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti

Coffee and light breakfast provided.

Thanks Bill Crane for co-hosting these gatherings.

So grateful to Ann Arbor SPARK and the Green Business Challenge for their continued support of the Sustainable Innovation Meet Up.

More on this series here

UPDATE – POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 26

Early-stage sustainable innovations face distinct challenges long before questions of scale arise. Moving from ideation and research into real-world use requires access to the right resources, partners, and pathways for adoption. In this session, Ashwathi Iyer will explore how innovators navigate this transition, drawing on concrete case studies that illustrate different models for commercialization and adoption by industry or community partners.

The discussion will highlight resources available to innovators, common barriers encountered at this early stage, and practical approaches to achieving real-world uptake. While some examples are specific to the University of Michigan, others draw from Ashwathi’s experience working in the social sector in India, with tools and lessons that apply broadly. The conversation will also surface potential touch points between university researchers and the Ann Arbor business and sustainability community, emphasizing collaboration, translation, and impact.

Event Details

Rescheduled to March 26 (originally January 22).
Cahoots Coworking, 206 E. Huron

8:00–8:30 AM – Coffee and conversation

8:30–9:00 AM – Featured talk

9:00–9:30 AM – Q&A and more networking

Thanks Bill Crane for co-hosting these gatherings.

So grateful to Ann Arbor SPARK and the Green Business Challenge for their continued support of the Sustainable Innovation Meet Up.

More on this series here

Founded by Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff, Argus set out to solve a simple but stubborn problem: how to make it easy for people to buy local food year-round, in a way that’s fair to farmers and convenient for customers.

In the ten years since opening their first café and market, Argus has become a beloved Ann Arbor institution — and a national model for strengthening local food economies. Through a mix of deep customer discovery, careful data tracking, and close partnerships with local producers, they’ve shown that a community-driven, farmer-first retail model can thrive.

At our November Sustainable Innovation Meet Up, Kathy Sample will share the Argus origin story and lessons learned along the way: what’s changed since launch, the challenges of scaling local food systems, and how Argus is helping others build their own “farm stops” across the country.

Event Details

8:00–8:30 AM – Coffee and conversation

8:30–9:00 AM – Featured talk

9:00–9:30 AM – Q&A and more networking

Join us to connect with local innovators and explore what it takes to build sustainable food systems that truly feed both people and place.

A big thank you to Bill Crane for his partnership in co-hosting these gatherings.

So grateful to Ann Arbor SPARK and the Green Business Challenge for their continued support of the Sustainable Innovation Meet Up.

We’re excited to announce our next Sustainable Innovation Meet Up on Tuesday, October 21, from 8–9:30 AM at Cahoots.

This month’s theme is Designing for Impact: Sustainable Architecture, Urban Design, and Materials Innovation, featuring guest speaker Jen Maigret, Professor of Architecture and Director of Climate Futures at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College.

Jen is a registered architect whose teaching, research, and design practice explore how architecture can create more sustainable and resilient futures through climate-responsive buildings, equitable urban design, and innovative materials. We’re thrilled to learn from her perspective on how design choices ripple out to shape both people and planet.

Here’s our format:

• 8:00–8:30 AM – Coffee and conversation
• 8:30–9:00 AM – Featured talk
• 9:00–9:30 AM – Q&A and more networking

Join us to start your morning with ideas, inspiration, and community.

And don’t forget: if you’re looking for even more sustainability inspiration, the Sustainable Future Forum takes place this Monday, September 29.

Hope to see you at one — or both!

Grateful

A big thank you to Ann Arbor SPARK and the Green Business Challenge for their continued support of the Sustainable Innovation Meet Up, and to Bill Crane for his partnership in co-hosting these gatherings.