About
Verdant Building Products was founded on a simple conviction: the materials we build with should heal the planet, not harm it. We saw an opportunity in an ancient, abundant, and often overlooked material - straw - and asked ourselves: how could we reimagine this resource to create high-performance, carbon-storing building products that are practical, scalable, and ready for widespread adoption?
Today, our factory produces prefabricated straw-insulated panels that outperform conventional systems on thermal efficiency, embodied carbon, and indoor air quality - all while integrating with standard wood framing practices, and supporting local farming economies.
Anthony Dente
Founder & CEO
Nationally recognized leader in straw and sustainable construction. VP of Cob Research Institute non–profit. Lead engineer of national building codes for biogenic and clay–based materials. Principal and owner at Verdant Structural Engineers.
Massey Burke
founder & cto
20 years of experience in natural materials
research, design, and implementation. Currently leading the national effort to develop EPD protocols for carbon–storing building materials. Director of the California Straw Building Association (CASBA).
Rachel Cohen
founder & COO
Structural engineer with experience range from high–level building analysis and design for seismic regions to hand tool carpentry. Board member emerita at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School. Management and operations beyond technical contributions.
Philomena Reinmueller
Product manager
Multi-skilled designer with combined experience in architecture, sustainable construction, prefab systems, innovation management, and bio-based materials.
Our Mission
To create next-generation, scalable, carbon–negative building products for residential and commercial construction - advancing an industry where every building acts as a carbon sink while creating beautiful, healthy, and resilient spaces for people. The Verdant Panel is our first step toward that future.