Decarbonization for Health Equity & Community Resilience
The increased urgency of our climate crisis and global health emergencies demand responses that recognize decarbonization is directly correlated to health equity and community resilience.
Through examining 1) indoor air quality and the right to positive health outcomes; 2) adaptive reuse strategies, the circular economy, and electrification; and 3) case studies demonstrating what “good” looks like through responsible building in projects and practice, this year’s thought leadership summit will take a systems-approach to explore high-impact decarbonization strategies that nurture our communities and ecosystems.
- How do we redefine “standard of care” to ensure climate-smart solutions?
- What does it look like to co-create with community to achieve our goals?
- How do we design resilient and adaptable buildings that can evolve?
- Ultimately, how do we leverage our shared responsibility to support a sustainable future?
Join us online, May 8-9, 2023, 9am-2pm both days, for AIA Seattle’s 2023 (Virtual) Climate Summit: Decarbonization for Health Equity & Community Resilience!
COST
Includes online access and continuing education credit (8 LU/HSW). All sessions and speakers subject to change.
$60 $70 AIA Member
$60 $70 Government + Partners
$30 $35 Associate Member
$90 $105 Non-Member
FREE Student
Registration has closed
Early Bird Deadline: Monday, April 24, 2022. After this time, the price increases 15%. Registration Deadline: Friday, May 5, 5:00pm PT.
This is a 2-day virtual program consisting of four two-hour sessions. Participants must attend the full program in order to receive continuing education credit (8 LU/HSW). Partial credits will not be awarded. All registration and credit questions can be directed to Andrea Aguilera.
Reduced rate options are available (priority given to AIA members). Please submit the Continuing Education Scholarship / Reduced Rate Request Form via email by Monday, April 24, 5:00pm PT.
MONDAY May 8
Opening Keynote Panel
Session 1 | 9:00 – 11:00am PT | Keynote Presentations & Discussion
Moderator: Jennifer Yoshimura, Advisor | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Nicole DeNamur, Owner, Sustainable Strategies | Prior to launching Sustainable Strategies, Nicole practiced construction and insurance coverage law in the Seattle area for more than ten years. Her collaborative work focuses on uniting diverse groups to mitigate climate change through the built environment and creating healthier, more inclusive spaces. Nicole maintains numerous sustainable building credentials, including WELL AP and Faculty, LEED Green Associate, Fitwel Ambassador, and EcoDistricts AP. Nicole is also an Affiliate Instructor at the University of Washington, Department of Real Estate Studies, where she teaches the course she developed, Risk and Reward in Sustainable Development. She has also taught Policy and Planning, and Environmental Health, as part of the Master’s Program in Design for Human Health at Boston Architectural College. Among other published work, Nicole authored a chapter of the award-winning book Health and Well-Being for Interior Architecture (IDEC 2018 Book Award). In 2021, Nicole was awarded Honorary Membership into the American Institute of Architects in Seattle, for her leadership on holistic sustainability, and legal stewardship of sustainable architecture and development in the Seattle community. Nicole currently serves on the Board of Directors. In 2022, Nicole was named Educator of the Year by the International WELL Building Institute.
Don Davies, PE, SE, Co-Founder, Davies-Crooks Associates | As an industry champion for the promotion of urban density and low-carbon construction, part of the AISC Sustainability Committee, Don helped found the MKA Foundation, the Carbon Leadership Forum and Building Transparency. The Hines Embodied Carbon Reduction Guide, and the MKA Low Carbon Concrete Procurement Guide are two of his recent efforts. The past president of Magnusson Klemencic Associates, his structurally designed projects are in 18 countries and more than 50 major metropolitan centers. More than 25 are Performance Based Seismic Designed towers. Don is a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council, and he has been inducted into the UC Berkeley Academy of Distinguished Alumni.
Alex Rolluda, AIA, NCARB, Owner/Founder, Rolluda Architects, Inc. | Alex began his architectural studies at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. With the goal of practicing architecture in his hometown of Seattle, he completed his Master of Architecture at the University of Washington in 1989. He worked for 12 years for a local architectural firm, learning under a mentorship the importance of developing relationships with clients based on trust and professionalism. In 1996 Alex started his own firm, with three employees, and has grown the company to a current staff of 46—a mix of diversities with more than ten different nationalities and ten different languages. He strongly believes diversity and inclusion spur creativity and innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people and ideas. From the ground up, Alex built the firm’s foundation with the core values— Diversity, Integrity, Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Respect, which have attributed greatly to the company’s success. Rolluda Architects is a diverse sector practice which includes K-12 schools, colleges and universities, government and municipal, transportation, and aviation projects. Alex served as the Commissioner for the Pike Place Market Historic District and the International District Design Review Board, and Chair of the Washington State Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee in Olympia. He has been a guest speaker at universities and organizations on topics such as Diversity by Design-Design by Inclusion, Equity & Cultural Competency, and Racial & Social Inequity Awareness and Action.
Community Engagement: Air Quality & Positive Health Outcomes
Session 2 | 12:00 – 2:00pm PT | Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Janice Zahn, Director of Engineering | Port of Seattle
- Elena Austin, Assistant Professor | University of Washington
- Megan Dunn, Chair | Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
- Sarah Gudeman, Building Science Practice Lead | BranchPattern
We must prioritize system-solution approaches that positively impact environmental and occupational health outcomes for communities. This session will explore the co-benefits of climate mitigation strategies and our right to health with a primary focus on examining air quality.
TUESDAY May 9
Community Assets: Existing Buildings & Equitable Infrastructure
Session 3 | 9:00 – 11:00am PT | Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Jean Carroon, FAIA, LEED Fellow, Principal – Design, Preservation, Sustainability | Goody Clancy
- Jamal Lewis, Director of Policy & Equitable Electrification | Rewiring America
- Stephanie Marie Phillips, Deconstruction & Circular Economy Program Manager | City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation
- Larry Strain, FAIA, LEED AP, Founding Principal | Siegel & Strain Architects
Now accounting for half of US architecture billings, there is tremendous potential to leverage existing buildings as a resource in climate action, community resiliency, and the livability of neighborhoods. Architects are uniquely positioned to utilize new tools in developing more holistic solutions to traditionally disparate silos of infrastructure improvement. How do we find new life for existing buildings and demonstrate their ability to lower overall building emissions. How can sensitive building solutions to preservation support communal healing? And how do we identify the most urgent needs and accelerate response? This session will make the case for the benefits of renovation over new construction for embodied carbon saving, long-term health, and community vibrancy.
Accelerating a Community of Practice: Celebrating Climate Smart Solutions
Session 4 | 12:00 – 2:00pm PT | Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Leon M. Holloway, NOMA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Project Architect | DLR Group
- Jeryl Aman, AIA, Architect, Associate | MSR Design
- Kathleen Hetrick, LEED AP BD+C, EcoDistricts AP, Sustainability Engineer | Buro Happold
- Megan Altendorf, AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate, Senior Architect | MASS Design Group
- James Kitchin, CEng MICE, EDGE Expert, Director of Engineering and Performance & Provenance | MASS Design Group
The final session will highlight case studies of firms and projects that are moving the needle, providing meaningful examples for all practitioners to advance regenerative design goals. We will explore equitable practice, community building, and high-impact research as grounds for inspiring our shared work to foster a just, resilient, and thriving future. Could we implement at least one new climate smart strategy on every project?
ATTENDEE RESOURCES PAGE
The password-protected attendee resources page is intended only for participants of Decarbonization for Health Equity & Community Resilience. Attendees will receive the password after completing registration.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Discover the architect’s role in accelerating a decarbonized built environment and meeting our shared needs though environmental justice, health equity, and community resiliency.
- Explore architectural design solutions that influence building decarbonization through a systemic and collaborative approach.
- Consider critical approaches for mitigating environmental and health impacts, including responsible material sourcing, air quality evaluation, and electrification strategies.
- Explore existing buildings as an untapped resource in climate action, community resiliency, and livability.
- Evaluate interventions that make actionable differences in reducing atmospheric carbon produced by the built environment while mitigating the downstream impacts.
- Investigate regulatory frameworks and funding sources that support health equity through responsible building at varying project scales.
PARTNER EVENTS
- Diversity Roundtable, in partnership with Chapman Films, UW College of Built Environments, and the Seattle Architecture Foundation, presents a film screening of From Earth To Sky and panel discussion. Thursday, May 11, 5:30-8:00pm PT at UW (Architecture Hall 147). Event details here.
- Adaptation & Resilience Committee presents a panel discussion on urban heat and air quality in the Puget Sound region. Tuesday, May 30, 12-1pm PT, Online. Event details here.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2023 SUMMIT SPONSORS
Arup | Berger Partnership | Fsi Engineers | Holmes | BNBuilders | BRC Acoustics & Audiovisual Design
LPD Engineering | McKinstry Engineering | Osborn Consulting Incorporated | PAE
Puget Sound Energy | TFWB Engineers Inc
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PLANNING TASK FORCE
Ali Lee, Health and Equity Electrification Specialist
Jay Hindmarsh, AIA, LFA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, Sustainability Services Lead | The Miller Hull Partnership
Jordan Lee, PE, Lead Mechanical Engineer | McKinstry
Justin Schwartzhoff, AIA LFA, Embodied Carbon Research Lead | LMN Architects
Kim Fong, AIA LFA, LEED Legacy, Senior Project Architect | Perkins & Will
Registration or Credit Questions?
Contact Andrea Aguilera, Senior Programs Coordinator at AIA Seattle
Program Questions?
Contact Zoe Guckenheimer, Programs Manager at AIA Seattle
Sponsorship Questions?
Contact Melissa K. Neher, Executive Director at AIA Seattle
