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Using LCA to Drive Industry Buy-In for Sustainable Construction

This webinar is part of the RAIC 2024 Conference on Architecture, now available to stream!

Topics:ÌýClimate Justice and Resiliency, Sustainability, Adaptation and Mitigation

Length:Ìý1 hour |ÌýWhat's Included:ÌýVideo, Quiz, andÌýCertificate of CompletionÌý

The current climate crisis calls for swift action, particularly from sectors like construction with high environmental impact. This presentation delves into mass timber's role as a game-changing solution for low-carbon construction, with a focus on educational and northern housing projects. We introduce two Ontario-based feasibility studies—one on mass timber primary schools, and another on modular housing in Northwestern Ontario's workforce communities.Ìý

These studies are critical for stakeholder engagement, offering data that can guide policy and industry practice. Utilizing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), cost-carbon analysis, and health metrics, the presentation aims to make a compelling case for the far-reaching benefits of mass timber—covering environmental, social, and governance aspects. We aim to accelerate industry innovation, influence policy, and highlight the need for sustainable materials to build a climate-resilient future.

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By the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Interpret the findings of feasibility studies, specifically those related to mass timber, as tools for convincing stakeholders of the material's viability, thereby aiding in policy-making and the adoption of new industry practices.
• Discuss the methods and importance of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), cost-carbon analysis, and health metrics in evaluating the sustainability and benefits of construction materials and methods.
• Recognize how the adoption of mass timber can offer comprehensive benefits, not just environmentally, but also in the social and governance dimensions, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.
• Identify mass timber as an innovative, sustainable material in low-carbon construction, with particular emphasis on its applications in educational facilities and northern housing projects.

Subject Matter Expert:

Veronica Madonna
OAA, MAA, M.Arch., B.E.D.S., B.Arch.Sc
Assistant Professor/Principal, Athabasca University/Studio VMA Inc

Veronica Madonna is an Assistant Professor at the RAIC Centre for Architecture at Athabasca University and founder of Studio VMA Inc, a design practice dedicated to forming symbiotic relationships between buildings, land, and communities. She is an award-winning architect andÌý ÌýFellow of the ¾ÅÖÝÖ±²¥ with over 20 years of professional experience leading innovative and sustainable building designs. At the centre of her practice is applying research to advance innovation towards a low carbon and regenerative future.