Calendar

The built environment generates almost 50% of global CO2 emissions. Architects, engineers, and building owners must work together and commit to net zero emissions by 2030 to reduce the impact on climate change as specified by various climate and decarbonization initiatives. Further, in order to address climate change and decarbonization, policymakers are enacting building performance laws that require buildings to meet certain performance standards. Design professionals are uniquely suited to mitigate help resolve the climate crisis through design, educating clients, and working with navigating policy requirements to advance decarbonization and build greener cities.

Join us at the District Architecture Center for the second DesignDC symposium of 2024.

8:30 - 9:00am: Coffee + Check-in

9:00am: Keynote: Strategies for Transformative Carbon Reduction
This session will address both the affordable housing crisis and climate resilience by focusing on two strategies: Office to Residential and Modular Construction.

• Selin Ozertugrul Ogutcu, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, FITWEL – Design Director, Gensler
• Duncan Lyons, RIBA, LEED® AP BD+C – Principal, Global Office Building Development Leader, Design Director, Gensler
• Paul Reibel, LEED AP – National Director, Surepods | Digital Building Components

10:15am: Slashing Carbon with an Analytical Sword – Three Case Studies from DC
Energy Shrink will share three case studies from DC — one iconic commercial building, and two multifamily buildings — for which the team of architects-turned-building scientists conducted simulations and identified possible measures that are technically feasible and achieve greater than 50% savings.

• Smita Chandra Thomas – Principal, Energy Shrink

11:30am: Beyond Scorecards – Connecting ESG Strategies to Sustainable Design 
Through case studies, best practices, and innovative approaches, this session aims to explain the symbiotic relationship between design and ESG objectives, and showcase how design choices influence carbon footprints, energy consumption, and overall sustainability performance beyond “checking the boxes” of a green building certification or code requirement.

• Lacey Lott, LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, BREEAM In-Use Assessor - Sr. Sustainability and ESG Project Manager, Baumann Consulting
• Jochen Schaefer, LEED AP - Sr. Sustainability Consultant and Director of Business Development, Baumann Consulting

12:30pm: Lunch, provided by the District Architecture Center

1:30pm: Multifamily Decarbonization and Higher Efficiency – Grabbing Past the Low Hanging Fruit
With advancing codes and programs, multifamily buildings are being challenged to both electrify and to become more energy efficient than ever before. While project design teams are typically familiar with the low hanging fruit for energy efficiency, more difficult energy efficiency decisions need to be made in order to meet updated efficiency goals. This session will focus on key components that affect operating energy and emissions of a multifamily building, and the next-step design decisions project teams can make to achieve higher levels of efficiency.

• Joseph Andracchio, PE, LEED AP - Green Verifier, Senior Mechanical Engineer, Steven Winter Associates
• Bruce Campbell, PE, CxA - Mechanical Department Head, Allen + Shariff Corporation
• Mohamed Seif Abaza, PE, CEM, CBCP, LEED AP - Commissioning, Allen + Shariff Corporation

2:30pm: Concrete + Getting to Zero Carbon
Prized for its durability, strength, and economy, concrete plays an outsized role in the building sector’s carbon footprint, contributing over 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. This panel discussion will analyze successful strategies for implementing low-carbon concrete on projects, including how to manage for cost and schedule. 

• Arathi Gowda, AIA – Principal, ZGF Architects (Moderator)
• Brian Earle, AIA – Principal, ZGF Architects
• Michael Cropper, PE, LEED AP – Associate Principal, Thornton Tomasetti Structural 
• Melanie Gourke, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP – Senior Associate, HITT Contracting
• Rachel Williams, AIA, LFA, LEED BD+ – Architect, ZGF Architects

3:45pm: Closing Remarks + Adjourn

Thank you to our sponsors:

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