Built Buildings Lab will be at AIA26, the annual conference of the American Institute of Architects, presenting two sessions: Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage and The Economic, Sustainability, and Urban Revitalization Case for Adaptive Reuse.
Decarbonizing the Built Environment Through Heritage
presented with the Climate Heritage Network
Discover the critical role of cultural heritage in climate action for the built environment. This session will showcase the transformative potential of heritage-based decarbonization, featuring examples from the United States and globally. Participants will hear from members of the Climate Heritage Network about how heritage solutions ranging from building reuse to materials circularity to traditional knowledge can offer low-carbon solutions for design professional and learn how to advocate for policies to unlock the potential of heritage.
The Economic, Sustainability, & Urban Revitalization Case for Adaptive Reuse
presented with KPF and the Urban Land Institute
In this session, combining an empirical study of the lifecycle carbon and economic impact of select reuse case studies with the real-world experience of a large architectural firm yields new insight into the particular benefits of adaptive reuse and the unique challenges these projects face. This session will share new research that quantifies the embodied carbon reductions associated with reuse at scale, as well as community and economic co-benefits. It will also explore how successful projects have overcome the regulatory and economic hurdles that can hinder adaptive reuse, helping architects find new opportunities to transform existing structures.