MIT Department of Architecture’s Post

A great article by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) about the role of architects, climate change, and the built envrionment. Check it out- https://lnkd.in/edRM3iPg

#tstransition Matthias Rammig: Climate protection and adaptation – Architecture Shaping Tomorrow I'm excited about my work in climate engineering. It allows me to pursue my passion for great architecture while consciously promoting sustainability in projects to advance climate protection in the building sector. It's up to us to minimize energy consumption now to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change head-on. Strategic planning and climate-responsive design are critical. We need to ensure that what we build today will be beneficial to the global climate in 2050 and beyond. It's not just about new construction; we also need to address the urgent issue of how to retrofit a significant portion of the existing building stock to protect the climate. That's why we've launched our internal Renovation Taskforce, which I chair. There are other important challenges ahead, such as empowering communities to build resilient cities for the future. We're eager to share our insights on effective climate protection and adaptation through teaching and speaking engagements. There is much to be done - our future and my profession remain exciting. Matthias Rammig is one of the ten new Associate Partners who will acquire shares in Transsolar and Transplan in the near future. With the ten new Associate Partners, we begin to diversify and build a solid foundation on which the generational transition can advance in a continuous and open way.

🌍 Exciting Innovation in Climate Resilience! 🌍 The University of Exeter, in partnership with Japan’s Takenaka Corporation, has unveiled Met.box, a groundbreaking climate-modelling tool that’s set to transform sustainable building design! This cutting-edge tool helps architects and engineers design buildings that can withstand future climate conditions, supporting both decarbonisation and resilience. 💬 "Climate change is not some problem for the future. It is happening now. In this project, we combine expertise in engineering and climate science to advise on how to climate-proof future buildings," said Professor Mat Collins, Joint Met Office Chair in Climate Change at Exeter. This innovative tool leverages future climate projections to inform everything from thermal loads to material selection, ensuring buildings are resilient in the face of extreme weather. 💬 Dr. Matt Eames added, "Tools like these are fundamental in helping us achieve net zero. They ensure we are designing buildings that can adapt to the impacts of climate change." 🔗 Read more about how Exeter is leading the charge in sustainable innovation: https://lnkd.in/dqB2Nm3z #ClimateChange #Sustainability #NetZero #BuildingInnovation #UniversityOfExeter #GreenBuilding #ClimateResilience #Decarbonization

How can we effectively design buildings for a future shaped by climate change without reliable future weather data? I'm thrilled to have actively engaged in and coordinated the groundbreaking collaboration between TAKENAKA Corporation and the University of Exeter, working alongside experts like Professor Mat Collins and Dr. Matt Eames. Together, we’ve developed Met.box—a comprehensive dataset of future weather projections designed to help architects and engineers create climate-resilient, zero-carbon buildings. We are deeply committed to developing tools like Met.box, which are essential in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change. By predicting extreme weather and future climate conditions, we're ensuring our buildings can meet the demands of tomorrow, while contributing to decarbonization efforts. I'm eager to see how tools like Met.box will shape the future of our industry, driving innovation and creating a more sustainable, resilient world. #SustainableDesign #ClimateResilience #Innovation #Metbox

2024, Day 107 (of climate impact posts): I came across an insightful article by my friend Ariane Laxo, and the related report by HGA titled "Climate Forward? How Climate Projections Are(n’t) Used to Inform Design," and it's a must-read for architects and engineers. The report highlights that while A&E professionals are aware of and interested in using climate projection data in their work, few firms are regularly using projections to inform design decisions. The report also points out that sustainable design services are primarily focused on climate change mitigation (reducing carbon emissions) and do not often include designing for climate change resilience (design measures that factor in the projected climate over the lifespan of the building and systems). As someone who values resilience in building and infrastructure design, I view these points as calls to action. We know what we need to do, now we just have to do it. Let's work together to develop industry standards, mandates, guidance, and training for using climate projections in A&E applications. Thank you, BuildingGreen, Inc, Nash Emrich for surfacing this report and the informative graphic. Check out the graphic and the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gJED--Pd #climate #climateresilience #buildingresilience #climatedata #designforresilience

How do you identify greenwashing? It’s important we grasp how our choices in the built environment are affecting our world — are we making truly impactful decisions, or are we just following trends? On Wednesday 12 June our Associate Director Alex Lynes will be joining climate enthusiasts and industry leaders to discuss the challenges of climate change and sustainability. Organised by The Institution of Structural Engineers, the online talk will guide, educate, and expand our perspectives on how we can drive positive change in the face of climate challenges, unlocking the tools and strategies used to address the climate emergency. Find out more and book your place: https://bit.ly/4dNkh67 #greenwashing #sustainability #climateemergency #engineering #structuralengineering #architecture #builtenvironment #events #onlinetalk #seminar 

Sustain the Future: Unite for Lower PPM, Build with Purpose! Thank you for joining us today to delve into a topic of utmost significance—the escalating concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Yet, before we immerse ourselves in the intricacies of statistics, allow me to pose a different kind of number—a number that encapsulates our shared responsibility for environmental stewardship. What's your number? Not your age or contact details, but the atmospheric CO2 parts per million (ppm) from the year you entered this world. For those born in the 1970s, that number stands at a sobering 350 ppm. If you're approaching a century of life, you took your first breath in an era when the atmosphere held a mere 300 ppm. Fast forward to the present, and we find ourselves on the cusp of 419 ppm. This is not just a numerical abstraction; it's an urgent reality that demands our immediate and collective attention. Take a moment to gaze upon the charts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory : ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ec6fJ2Sq The trajectory is as #alarming as it is undeniable. As a generation, we've borne witness to a profound shift in our climate, a shift laid bare by unassailable numerical evidence. We find ourselves at a pivotal juncture where inaction is not merely ill-advised; it is an imperative. This compels us to rally behind a call to our political leaders across Europe—an appeal to hasten the expansion of life cycle assessment (LCA) boundaries within the construction industry. Why postpone the inevitable? The LCA framework is not just conceptual; it is established, agreed upon—awaiting activation of boundaries such as B3 that promise substantial impact. The industry has declared its preparedness to build in harmony with scientific understanding. Yet, we lack the essential common ground and legislative support required to propel this transformative change on a grand scale. To the builders, engineers, architects, sustainability consultants, and other skilled professionals throughout Europe: your expertise is our greatest asset. We implore you to share your insights and experiences from building projects, particularly those integrating the B3 phase in the calculations. Your knowledge is pivotal in shaping the trajectory of sustainable construction. We stand at a juncture of historic significance, and the decisions we make today will echo through the corridors of time. Let us assume the role of architects crafting a future where our buildings stand not only as symbols of human achievement but as living testaments to our unwavering commitment to the environment—a future where wooden structures grace our skylines, offering a tangible contribution to a healthier and more sustainable planet. Discover the Future: Explore Our Catalogues for Sustainable Wooden Construction: https://lnkd.in/dMv2bNi ➡️ #timber #TimberToZero #CO2CraftedHomes

Sustain the future: Unite for lower PPM, build with purpose! Thank you for joining us today to delve into a topic of utmost significance—the escalating concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Yet, before we immerse ourselves in the intricacies of statistics, allow me to pose a different kind of number—a number that encapsulates our shared responsibility for environmental stewardship. What's your number? Not your age or contact details, but the atmospheric CO2 parts per million (ppm) from the year you entered this world. For those born in the 1970s, that number stands at a sobering 350 ppm. If you're approaching a century of life, you took your first breath in an era when the atmosphere held a mere 300 ppm. Fast forward to the present, and we find ourselves on the cusp of 427 ppm. This is not just a numerical abstraction; it's an urgent reality that demands our immediate and collective attention. Take a moment to gaze upon the charts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory : ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ec6fJ2Sq The trajectory is as #alarming as it is undeniable. As a generation, we've borne witness to a profound shift in our climate, a shift laid bare by unassailable numerical evidence. We find ourselves at a pivotal juncture where inaction is not merely ill-advised; it is an imperative. This compels us to rally behind a call to our political leaders across Europe—an appeal to hasten the expansion of life cycle assessment (LCA) boundaries within the construction industry. Why postpone the inevitable? The LCA framework is not just conceptual; it is established, agreed upon—awaiting activation of boundaries such as B3 that promise substantial impact. The industry has declared its preparedness to build in harmony with scientific understanding. Yet, we lack the essential common ground and legislative support required to propel this transformative change on a grand scale. To the builders, engineers, architects, sustainability consultants, and other skilled professionals throughout Europe: your expertise is our greatest asset. We implore you to share your insights and experiences from building projects, particularly those integrating the B3 phase in the calculations. Your knowledge is pivotal in shaping the trajectory of sustainable construction. We stand at a juncture of historic significance, and the decisions we make today will echo through the corridors of time. Let us assume the role of architects crafting a future where our buildings stand not only as symbols of human achievement but as living testaments to our unwavering commitment to the environment—a future where wooden structures grace our skylines, offering a tangible contribution to a healthier and more sustainable planet. Discover the Future: Explore Our Catalogues for Sustainable Wooden Construction: https://lnkd.in/dMv2bNi ➡️ #timber #TimberToZero #CO2CraftedHomes

Sustain the Future: Unite for Lower PPM, Build with Purpose! Thank you for joining us today to delve into a topic of utmost significance—the escalating concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Yet, before we immerse ourselves in the intricacies of statistics, allow me to pose a different kind of number—a number that encapsulates our shared responsibility for environmental stewardship. What's your number? Not your age or contact details, but the atmospheric CO2 parts per million (ppm) from the year you entered this world. For those born in the 1970s, that number stands at a sobering 350 ppm. If you're approaching a century of life, you took your first breath in an era when the atmosphere held a mere 300 ppm. Fast forward to the present, and we find ourselves on the cusp of 427 ppm. This is not just a numerical abstraction; it's an urgent reality that demands our immediate and collective attention. Take a moment to gaze upon the charts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory : ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ec6fJ2Sq The trajectory is as #alarming as it is undeniable. As a generation, we've borne witness to a profound shift in our climate, a shift laid bare by unassailable numerical evidence. We find ourselves at a pivotal juncture where inaction is not merely ill-advised; it is an imperative. This compels us to rally behind a call to our political leaders across Europe—an appeal to hasten the expansion of life cycle assessment (LCA) boundaries within the construction industry. Why postpone the inevitable? The LCA framework is not just conceptual; it is established, agreed upon—awaiting activation of boundaries such as B3 that promise substantial impact. The industry has declared its preparedness to build in harmony with scientific understanding. Yet, we lack the essential common ground and legislative support required to propel this transformative change on a grand scale. To the builders, engineers, architects, sustainability consultants, and other skilled professionals throughout Europe: your expertise is our greatest asset. We implore you to share your insights and experiences from building projects, particularly those integrating the B3 phase in the calculations. Your knowledge is pivotal in shaping the trajectory of sustainable construction. We stand at a juncture of historic significance, and the decisions we make today will echo through the corridors of time. Let us assume the role of architects crafting a future where our buildings stand not only as symbols of human achievement but as living testaments to our unwavering commitment to the environment—a future where wooden structures grace our skylines, offering a tangible contribution to a healthier and more sustainable planet. Discover the future: Explore our catalogues for sustainable wooden construction: https://lnkd.in/dMv2bNi ➡️ #timber #TimberToZero #CO2CraftedHomes

The Future of Sustainable Cooling in Buildings 17 September 2024 19:00 - 20:30 Limiting global mean temperature rise to 1.5ºC is becoming increasingly challenging, as regions worldwide are experiencing more frequent, intense, and longer heat events. To address this urgent issue and prepare for a hotter world, climate adaptation interventions are necessary on a global scale. In this talk, Dr Jesus Lizana will introduce the latest research advances addressed by the Future of Cooling Programme at the University of Oxford. The presentation will focus on recent findings on climate projections, highlighting which regions will be more affected by rising temperatures, and the necessary steps in the right order to address sustainable cooling in the built environment globally. https://lnkd.in/eGYnm6jn