Record on the Road Boston
Boston
February 19, 2025
MIT Media Lab
9:30 AM - 6 PM
Approved for 4 AIA LU/HSW, Additional credits submitted for AIA CES approval
Sustainability in Practice
Architectural Record, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, invites you to join us for this special annual event. As the third conference in the series, it offers architects, allied design professionals, and students an unparalleled opportunity to connect in a relaxed atmosphere while learning about:
- Recycling building materials and circularity
- Innovative retrofit projects
- Urban regeneration
- Carbon impacts of landscapes
- Achieving net-zero carbon in buildings
This complimentary day-long event features multiple networking opportunities, thought-provoking discussions, and culminates with a cocktail reception to cap off the program.
Mark your calendar and join us for a transformative dialogue on design and sustainability.
Speakers
Merritt Bucholz
Director
Bucholz McEvoy Architects
Chris Hardy, PLA, ISA CA
Senior Associate
Sasaki
John Ochsendorf
Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Juliana Berglund-Brown
PhD Researcher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ilias Papageorgiou
Founder
PILA
Anne Whiston Spirn
Professor of Landscape
Architecture and Planning, MIT
Josephine Minutillo
Editor in Chief
Architectural Record
Joann Gonchar, FAIA
Deputy Editor
Architectural Record
Agenda
10:00 AM
Registration Check-In
11:00 AM
Tech-Driven Sustainability: Empowering Architects to Design for a Resilient Future
Ellis Herman, Principal Product Manager, Autodesk
Giuseppe Ardito, Senior Product Owner, Autodesk
Achieving zero carbon emissions in the built environment is a challenge, but architects and designers can lead the way—if we have the right tools. In this session, we’ll explore how innovative workflows enable architects to reduce carbon from the outset of every project by managing both operational and embodied carbon in real time. We’ll discuss why early carbon analysis is essential, and how democratizing access to this data empowers all design professionals to make impactful, informed decisions. With the right tools, we can accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral buildings. This hands-on session will provide practical applications you can implement immediately and will foster a lively discussion on the collaborative, iterative process of decarbonization. Whether you’re an architect, educator, or student, this session will offer valuable insights into the future of sustainable design.
Sponsored by:
11:30 AM
Permasteelisa: Pioneering Low Carbon Facades - Permasteelisa Group Path to Zero
Permasteelisa Group, a leading global contractor in advanced facade systems, is at the forefront of sustainable innovation in construction. This presentation explores Permasteelisa’s strategic commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, highlighting its pioneering low-carbon facade solutions. The discussion will showcase the group's approach to sustainability, its use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to measure and minimize environmental impact, and its innovative strategies for designing and constructing low-carbon curtain walls. Through cutting-edge technology, advanced materials, and collaborative design methodologies, Permasteelisa is setting the benchmark for environmentally responsible facade systems.
Sponsored by:
12:00 PM
Lunch Break
1:00 PM
Lunch and Learn
Sponsored by:
1:20 PM
Networking Break
1:30 PM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Josephine Minutillo, Editor in Chief, Architectural Record
Nicholas de Monchaux, Professor and Head of Architecture, MIT
2:00 PM
The Rebirth of Piraeus Tower
Ilias Papageorgiou, Founder, PILA
Abandoned for 50 years, Piraeus Tower—the second tallest building in Greece—has been transformed into a new landmark at the Port of Piraeus, embracing sustainable strategies and circular economy principles.
2:45 PM
Designing for Circularity
John Ochsendorf, Professor, MIT
Juliana Berglund-Brown, PhD Researcher, MIT
Recent research at MIT has developed radically lower carbon structures by questioning basic assumptions about material sources and uses. Several projects will demonstrate how creative design teams can deploy material circularity in construction today.
3:00 PM
Sustainability Myths and Realities of Structural Steel
Brian Raff, Vice President of the American Institute of Steel Construction, AISC
This presentation dispels common myths about the environmental sustainability of the U.S. structural steel industry. It explains the two primary methods of steel production (BOF and EAF) and their environmental impacts, focusing on the benefits of the EAF process which uses recycled steel scrap as its primary input. The presentation also details how the industry uses Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to transparently report the environmental impact of its products. It also compares the carbon emissions of the U.S. steel industry to other countries and industries, highlighting its relatively low emissions. Finally, the presentation emphasizes the recyclability of steel and its minimal contribution to landfill waste.
3:25 PM
Networking Break
4:25 PM
The Nature of Cities: Ecology, Culture, and Carbon
Moderator: Joann Gonchar, FAIA, Deputy Editor, Architectural Record
Anne Whiston Spirn, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Planning, MIT
Chris Hardy, Senior Associate, Sasaki
This panel will explore the role of landscape architecture in urban settings and its potential to heal ecosystems, sequester carbon, and create more equitable and just communities.
5:10 PM
Crafting Breathing Architecture
Merritt Bucholz, Director, Bucholz McEvoy ArchitectsDublin-based Bucholz McEvoy Architects will discuss their work in climate attuned architecture and the evolution of the work over time through a series of civic projects.
6:00 PM
Reception
Location
MIT Media Lab
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
75 Amherst St.
Cambridge MA 02139