Design Exchange: Innovations for a Changing Climate

EventVirtual

In Partnership with The New York Climate Exchange

The Municipal Art Society is thrilled to partner with The New York Climate Exchange on a breakfast learning session focused on innovative design for a changing climate. The session will include presentations on sustainable design features of The Exchange campus and the NYCEDC Mass Timber Studio, and a discussion with experts exploring opportunities and challenges for larger scale applications of mass timber.

The built environment contributes nearly half of annual global CO2 emissions. While most emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels to heat, cool and light buildings, a significant amount comes from building materials. Concrete, steel, and aluminum alone account for 23% of global greenhouse gases, more than all forms of transportation combined.

In the 2023 PlaNYC report outlining sustainability goals and priorities, the City committed to reducing embodied carbon emissions for new buildings, infrastructure and major retrofits by 50 percent. Can mass timber and other building material innovations help us meet that goal?

Speakers will include Cristobal Correa, design principal, Buro Happold and professor, Pratt Institute School of Architecture; Julia Murphy, partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); Jesse Weiss, assistant vice president, Green Economy, NYC Economic Development Corporation; and Lindsey Wikstrom, founding principal, Mattaforma. Moderated by Keri Butler, MAS interim president.

Join us on Friday, March 28th for an informative discussion on design innovations for a changing climate.

Doors at 9 AM, event at 9:15 AM with a networking reception to follow. Breakfast will be provided. Questions? Email us at events@mas.org.

THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT AND THE WAITLIST IS FULL

Friday, March 28
9:00 AM — 11:00 AM

Skanska
350 5th Avenue, 37th Floor
New York, NY 10118

Tickets:
Free!

Illustrative rendering courtesy of The New York Climate Exchange and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

About The New York Climate Exchange

Climate change is an escalating global crisis that threatens every person, community, organization, economy, and ecosystem. Impactful solutions to this crisis are not being implemented at speed and scale. Unprecedented, inclusive collaboration is required. The New York Climate Exchange (“The Exchange”) is a new nonprofit that unlocks climate solutions at speed and scale by activating a broad, multi-stakeholder model. Our physical campus, coming to Governors Island in 2029, will serve as a global hub for climate research, education, convening and innovation. This facility represents a major investment in the future of Governors Island and a key component in NYC’s plan to establish itself as the global hub for climate innovation. Learn more at nyclimateexchange.org.

About the Mass Timber Studio

The NYC Mass Timber Studio broadens awareness, identifies new opportunities, and accelerates the use of mass timber practices in New York City. The Studio’s goals include raising public awareness of the environmental and economic benefits and beauty of mass timber construction, introducing more practitioners to the details and feasibility of mass timber construction, identifying development opportunities resulting in new building and infrastructure projects in New York City constructed with mass timber, and promoting regulatory clarity and prudent code reforms that make the use of mass timber construction more feasible while ensuring fire safety. The Mass Timber Studio’s first cohort of awardees explored the following focus areas: navigating regulatory frameworks, innovative project delivery, technical feasibility, sustainability and resiliency, and community & equity. The projects spanned across all five boroughs and included diverse building typologies and scales – from community centers and recreation centers to multi–family residential and industrial adaptive reuse developments.

About the Municipal Art Society (MAS)

The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) lifts up the voices of the people in the debates that shape New York’s built environment and leads the way toward a more livable city from sidewalk to skyline. MAS envisions a future in which all New Yorkers share in the richness of city life—where growth is balanced, character endures, and a resilient future is secured.

Over its 130-year history, MAS’s advocacy efforts have led to the creation of city agencies that shape the built environment such as the New York City Planning Commission, Public Design Commission, the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the recent creation of the city’s Chief Public Realm Officer. MAS campaigns have led to the preservation of Grand Central Terminal, St. Bartholomew’s Church, Radio City Music Hall, the lights of Times Square, and the Garment District; and the conservation of more than 50 works of public art.