Duration: 6 weeks, 1/2 units per week (24 hours)
Module Introduction
This module aims to nurture the future sustainability leaders and their ability to manage the complexity of the ecological and social transition to the post-carbon era.
Module Focus
In order to mitigate the consequences of climate change and to reduce CO2 emissions in the construction sector there is a rising need of professional figures able to address energy efficiency, climate neutral design approaches, climate resilience and circular economy. The module goal is to provide an understanding of the principles, strategies and tools for the enforcement of green and sustainable buildings, from design stages to construction and operations, and the creation of resilient, ecological and regenerative solutions for urban environments through an interdisciplinary and integrated approach.
The Structure
Classes will last be divided in 6 units as below.- 1. Module Introduction and Climate Neutral Design
- 2. Circular Design
- 3. ESG Frameworks
- 4. Sustainability Certifications
- 5. Resilience and Social Inclusion
- 6. Digitally-enabled Green Management
GB01 - Introduction to Green Buildings and Climate Neutral Design (1 Unit- 4 Hours Lecture + Seminar)
2 November 2022
Climate Neutral Design provides insight into the climate change mitigation and adaptation approach. The effects of climate change are increasingly tangible, and no one is exempt from the extreme risks posed by a warming world. By analysing the implications of the Paris Agreement target of limiting the global warming to 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels, it provides explanation of the concept of Net Zero Carbon design at building and urban scale and outlines key-measures for its future implementation.
The module starts with an outline of the main Sustainable Development pillars of Decarbonisation, Circularity and Resilience in order to put these key-topics in the context of the construction industry supply chain . It follows with framing the green building rating systems available in the market and their ongoing evolution to finish with the outline of the strategic transformation of Green Management enabled by Digital and BIM.
2 November 2022
Climate Neutral Design provides insight into the climate change mitigation and adaptation approach. The effects of climate change are increasingly tangible, and no one is exempt from the extreme risks posed by a warming world. By analysing the implications of the Paris Agreement target of limiting the global warming to 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels, it provides explanation of the concept of Net Zero Carbon design at building and urban scale and outlines key-measures for its future implementation.
The module starts with an outline of the main Sustainable Development pillars of Decarbonisation, Circularity and Resilience in order to put these key-topics in the context of the construction industry supply chain . It follows with framing the green building rating systems available in the market and their ongoing evolution to finish with the outline of the strategic transformation of Green Management enabled by Digital and BIM.
GB02 - Circular Design (1 Unit- 03 Hours Lecture + Seminar)
8 November 2022
The circular transition is an urgent matter for the construction sector and a necessary step for companies after recovery from Covid-19 restrictions and to align with the European Green Deal . Moving towards a truly circular economy will not be achieved in one step.
This session is intended to raise awareness on circular Design approaches and principles for building elements and interiors and their practical application to Arup projects through an overview of the Circular Buildings Toolkit (CBT) , developed by Arup and the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation (EMF), bringing together EMFs knowledge about systemic change and system design as well as Arup expertise of the construction industry, its stakeholders, barriers and supply chains. The toolkit is an open-source practical framework that brings together strategies a set of practical strategies and measures that can help your organization’s approach this systemic shift with confidence, supported by a growing library of real-world examples for designing more circular buildings.
8 November 2022
The circular transition is an urgent matter for the construction sector and a necessary step for companies after recovery from Covid-19 restrictions and to align with the European Green Deal . Moving towards a truly circular economy will not be achieved in one step.
This session is intended to raise awareness on circular Design approaches and principles for building elements and interiors and their practical application to Arup projects through an overview of the Circular Buildings Toolkit (CBT) , developed by Arup and the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation (EMF), bringing together EMFs knowledge about systemic change and system design as well as Arup expertise of the construction industry, its stakeholders, barriers and supply chains. The toolkit is an open-source practical framework that brings together strategies a set of practical strategies and measures that can help your organization’s approach this systemic shift with confidence, supported by a growing library of real-world examples for designing more circular buildings.
GB03 - ESG Frameworks (1 Unit- 04 Hours Lecture + Seminar)
11 November 2022
ESG generally means a broad set of environmental, social and corporate governance considerations that may impact a company’s ability to execute its business strategy and create value over the long term (Nasdaq,2019). The emergence of ESG as significant performance index marks the increasing importance of reporting on non-financial matters in a transparent and efficient way. ESG provides a conceptual framework of the Environmental, Social and Governance approach that can be applied to every phase of a project, from planning to construction and building management. The lesson’s goal is to provide an understanding of the principles, strategies, and metrics of the ESG approach and to put in value the links that may be drawn from ESG to UNSDGs or to the EU Taxonomy requirements.
11 November 2022
ESG generally means a broad set of environmental, social and corporate governance considerations that may impact a company’s ability to execute its business strategy and create value over the long term (Nasdaq,2019). The emergence of ESG as significant performance index marks the increasing importance of reporting on non-financial matters in a transparent and efficient way. ESG provides a conceptual framework of the Environmental, Social and Governance approach that can be applied to every phase of a project, from planning to construction and building management. The lesson’s goal is to provide an understanding of the principles, strategies, and metrics of the ESG approach and to put in value the links that may be drawn from ESG to UNSDGs or to the EU Taxonomy requirements.
GB04 - Sustainability Certifications (2 Units - 06 Hours Lecture + Seminar)
23 November 2022
Sustainability Certifications describes what an environmental sustainability protocol is and how it applies to the different uses of a building, a complex of buildings or an infrastructural work. An overview of the most popular rating systems will be presented, identifying the focus of each one with respect to the triple bottom line (People, Planet, Profit). The contents of LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL and FIT WEL rating systems will be discussed. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widespread certification system in the world. It is applicable in its different families at different scales of intervention (from the city to the neighborhood, to the building to the commercial interior) and to various types of intervention (renovations and new buildings, operational life and maintenance). LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-effective green buildings and masterplans.
Living Building Challenge ("Imagine a building that is as efficient as a flower") is a protocol that aims to achieve buildings designed with a regenerative approach that allows occupants to connect with light, air, food, nature and community to promote the well-being of the people and the natural environment.
Well/Fitwel Certification analyses the two most important Health&Wellbeing rating systems available in the market for the design, development and operations of buildings and communities.
Real project references and targeted exercises will complement the theoretical lesson.
23 November 2022
Sustainability Certifications describes what an environmental sustainability protocol is and how it applies to the different uses of a building, a complex of buildings or an infrastructural work. An overview of the most popular rating systems will be presented, identifying the focus of each one with respect to the triple bottom line (People, Planet, Profit). The contents of LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL and FIT WEL rating systems will be discussed. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widespread certification system in the world. It is applicable in its different families at different scales of intervention (from the city to the neighborhood, to the building to the commercial interior) and to various types of intervention (renovations and new buildings, operational life and maintenance). LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-effective green buildings and masterplans.
Living Building Challenge ("Imagine a building that is as efficient as a flower") is a protocol that aims to achieve buildings designed with a regenerative approach that allows occupants to connect with light, air, food, nature and community to promote the well-being of the people and the natural environment.
Well/Fitwel Certification analyses the two most important Health&Wellbeing rating systems available in the market for the design, development and operations of buildings and communities.
Real project references and targeted exercises will complement the theoretical lesson.
GB05 – Resilience and Social Inclusion (1 Unit- 03 Hours Lecture + Seminar)
29 November 2022
The latest IPCC report from 2021 states beyond doubt that manmade climate change already had, and will continue to have, significant negative effects that require urgent and widespread adaptation and resilience action. The built environment –buildings, cities and people– are exposed to a range of increasing natural hazards, with destructive forces. Only in 2021, it is estimated that flooding across Europe caused hundreds of deaths and billions of euros in damage. Other effects of climate change, though not destructive, have equally significant impact on infrastructure, cities and people. Suffices to consider the worst drought conditions in centuries affecting Europe since January 2022, which put enormous water-stress on cities and economic sectors; or the average increase in temperature that affect comfort durably. The negative effects of climate change will extend and increase well into this century, to proportions that are difficult to estimate.
Climate change is also likely to exacerbate social divide and inequalities in cities, widening gaps between different groups in society. Climate impacts fall disproportionately on certain vulnerable groups, in particular on women and children. This is because climate events compound with other challenges facing these groups, including discrimination, inadequate basic services and support, and limited say in decision making, all of which reduce their ability to cope with the impacts of climate events. Women and children make up the majority of climate-related deaths and displacement – 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. At the same time, if properly involved in decision making and planning, women and children can be powerful agents of change and resilience building. Designers and planners are called upon integrating uncertainty and inequalities into every step of their work flow and find new ways to design for resilience and social inclusion.
The module will be divided in two main components: the first two hours will be dedicated to the practice and methods for understanding risks induced by climate change, their implications on design across multiple disciplines, and climate-resilient design solutions. For this, a series of examples will be shown from global practice to illustrate how climate resilience should inform design. The second two hours of the module will focus on the ‘social’ implications of climate change, and will present practical approaches, tools and case studies to guide efforts to plan for climate resilience that support the most vulnerable groups, in particular women and children, and that promote collaboration and co-ordination among key stakeholders.
29 November 2022
The latest IPCC report from 2021 states beyond doubt that manmade climate change already had, and will continue to have, significant negative effects that require urgent and widespread adaptation and resilience action. The built environment –buildings, cities and people– are exposed to a range of increasing natural hazards, with destructive forces. Only in 2021, it is estimated that flooding across Europe caused hundreds of deaths and billions of euros in damage. Other effects of climate change, though not destructive, have equally significant impact on infrastructure, cities and people. Suffices to consider the worst drought conditions in centuries affecting Europe since January 2022, which put enormous water-stress on cities and economic sectors; or the average increase in temperature that affect comfort durably. The negative effects of climate change will extend and increase well into this century, to proportions that are difficult to estimate.
Climate change is also likely to exacerbate social divide and inequalities in cities, widening gaps between different groups in society. Climate impacts fall disproportionately on certain vulnerable groups, in particular on women and children. This is because climate events compound with other challenges facing these groups, including discrimination, inadequate basic services and support, and limited say in decision making, all of which reduce their ability to cope with the impacts of climate events. Women and children make up the majority of climate-related deaths and displacement – 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. At the same time, if properly involved in decision making and planning, women and children can be powerful agents of change and resilience building. Designers and planners are called upon integrating uncertainty and inequalities into every step of their work flow and find new ways to design for resilience and social inclusion.
The module will be divided in two main components: the first two hours will be dedicated to the practice and methods for understanding risks induced by climate change, their implications on design across multiple disciplines, and climate-resilient design solutions. For this, a series of examples will be shown from global practice to illustrate how climate resilience should inform design. The second two hours of the module will focus on the ‘social’ implications of climate change, and will present practical approaches, tools and case studies to guide efforts to plan for climate resilience that support the most vulnerable groups, in particular women and children, and that promote collaboration and co-ordination among key stakeholders.
GB06 - Digitally-enabled Green Management (1 Units - 03 Hours Lecture + Seminar)
29 November 2022
Digitally-enabled Green Management presents an overview of the strategic contribution and influence Digital and Building Information Modelling can generate to achieve the sustainable objectives across the whole construction supply chain. Digital modelling, BIM processes, data collection, analysis and visualization are the new working environment for the future Green managers.
29 November 2022
Digitally-enabled Green Management presents an overview of the strategic contribution and influence Digital and Building Information Modelling can generate to achieve the sustainable objectives across the whole construction supply chain. Digital modelling, BIM processes, data collection, analysis and visualization are the new working environment for the future Green managers.
Module Leader
Paolo Cresci - Sustainable Development Leader Arup Italia Paolo Cresci is an Associate Director at Arup. Based in Milan, he is the Italy Sustainable Development Leader and a member of the Arup Europe Region Climate and Sustainability Leadership. Over the last 20 years Paolo has developed a significant international experience leading multidisciplinary teams in the delivery of innovative and highly sustainable projects across city, masterplan and building scale. Design focused, he is passionate about supporting architects and designers through an integrated and creative approach that always fosters quality. He is a lecturer in several universities and regularly participates at conferences promoting an integrated and science-based approach to sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation and to support the transition to a regenerative economy based on circularity principles. He has been the Curator of 2017 Domus Green “People and Nature in the age of Technology” and 2019 Domus EcoWorld “The UN Global Goals in practice”.