These three workshops, spread across three weeks, will look at bridging the green skills agenda gap in Northern Ireland, with discussion on climate change, sustainability, global and local case studies on sustainable practices in design, and implementation of these ideas into Belfast as an ambitious “green” city. Attendees will focus on next steps for implementing these skills into their respective organisations.
It will be a timely opportunity to discuss the development of sustainability in Belfast, what our strengths and weaknesses are, what we can improve on from learning from other countries at the forefront of climate mitigation, and learn from the younger generation on ways new ideas and concepts can spring forth.
Attendees will receive a certificate upon completion of workshop.
Teas and refreshments will be provided on each workshop day.
| Dates | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10am to 3:30pm | Boardroom, BD-07-004, Belfast campus, York Street, BT15 1ED |
Workshop Content
Day 1
- First session: What is the project, its aims and objectives, what are the UN SDGs, climate change introduction.
- Second session: Introduction to UK & Ireland regulations, Nearly Zero Energy Legislation, Voluntary Initiatives, e.g., LETI; RIBA; UKGBC.
- Third session: Belfast Resilience Strategy and local and international case studies.
- Fourth session: Group breakout discussion and activity.
Day 2
- First session: Introduction to Lessons Learned from Norway: Net Zero Emission Buildings, ZEB ambition levels and '10 Steps to ZEB'.
- Second session: Introduction to Zero Emission Neighbourhoods and ZEN KPIs.
- Third session: ZEB and ZEN Pilots - Key strategies used.
- Fourth session: Introduction to Mobility, Transport and Spatial Quality.
- Fifth session: Reducing Building Related Emissions Through Retrofit in Northern Ireland.
- Sixth session: Sustainable Insight through Visualisation and Digital Twins.
- Final session: Group breakout discussion and activity.
Day 3
- First session: Pathways to ZEB: Reducing Material Emissions e.g. showcasing role of timber/embodied emissions – UK examples, case studies, benefits.
- Second session: Retrofitting – benefits, case studies.
- Third session: Renewables – active systems – benefits, case studies.
- Fourth session: Interactive/group activity and breakout discussion on Sustainable practices and Future Climate Resilience.
- Fifth session: Understanding Whole Life Carbon - Awareness Webinar
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10am | Registration and refreshments. |
| 10:30am | Guest welcome and introduction to the Lord Mayor of Belfast by Professor Paul Seawright, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University. |
| 10:35am | Opening of workshop by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl. |
| 10:45am | Launch of workshop and introduction to the project and project team by Professor Raffaella Folli, Principal Investigator of Architects of Change. |
| 11am | Introduction to the “Architects of Change programme: Global context, discussing the climate change emergency, climate adaptation and resilience” by Rory Magee, MArch student. |
| 11:40am | Presentation on “Local Context and Mitigation Pathways: Introduction to UK & Ireland regulations, Nearly Zero Energy Legislation and Voluntary Initiatives” by Ben James, PhD Researcher. |
| 12:20pm | Lunch break – refreshments provided, with short talk by Joe O'Neill, Chief Executive of Belfast Harbour Commissioners. |
| 1:20pm | Presentation on “What We Can Learn from the Belfast Resilience Strategy and Local and International Case Studies” by Cathal Mc Kenna, MArch Student. |
| 2pm | Interactive workshop task/group activity by Rory Magee, Caolán McCaughley and Cathal Mc Kenna, MArch students. |
| 3pm | Closing of workshop by Grainia Long, Chief Executive of NI Housing Executive. |
| 3:30pm | End of workshop. |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10am | Registration and refreshments. |
| 10:30am | Guest welcome and introduction to the project by Dr Jayanta Mondol, Co-Principal Investigator of Architects of Change. |
| 10:40am | Launch of second workshop and introduction to the project team by Professor Aoife Houlihan Wiberg, Co-Principal Investigator of Architects of Change. |
| 10:50am | Recap of previous day's topics and introduction to the workshop schedule by Jenny Jackson, Architects of Change Research Assistant/Project Lead. |
| 11am | Presentation on “Introduction to Lessons Learned from Norway: Net Zero Emission Buildings, ZEB ambition levels and 10 Steps to ZEB” by Caolán McCaughley, MArch student. |
| 11:40am | Presentation on “Introduction to Zero Emission Neighbourhoods and ZEN KPIs” by Rory Magee, March student. |
| 12:20pm | Lunch break – refreshments provided. |
| 1:20pm | Presentation on “ZEB and ZEN Pilots – Key Strategies used” by Cathal Mc Kenna, MArch student. |
| 1:40pm | Presentation on “Mobility, Transport and Spatial Quality” by Caolán McCaughley, MArch student. |
| 2:05pm | Presentation on "Reducing Building Related Emissions Through Retrofit in Northern Ireland" by Ben James, PhD Researcher. |
| 2:25pm | Presentation on “Sustainable Insight through Visualisation and Digital Twins” by Ryan Johnston, PhD Researcher. |
| 2:45pm | Interactive workshop task/group activity by Rory Magee, Caolán McCaughley and Cathal Mc Kenna, MArch students. |
| 3:15pm | Talk by David Gavaghan, Founder Aurora Prime Real Estate Limited and closing of workshop. |
| 3:30pm | End of workshop. |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10am | Registration and refreshments. |
| 10:15am | Guest welcome and introduction to the project by Professor Raffaella Folli, Principal Investigator of Architects of Change. |
| 10:20am | Launch of second workshop and introduction to presentations by Professor Aoife Houlihan Wiberg, Co-Principal Investigator of Architects of Change. |
| 10:30am | Short talk by Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber of Trade & Commerce. |
| 10:40am | Recap of previous day's topics and introduction to the workshop schedule by Jenny Jackson, Architects of Change Research Assistant/Project Lead. |
| 10:45am | Presentation on “Pathways to ZEB — Reducing Material Emissions: benefits and case studies” by Rory Magee, MArch student. |
| 11:20am | Presentation on “Architectural Reuse: benefits and case studies” by Cathal Mc Kenna, MArch student. |
| 12pm | Lunch break – refreshments provided. |
| 12:30pm | Presentation on “Renewables – active systems and their benefits” by Caolán McCaughley, MArch student. |
| 1:10pm | Workshop task/group activity on Sustainable Practices and Future Climate Resilience by Rory Magee, Caolán McCaughley and Cathal Mc Kenna, MArch students. |
| 1:50pm | Talk by Professor Alastair Adair, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Greater Belfast Development and closing of workshop. |
| 2pm | End of Architects of Change workshop. |
| 2pm-3:30pm | Understanding Whole Life Carbon - Awareness Webinar Keynote Speaker: Professor Aoife Houlihan Wiberg, The Belfast School of Architecture & the Built Environment, Ulster University, UK Speaker: Iain Greenway, Department for Communities Speaker: Dr Barry McCarron, South West College |
What you will learn
Participants will discuss climate change, nearly zero energy building legislation and current UK & Ireland legislation, carbon emissions and regional and urban sustainability. They will also learn about local and global case studies — from Norway, Austria, China — on sustainable practices in design, and discover ways they can implement this knowledge into their own companies.
Each workshop, spread across three weeks, will teach the participants how they can adopt international success stories into their own organisations to drive the change they wish to see in the world.
Objectives
To address and build upon green skills, introduce net zero carbon agenda into organisations, and to combat climate change and emergency.
Contents
This course will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to programme: aims and objectives, context and relevance.
- Global Context & Mitigation Pathways: Climate change, climate emergency, Global GHG Emissions, Climate Adaptation & Resilience.
- Local Context & Mitigation Pathways: Introduction to UK and Ireland regulations, Nearly Zero Building Legislation, Belfast Resilience Strategy.
- Lesson Learned from Norway: Introduction to Net Zero Emission Buildings & ZEB ambition levels, 10 Steps to ZEB: Trias Energetica, Mobility, Spatial Quality and Transport, Introduction to Net Zero Emission Neighbourhoods & ZEN KPIs, Introduction to ZEB and ZEN pilots – key strategies used.
- Pathways to ZEB: 1. Reducing Material Emissions, 2. Architectural Reuse, 3. Renewables – active systems.
- Sustainable Practices – Future Climate Resilience.
- Outcomes and Conclusions – next steps.
Expected Outcome
To gain an updated understanding of current green skills and ways organisations can mitigate climate change by implementing sustainable practices i.e., reducing carbon emissions, sustainable transport, retrofitting, etc.
How you will Learn
- In person lectures; instructor-led training — 3 MArch students.
- eLearning – the training manual on the Architects of Change website.
- Group discussion and activities.
- Networking.
Suggested Reading
- LETI Climate Emergency Design Guide.
- RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge.
- RIBA Sustainable Outcomes Guide.
- A Net-Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast.
Required Preparation
- The training manual will be handed out alongside presentation, in smaller booklet form.
- E-manual available on Architects of Change website.
People
- Professor Raffaella Folli (Principal Investigator)
- Professor Aoife Houlihan Wiberg (Co-Principal Investigator)
- Dr Jayanta Mondol (Co-Principal Investigator)
- Jenny Jackson (Project Lead)
- Ryan Johnston
- Ben James
- Cathal Mc Kenna
- Rory Magee
- Caolán McCaughley
Three 6th Year MArch students from ZEN SuperStudio and two leading academics from Ulster University, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Research Assistant — Architects of Change project and two PhD Researchers.