TRACK 1, DAY 1
How Low Impact is your Development? Opportunities and Considerations for Reducing the Impacts of Construction
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 1:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Hall A
ABSTRACT
Cities and towns manage public realm infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, and parks, which can cover up to 30% of urban areas.
These places have significant climate impacts: the construction of the exterior built environment represents half of global emissions from cities. Data shows that approximately 78% of those emissions are from construction materials (embodied carbon) and the majority are from three materials alone – cement, steel, and aluminum.
This presentation explores opportunities to mitigate construction disturbance and environmental impact through design choices. Constructing less, so we can do more to address the climate emergency.
Complimenting the science of embodied carbon and carbon counting, we will discuss revising the landscape architectural design practice by questioning the thought process that goes into design.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Kristina Hausmanis, City of Toronto
Kristina has spent over 14 years working in municipal government developing and implementing multidisciplinary programs at the City of Toronto.
In her current position as the Green Streets Senior Project Manager for Transportation Services, she coordinates the inter-divisional implementation of green infrastructure into right-of-way projects.
Kristina holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from McGill University and a Master of Environmental Science from the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.
Kristina chairs the interdivisional Green Streets Working Group and is the Transportation Services lead for the Soil Cell Evaluation (SCE).
Robert Mays, City of Toronto
Robert Mays graduated from University of Toronto program in landscape architecture and has been a landscape architect and full member of OALA / CSLA since 2001.
Over the last 24 years Robert has specialized in streetscape design for the City of Toronto. Through exposure to extensive redevelopment and growth, Robert is incorporating opportunities to mitigate construction disturbance and environmental impact through design.