I am delighted to share with you the second edition of our newsletter. As we witness the positive impact of our collective efforts, a lot is happening at the Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI). From charrettes to summits, and workshops to research projects and networking opportunities, we have an engaging lineup of initiatives in the coming months to foster dialogue and inspire action.
I extend a warm welcome to the new cohort of students joining our Interdisciplinary Design Strategy (IDS) Program. Your fresh perspectives and contributions will advance our mission towards a more sustainable future. We are continually inspired by the remarkable work you do. I also thank our clients for their commitment to sustainability and their trust in us. Every partner project undertaken at our institute is driving meaningful change and getting us closer to our sustainability goals.
Through this newsletter, I am happy to share updates on the work we have undertaken at the BSI and the upcoming events that will serve as catalysts for innovation and collaboration.
The challenges we face require collective efforts. Together, let us continue to integrate sustainability in all aspects of our work, empowering communities and businesses to thrive in harmony with our planet.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication.
If you are keen on supporting our charrettes and events aimed at advancing the crucial cause of sustainability, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Join forces with us as we strive to combat climate change. Get in touch with us here.
Building on the success of last year’s conference, the BSI brings to you the new edition of the WoodWorks Summit in partnership with the Canadian Wood Council (CWC) in the Fall of 2024. The event aims to bring together engineers, architects, contractors, developers, scientists, fabricators, acoustic and fire prevention specialists, and government officials to discuss advancements, challenges, and opportunities in wood construction and sustainability. The BSI and CWC have developed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on data analytics on the wood industry, targeted research projects, publications, continued education and micro-credentials, and immersive videos.
Click here to register.
Registration for the Fall 2024 IDS Cohort is now open. The Brookfield Sustainability Institute (BSI) has pioneered its Interdisciplinary Design Strategy Program (IDS) postgraduate-level curriculum using a design-based educational model that fosters learning across disciplines, integrating specialized knowledge and breaking down geographic, cultural, and social barriers. The institute offers students the demands of a real project and the intellectual and creative rigour required to undertake it. Each September, a small group of students begin a nine-month graduate certificate program, where they work as a team to research, design, and realize a real-world project.
Click here to learn more.
Focused on climate change adaptation for the architecture and design industry, the BSI is pleased to announce the inaugural international conference in partnership with Azure Media- The Human/Nature Conference. Join us at George Brown College’s Waterfront campus for two days of stimulating keynotes, panels and workshops. The conference will bring together architects, urbanists, designers and other innovators – as well as environmentalists, business leaders, and academia – to motivate greater collaboration and share proven approaches to designing, manufacturing, planning and building.
Click here to learn more.
With three subject matter streams - Ways of Sharing (The relationship between Working & Learning); Ways of Caring (The relationship between Health & Wellness); and Ways of Living (The relationship between Housing and Community) - this year’s BSI Summit will be a gathering of BSI’s League of Innovators & Scholars and subject matter experts. The summit aims to identify and analyze forward-thinking challenges and solutions surrounding Smart Sustainability, aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, based on societal and planetary challenges. Help the BSI chart its next five years of major research projects.
Click here to register.
The Brookfield Sustainability Institute organized its 21st International Charrette with over 150 professional students and practitioners participating over the intensive five-day period. The BSI's unique Design Charrette methodology enabled this interdisciplinary group to create practical tangible solutions for 11 challenges covering the theme of "Sharing, Caring and Living: Sustainable Communities for the Future", from new attainable sustainable housing models for urban dense environments, to neighbourhood food security solutions, to an innovative portable sustainable well-being clinic. The BSI will now be exploring how to take each project to pilot stage and beyond.
Read more here.
The BSI and SIXR launched the FOR TOMORROW fashion brand on Kickstarter — George Brown College’s new sustainable, waste-design apparel collection. FOR TOMORROW partners with SIXR, which aims to keep clothing out of landfills by giving consumers incentives for eco-conscious purchases. When a garment purchased on the SIXR app reaches the end of its lifecycle, customers scan a QR code, print a pre-paid shipping label, and pop it in the mail. SIXR facilitates the recycling of garments responsibly and rewards customers with financial incentives and credits. The BSI developed the principles for sustainable fashion that are going to be emblematic in the 'FOR TOMORROW' brand.
Order your hoodie here.
George Brown College and the BSI welcomed Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith, and industry representatives, to showcase Limberlost Place and how this project expands the boundaries in wood construction and sustainable building practices. A roundtable discussion highlighting the challenges and opportunities of mass-timber construction acceleration was held at the BSI campus. Attended by industry experts, the event delved into the possibilities and potential of mass timber construction across the province.
Read more here.
With Federal Ministers and MPs present, the Federal Government of Canada announced their first national policy framework on electric vehicles at George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus. In addition to the announcement, the group also received presentations on the EV technician training program from Colin Simpson, Dean of the Centre for Continuous Learning, and on Limberlost Place and BSI initiatives from Luigi Ferrara, Chair and CEO, Brookfield Sustainability Institute. IDS students were also provided with opportunities for one-on-one interaction with the ministers.
Read more here.
This project aims to create a sustainable seniors and community infrastructure for the Wooler area through the adaptive reuse of a heritage building combined with a ‘village-scale’ independent-living seniors’ residence and an enhanced natural wetland. Partnering with a local community association and a local landowner and developer, BSI’s work on this project will provide hundreds of area residents with affordable access to recreational programing responsive to community needs and provide seniors with access to an active, healthy, and affordable retirement lifestyle while remaining in their community. It will also showcase best practices and raise awareness of the benefits of mass timber construction.
Ontario Tech University and BSI are partnering together to reimagine modular nuclear energy through product, service, and systems design, working to accomplish much-needed innovation in Canada and beyond. Over a six-month engagement, we will be collaborating with experts in nuclear engineering, safety, law, nuclear waste management, local community groups, plus other diverse fields to uncover opportunities and delve deeper into challenges already faced today. Commencing in early May, a charrette involving over 40 participants will assemble these talented individuals into inclusive, collaborative teams to envision, strategize, and execute concepts of a shared vision for the future.
The BSI will be facilitating three exciting International Design Charrettes in Europe this summer, including one for the Region of Lombardy, Italy, that focuses on solving sustainability challenges using interdisciplinary approaches that involve Science, Art and Technology innovating new programs between artists and the business sector via the European S+T+ARTS initiative; one focused on the European Atlas of Digital Creativity in collaboration with the MEET Centre in Milan, Italy; and one with the Museum Association of Italy on using digital technology to increase sustainability and inclusion in museums.
Building off our phase 1 brand and industrial design work, the studio has moved into its second project phase with Hydro Cool, a clean-tech start-up company de-carbonizing the cold transportation industry through hydrogen-powered cooling technology. We are now developing a UX vision for the software. Our research team is interviewing stakeholders from shipping and logistics companies, AI leadership in logistics and grocery retailers, assessing the AI potential for the upcoming project. This is a critical point in defining Hydro Cool’s business. Their future customers will ultimately rely on this interface for safe, timely and sustainable delivery of food and pharmaceuticals.
Five newly ideated BSI education programs -Bio Mimicry, Net Zero, ESC, Smart Sustainability, Digital Twinning, are now in the development phase. These credentials are crafted in response to the demands of contemporary industries in alignment with the prerequisites of the job market. By addressing the latest trends and needs, we are ensuring our students are equipped with the knowledge and skills essential for success in today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape.
BSI’s League of Innovators and Scholars brings together a committed group of professionals, researchers, and practitioners focused on confronting the climate crisis through industry collaborations, actionable solutions, and the deepening of our understanding and response to this urgent challenge. BSI is developing a new section on our website to feature our 50+ current roster and more as we continue to grow the League from around the world.
We're designing a transformative project to tackle the pressing health and well-being challenges faced by students in Canada, especially highlighted by the pandemic. Our mission? To craft an innovative, inclusive health solution that blends physical and digital spaces, directly addressing students' mental health, accessibility to healthcare, and overall well-being. We aim to create early prototypes of a mobile pop-up structure and a digital platform. It's all about making health services more understandable, accessible, and sustainable, ensuring every student at George Brown College can navigate their health and academic life more effectively.
The first IDS cohort worked through an interdisciplinary lens — business, design, political, social, sustainability and technology — to create a smart sustainable urban agriculture model and pilot for Toronto. The project goals included increasing opportunities for stakeholders to access or grow food ingredients, creating food systems that are supportive of natural ecology and permaculture, considering policy, finance, business models for a successful and scalable design pilot and incorporating the use of smart technology to ensure adequate light, heat and nutrients while reducing costs.
The BSI Global Mass Timber Database is on track to becoming one of the most comprehensive resources for mass timber structures worldwide, showcasing a growing collection of structures and offering an exceptional user experience. Currently in the final stages of development build, the research team is wrapping up data collection and its analysis. We eagerly anticipate revealing this comprehensive resource soon and appreciate your continued interest and support in shaping the future of mass timber construction.
Click here for a sneak preview.
Authors: Wendy Gold, Job Rutgers
Cooksville, Mississauga. A dense and hyper diverse urban neighborhood. How to create a park that resonates with a hundred cultures? OpenCity Projects identified patterns across cultures and designed an inclusive, inviting and inspiring park experience for all. This white paper covers the authors' innovative approach to original placemaking and the 'S' in ESG, setting a precedent for inclusive public engagement and co-design.
Read the full paper here.
The Disrupt.Design Lab's WoodenWood project is an innovative exploration in the space of wood products and processes. This project artfully integrates a rattan-like structure, formed from an all-natural wood paste, with traditional modular woodworking processes. The all-natural wood paste is derived from Daika, which is sawdust with natural binders that are cellulose based. This type of wood enables 100% biodegradability and contributes to reducing wood waste, allowing it to become a zero-waste solution.
Read more here.
The production of over 18 billion single-use RFID tags annually leads to significant waste generation and carbon emissions. In response to this, PulpaTronics has developed a solution by creating metal-free and chipless RFID tags. This not only streamlines the manufacturing process but also eliminates the need for metal and silicone components, ultimately reducing the environmental impact of RFID tag production. PulpaTronics achieves this by employing laser engraving to create a conductive circuit on paper tags, altering their chemical composition and enabling their functionality.
Read more here.
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