Matter & Opinion (M&O) is a series of conversations that transform practice. Digging into emerging and pressing issues in design practice, M&O convenes experts and builds momentum around a variety of topics to spark action and to strengthen and diversify the future of architectural practice.

Matter & Opinion: Existing Buildings

July–August 2021
Boston cannot meet its climate goals without utilizing its greatest built and cultural assets: existing buildings. Ambitious aims to become carbon-free by 2050—with 85% of floorspace that will exist by then already built—require us to recognize and leverage existing buildings for what they are: banks of embodied carbon and material resources, opportunities for improving efficiency, community anchors, and compelling design challenges.

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Matter & Opinion: Practice-Based Research

October 2020
Practice-Based Research can look like many different things, but no matter what form it takes, it's a value-add for designers and clients alike. Leaders who have successfully integrated research into practice and business speak to how you can capture the value of work you're already doing. Practice-based research means better outcomes for everyone.

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Matter & Opinion: Embodied Carbon in Buildings

May 2019
Massive volumes of carbon emissions are tied to building materials and construction. The time for AEC professionals to talk carbon—and the time for Boston to lead—is now.

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Building the will around existing buildings as climate solutions

We cannot meet our climate goals without utilizing our greatest built and cultural assets: existing buildings. With many cities aiming to become carbon-free by 2050—and, in Boston, with 85 percent of the floorspace the city will need already built—we must embrace existing buildings as critical to climate action. Throughout the summer, the BSA community explored approaches to existing buildings as climate solutions, and underscored the urgency with which we need to develop and share strategies in order to respond to our climate crisis. Check out conversations on a variety of project types, find strategies and solutions for your work, and share with your colleagues and clients!

A summer of existing buildings

We cannot meet our future goals without utilizing our greatest built and cultural assets: existing buildings. With urgent aims to become carbon-free by 2050—and with 85 percent of floorspace that Boston will need in 2050 already built—we must recognize and leverage existing buildings for what they are: banks of embodied carbon and material resources, and compelling design challenges. Join the existing buildings movement this summer. With collaboration, collective action, and urgency, implementable and effective existing buildings solutions will move us forward.

Why Practice-Based Research? Hear from the speakers

We asked some of our Practice-Based Research conference speakers to share their thoughts on what practice-based research is, what barriers to adoption exist, and what value research provides for firms as well as for clients and users. Why does Practice-Based Research matter? Because research is happening in design practice all the times, but capturing its value isn’t always easy or prioritized. This conference will offer models for architects to integrate research into practice and business, and to design a firm culture that fosters research.