Hidden in the built environment’s impact on climate change is a less talked about phenomenon: greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of concrete. Members of the BSA are convening participants of the complex network that supplies the Boston area with concrete to better understand how low-carbon concrete alternatives could be implemented in the region.

Embodied carbon in buildings represents 11 percent of total global emissions, but what is it and why should architects be considering it in their building design?

From tracking embodied carbon to restoring significant historical structures to shaping the profession via his time as chair of the AIA National Ethics Council, Justin Crane FAIA shares his thoughts on equity and sustainability in this BSA Q&A profile.

Q: What is your role at the BSA?

A: My new role at the BSA is Managing Director for Innovation, leading the innovation practice team. This team is focused on leveraging the skills of our members to target local issues—most notably the built environment’s impact on equity and climate. Our work is about experimentation: trying new approaches, learning, and iterating to improve the lives of those in neighborhoods and beyond.

Whether with Legos or Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets or basic building blocks, every child at some point dreams of building big. Continuing a tradition lasting more than a quarter century, the BSA brought those dreams to life this past weekend.

The BSA seeks new stories about significant landmarks and buildings that can be spotted from Boston harbor or the Charles River to inform this season’s architecture cruises. For many years, the BSA has worked in partnership with Boston By Foot (BBF) and Charles Riverboat Company (CRBC) to host architecture cruises that run from Memorial Day through mid-October.

An interview with Junainah Ahmed, President, Student Forum, 2022‒2023.

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) recently released the updated building energy code with regulations intended to help move toward the state’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The changes are significant, and architects, engineers, and the rest of the building-industry community will need to be well versed in these codes if the state is to reach its ambitious goal.