KPMB Lab presents nature-based material research at Embodied GHG Symposium

April 28, 2026

On Thursday, April 30, KPMB Lab will participate in the third annual Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium, hosted by the University of Toronto’s Centre for the Sustainable Built Environment and School of Cities. The half-day event will feature research, policy, and case studies exploring how greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) can be reduced while housing and infrastructure development keep pace with population growth. 

KPMB sustainability analyst Shahrzad Soudian will present KPMB Lab and the Toronto BioBuild Collective‘s joint research into using bio-based materials in healthcare settings. The research focuses on creating a durable and functional wall system of nature-based materials that can perform under different environmental conditions and meet the service life required by hospitals. Beyond embodied emissions, the research examines the biophilic impacts of such a wall system in environments intended for healing, along with challenges posed by current building codes and material supply limitations. 

At previous editions of the Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium, KPMB Lab presented a low-carbon concrete demonstration project, undertaken with industry partners and researchers at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. Using only widely available building materials and strategies, the project devised a design and construction process to reduce carbon content by as much as 86 percent.

In 2024, Shahrzad shared an interior life-cycle analysis of KPMB’s King East office, showcasing how interior design choices impact total life-cycle embodied carbon. Comparing the office to a conventional fit-out, the study found that key decisions made by KPMB’s design team, including an open-plan layout, low-embodied-carbon palette, and furniture reuse, significantly reduced upfront embodied emissions.   

KPMB has supported the Centre for the Sustainable Built Environment since the research centre’s founding in 2023.  

Event details: 

Event: 2026 Embodied Greenhouse Gas Symposium
Date & Time: April 30, 9 AM–2 PM
Location: Desautels Hall, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, 105 St. George St., Toronto, Ontario

Interested attendees can register through the University of Toronto. If you’re interested in learning more about KPMB Lab and the Toronto BioBuild Collective’s research into nature-based materials, email kpmblab@kpmbarchitects.com