BLOG: Sustainable Construction Conference 2026
"The event reinforced that thoughtful material selection, application of circular economy principles and continuous innovation are fundamental drivers in reducing whole-life carbon and shaping positive environmental outcomes in the built environment"
A blog by Nathan Campbell, Estates Manager (Sustainable Construction).
Materials Matter: A deep dive into material innovation, circularity and low impact design.
Queen’s University Belfast welcomed delegates to its annual Sustainable Construction Conference on Tuesday 24 February at the Mandela Hall. This year the conference centred on the theme ‘Materials Matter: A Deep Dive into Material Innovation, Circularity, and Low Impact Design’ and was expertly facilitated by Caroline Ashe Brady, Commercial and Sustainability Director at KORE Retrofit and KORE Insulation.
The conference opened with remarks from Professor Michael Alcorn MBE (Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Sustainability and Strategic Projects, Queen’s University Belfast), who highlighted Queen’s commitment to driving meaningful change across the built environment and the importance of rethinking how materials are sourced, used and reused.
The morning’s first session explored buildings as ‘Material Banks,’ with Duncan Baker-Brown (Founder, BakerBrown). Duncan authored The Re-use Atlas which emphasises how rethinking waste in architecture can dramatically reduce carbon emissions. Duncan provided practical examples of how circular design principles can transform the way we design and construct.
His insights were complemented by Richard Nelson (Co-Founder, Don’t Waste Buildings) and Scott Farrar (Sustainability Lead, Scott Brownrigg), who presented retrofit case studies from Don’t Waste Buildings, showing how material recovery and adaptive reuse can significantly reduce waste and carbon. Their panel discussion, joined by Emma Houston (Project Associate, Troup Bywaters + Anders), highlighted the need for change across design, policy and supply chains to make reuse and circularity standard practice.
The focus then turned to innovation in low carbon materials. Ann-Marie Fallon (Co-Director, Passivhaus Trust, and Mentor at Architype) shared lessons from the Entopia Building retrofit (University of Cambridge), highlighting how EnerPHit fabric-first upgrades, circular principles and material reuse, can minimise whole-life carbon whilst providing a high-quality, comfortable workspace in the context of heritage projects.
Dr Fragkoulis Kanavaris (Global Lead, Concrete Materials and Decarbonisation, ARUP) followed with a study of concrete’s decarbonisation potential, outlining emerging technologies and industry shifts that could reshape one of construction’s most carbon intensive materials.
A panel discussion with Dr Rory Doherty (Reader in Environmental Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast) reinforced the importance of collaboration between academia and industry to advance progress.
The final session of the day focused on mainstreaming low impact design. Simon Bell (HLM Architects) highlighted the rise of timber as a scalable structural material. Heather Evans (Head of Sustainability, Rider Levett Bucknall) then addressed ‘sustainability in fitout,’ providing innovative examples of projects where sustainability was prioritised. She demonstrated how fit-outs can produce best practice results in terms of energy use, materials, waste, and occupant wellbeing. Joined by Emma McKenna (Head of Sustainable Manufacturing, AMIC, Queen’s University Belfast), the panel reflected on how innovation in manufacturing and procurement can unlock further opportunities for low impact construction.
The event powerfully reinforced that thoughtful material selection, the application of circular economy principles, and continuous innovation are fundamental drivers in reducing whole-life carbon and shaping positive environmental outcomes in the built environment.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who attended and contributed to the success of the event. I would also warmly encourage continued engagement with future themes and welcome any feedback, to help ensure this platform continues to support knowledge exchange and drive meaningful progress across the construction industry.
