The built environment is at a critical point where decisive action is needed to tackle the biggest issues facing industry. Against this backdrop Futurebuild has announced its Keynote Stages programme for the 2020 event which will offer solutions to the following challenges covering Buildings, Interiors, Energy, Critical Infrastructure, Resourceful Materials and Offsite:
- Buildings: retrofitted, re-used, net positive and built to perform
- Offsite: reliability and efficiency combined with creative placemaking
- Interiors: sustainable and health promoting
- Resourceful Materials: thinking circular to reduce, reuse and recycle
- Energy: accurate data for carbon accounting and reduced clean energy usage
- Critical Infrastructure: delivering integrated green, grey, blue and social infrastructure
Daily sessions on each of the stages will share the latest thinking and research, to educate, inform and inspire visitors to make a positive change. On each day of the event (03-05 March at ExCeL London) the stages will host a focused Keynote presentation by a recognised expert in their field. This and other sessions will look at tangible solutions and approaches which will make a real difference to practice and performance.
Buildings
The Buildings stage will offer insightful, expert opinion on issues ranging from retrofit to digital solutions. On day one (03 March) Dr Richard Miller, Founder of Killer-Klein Associates will explore ‘Building a safer future – what steps are being taken towards fundamental reform?’. The panel will discuss the Government’s 2019 consultation which was built on recommendations from an inquiry led by Dame Judith Hackitt following the Grenfell fire. With Government and industry committed to implementing the recommendations, this talk will ask: where are we nearly a year on from the consultation; what progress has been made on competency; and what does this mean for the sector and its supply chain?
Interiors
The Interiors Keynote Stage returns for 2020 in partnership with the International WELL Building Institute and sponsored by Milliken. Visitors will not want to miss the Keynote on day two where Cees van der Spek, Public Affairs and Global Corporate Relations Director at EDGE Technologies will explore this innovative approach to health, sustainability, circularity and technology. Cees will use the example of the EDGE Olympic building to demonstrate the impact of well-being in office spaces and how to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and WELL Certified Platinum office buildings.
Critical Infrastructure
Sponsored by ACO, the Critical Infrastructure Keynote Stage will deliver sessions demonstrating the vital importance of delivering integrated green, blue, grey and social infrastructure at the same time. On day two (04 March), Rae Whittow-Williams, Senior Project Officer on the GLA’s Regeneration team will chair ‘Friendly cities for children, friendly cities for all’. Supported by political leadership, this session will examine critical aspects of what it means to create child friendly places and members of the audience will be invited to contribute their ideas.
Energy
The Energy Keynote Stage for 2020 is sponsored by Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation and on day one will host ‘UK100 Cities shifting to 100% clean energy by 2050’. Chaired by Polly Billington, Director at UK100 it brings together key councillors from across the UK. UK100 is a network of highly ambitious local government leaders, who have pledged to secure the future for their communities by shifting to 100% clean energy by 2050.
Resourceful Materials
New for 2020, the Resourceful Materials Keynote Stage has been curated by Duncan Baker-Brown, Senior Lecturer University of Brighton and Co-Founder of BBM Sustainable Design. He will be chairing day one’s leading discussion ‘Retrofit/ReUse/Adapt – macro versus micro’ where Harry Paticas, Co-Founder of Arboreal Architecture considers his approach to the reuse of buildings via a series of case studies called ‘deep retrofit’. This is followed by a presentation by Hans Hammink who is one of the Netherland’s Leading Circular Economy Architects.
Offsite
The Offsite Keynote Stage at Futurebuild 2020 has been created in partnership with Light Steel Frame, Modular and Portable Building Association, Structural Timber Association and is sponsored by Wavin. The opening discussion on day three (05 March) is a vital session for visitors where Sam Stacey, Director for Construction at UKRI will talk about the £420m programme to transform the UK construction industry: Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. He will highlight how the programme that began in 2018 is starting to show significant impacts on the whole life cost, carbon emissions and customer value of buildings and infrastructure. At this midpoint of the programme, Sam will talk about what has been achieved so far and what we can expect to see in the years to come.
Martin Hurn, Event Director of Futurebuild, said: “The Keynote Stages section has expanded for 2020 to give visitors the best of our knowledge programme as we aim to tackle the challenges facing the industry. The focus is on fostering this positive collaboration, common understanding and commitment to drive change and we want people to leave Futurebuild 2020 ready to make these changes in their day to day lives to help deliver a more sustainable future.”
For more information on the Keynote Stage programme and to register for your complimentary ticket, visit futurebuild.co.uk/visit