Refurbishment and Restore Issue 19 2020 | Page 38

FUTUREBUILD 2020: BE THE CATALYST FOR CHANGE Recent climate change demonstrations and government declarations make one thing clear, we need to come together to take action against the climate change challenges we are facing. Against this backdrop, Futurebuild 2020, held from 03-05 March at ExCeL London will inspire industry professionals to come together, be the catalyst for change that’s needed and deliver a more sustainable built environment. SETTING THE AGENDA The industry-leading conference programme returns for 2020, with the climate and ecological crisis leading conversations. Unmissable sessions in the Arena will include ‘Professional Collaboration: Do it together’ developed in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT). This session on day three (05 March) will bring the presidents of the institute together to discuss how those working in the built and natural environment are currently responding to the climate and ecological emergency, and ongoing plans for the future. Another key session is: ‘The future is regenerative’ chaired by Peter Murray, Chair of New London Architecture (03 March). It will explore how design and construction needs a circular rethink. On day two (04 March) London Mayoral Candidate Rory Stewart will sit on a panel looking at ‘Carbon neutral cities of the future’ and examine the pathway to healthier, more resilient cities. While conference discussions will focus on the biggest issues facing the built environment at a macro level, the six Keynote Stages will look at the specific challenges impacting Buildings, Offsite, Energy, Interiors, Resourceful Materials and Critical Infrastructure. This programme of solution-driven sessions will share the latest thinking and research, to educate, inform and inspire visitors to make a positive change. The six Keynote Stages will address the following challenges: • 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 Within the Buildings area at Futurebuild 2020, visitors will have the chance to explore and discuss the latest building technology, innovations and legislation. Showcases will cover everything from retrofit to re-use, to future plans for net-positive buildings. The 2020 Buildings section will feature two new showcase areas, the Whole House Retrofit Zone and the Digital Impact where visitors will be able to explore new refurb and retrofit solutions and the latest developments in digital construction. Connecting the whole event will be the Innovation Trail – a guided route where 38 - www.refurbandrestore.co.uk visitors will discover innovative products, solutions and materials and meet the leading thinkers behind them. Futurebuild has partnered with brands who share the common purpose of finding solutions to the biggest challenges currently facing the build environment. These include ACO Technologies, Smart Systems, CEMEX, Steico and Hadley Group. Martin Hurn, Event Director at Futurebuild, comments: “The responsibility for tackling the climate emergency lies in all of our hands and we must collaborate in order to find solutions to secure our future. Futurebuild 2020 provides the perfect platform for forward-thinking decision makers across the built environment to come together and play a key part in driving positive change. “We understand that taking time out of work to attend events can be a challenge, which is why we will make sure that visitors can really get involved across a number of levels, from the world class knowledge programme in the Arena and on the Keynote Stages, to the showcase of the latest innovations across the exhibition. Innovation to us is more than just futuristic concepts, it’s about sharing the latest thinking and ideas, processes and solutions, products and materials. All of these things coming together under one roof at Futurebuild 2020 will inspire people to do things differently and create real change.” For more information about Futurebuild 2020, the home of innovation, visit www.futurebuild.co.uk.