Urban Green Conference: NYC Next

June 3, 2024
1:00 – 6:30 pm
NYU Kimmel Center

Schedule and speakers

Guests Check In • 12:30 – 1:00 pm

Opening Remarks

John Mandyck, Urban Green Council

Keynote Conversation

Elijah Hutchinson, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

Session 1 • AI in Construction: Disruption or Dud?

Artificial intelligence has the potential to completely reshape the way we design and construct buildings. In this session, we’ll discuss how the industry can use AI to its advantage.

Nora Swanson, JB&B (Moderator)
Shane Burger, Woods Bagot

Denis Leff, Suffolk Construction
Robert Otani, Thornton Tomasetti

Session 2 • Turning Up the Heat (Pumps) on Hot Water

Heat pump water heaters are critical for decarbonization, and momentum is building as an early-mover electrification opportunity. This session will examine the state of the market for efficient electric water heating, from product innovation to real-world implementation. 

Bomee Jung, Cadence OneFive (Moderator)
Sara Bayer, Magnusson Architecture and Planning

Nicole Ceci, Steven Winter Associates
Jennifer Leone, NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

Session 3 • Embodied Carbon is Here to Stay

As governments begin to regulate the climate impact of building materials, embodied carbon is set to take on a tangible, central role in the sustainability conversation. In this session, leading experts will provide solutions for cutting embodied carbon in buildings, as well as resources and tools to help practitioners take action in their own projects.

Amanda Kaminsky, Lendlease (Moderator)
Chris Erickson, Climate Earth
Diana Farmer, Science-Based Targets Initiative

Mariane Jang, NYS Office of General Services
Tess McNamara, Arup

Closing Remarks

Networking Reception • 5:00 – 6:30 pm