Presenting this session, which examines newly opened The Spine building, is Robert Hopkins, Regional Director of AHR, the award-winning architecture and building consultancy practice - and Urbano Network members. 

Robert is design/project lead on The Spine, the new northern home for the Royal College of Physicians in Liverpool, which aims to be one of the healthiest workplace environments in the world when it opens its doors in May 2021. Biophilia is at the heart of AHR's approach to the design of The Spine and the building has been designed adhering to WELL Standard principles. 

Robert discusses how biophilia and other innvovations around workplace wellness and design have informed The Spine's design and construction. 

About our speaker 
Robert has over twenty years’ experience in the design of award winning buildings and delivery of several large and complex education projects in the UK and internationally. Robert is lead on the design of The Spine, the new £35m northern headquarters for the Royal College of Physicians in Liveropool which incorporates biophilic design features to create an inspirational workspace.

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Simon is a founding director of global architecture practice, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) where he leads a design studio of 200 architects.

Simon is a frequent writer, critic and advisor, a visiting professor at Harvard, a trustee of the London School of Architecture and the Chickenshed Theatres Trust.

In 2020, Simon was elected the next president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and took up the role on September 1st.


On his election, Simon said he wanted to create "a more open, productive, engaged and reinvigorated RIBA" that addresses "global climate change and architecture's pivotal role in a post-pandemic world."

This event will hear from Simon on his plans to deliver on his priorities and where he sees the future of architecture within the fast-changing landscape of the built environment, leading into an interactive Q&A, with networking to follow.

Our hosts - The Building Society - is a co-working space and collaborative community for everyone working within the build environment sector, created by Urbano Members Structural & Civil Engineers, Elliott Wood. This is a place where we can all start to engineer a better society. 

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https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/greening-historic-homes/

Using the report as a starting point, we look at the specific challenges around retrofitting in historic and listed buildings, and traditional homes - especially those in conservation areas - where owners are looking to install heating and power systems in line with government targets to reduce zero carbon emissions.

About our Guest Speaker
Peter Cox is Managing Director at Carrig Conservation International Ltd and a Fellow at The RSA. Peter and his company Carrig International have a proven track record in dealing with all levels of listed buildings, protected structures and monuments. Peter Cox is well known and respected internationally and contributes much to international standards, Government policies and lectures extensively on the international stage. 

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We were delighted to welcome Penny Gowler, Director and Head of Sustainability at Elliott Wood to act as our guide to offer illumination and clarity on some key questions: What do we mean by net-zero carbon, carbon-neutral, embedded carbon, the life cycle of a building, carbon footprint, sustainability, retrofit, circular economy and reuse vs recycling? Can you compare and measure different material choices when discussing their sustainability and zero carbon impact? What regulations exist that govern the use of materials in the built environment? 

Penny Gowler is a Chartered Structural Engineer. She has a strong interest in sustainable design and is a frequent speaker at events, including the recent RIBA Smart Practice Conference. Penny is Director and Head of Sustainability at Elliott Wood and is responsible for managing a team of 20 engineers and technicians working across a wide range of projects with typical construction costs of between £10m and £100m.

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London, perhaps more than any other of Britain, has seen the slowest rate of economic activity compared to 2019 and the City of London has not yet returned to previous levels of office-based working.

This event was a look at the future of London and the City with Catherine McGuinness, Chair of the Policy & Resources Committee of the Corporation of London.

Catherine shares the Corporation of London's and her personal vision for the City and London as part of a post-Brexit and post-Covid Britain. A unique chance to share, shape and align your company's future relationship with the financial heart of the UK with a key policy maker.

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This episode features a recording* of Sophie Kennedy, Joint CEO of EQ Investors, one of Urbano's most loyal members and supporters.  EQ Investors are an award-winning discretionary fund manager, focused on sustainable and impact investing, based in the City Of London.

In this episode takes an in-depth and personal look at the challenges facing those in investment and finance to  deliver sustainable, wealth creation. During the course of her discussion with Mark Herring, she looks how those City are changing , what options there are for those individuals who want to look after their families for the longer term.

Included in the discussion are issues around labels like ESG.

Sophie also gives feedback on COP26 and how they worked with other B Corps to push for changes to company's Articles of Association as an important step to delivering measurable corporate benchmarks built around sustainability.

For more information on EQ Investors, click here: EQ Investors

For more information about Mark, Talent Lab & Urbano Network - and to leave feedback - click here:  https://www.talentlab.co.uk/networking/

* The sound quality of this episode was affected by a very loud air conditioning unit which we couldn't turn off.  The important messages are still audible though with an industrial background.

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Since Urbano began in 2011, we have had a proud track record of championing opportunities for women, and our UWACTE (Urbano Women In Architecture, Construction, Technology & Engineering*) community helps women in Urbano member firms to develop and enhance their connections across our network

Joining Mark Herring, our Connector-In-Chief at Urbano is our guest speaker - Nicola Gillen - EMEA Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield.

GUEST SPEAKER & PRESENTATION

Nicola Gillen - EMEA Lead, Total Workplace at Cushman & Wakefield 

Nicola specialises in the relationship between design, people, behaviour and the built environment and is widely recognised within the industry as a leading authority on workplace strategy, design and behaviour change management.

Nicola has 25 years’ experience delivering workplace strategy and innovation internationally. An architect and author, she is lead author of RIBA's guide ‘Future Office’.

Nicola’s presentation will be drawn on the ‘Future Office’ and her work as co-author of another RIBA publication ‘ReThink Design Guide for a Post Pandemic world’ (published in January 2021), an innovative design guide with expert guidance on designing in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.

Nicola will also share insights into how employees are coping right now through Cushman & Wakefield’s unrivaled bespoke Experience per Square Foot™ a data-driven initiative that captures information from thousands of respondents in over 100 countries designed to measure what matters most to employees. @CushWakeUK

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Introduction to the Security Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work', and its place in RIBA work stages

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Recording of Urbano Network speaker networking event with Will Hurst, Managing Editor of the Architects' Journal to discuss its Retrofirst campaign.  Following Will's presentation, various attendees - mostly professionals from across the built environment sectors - offered their own perspective and experiences on the challenges faced in prioritising retrofit over client's narrow, profit-first demands.

Chaired and facilitated by Mark Herring, Urbano's Connector-In-Chief.

Hosted by Trowers & Hamlins.  Urbano Network, The Sustainable Business Network,  is supported by Stewart Title, Rift R&D, & Talent Lab Ltd

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Speakers

Christian Logue, Director at Sagal Group

Debra Spurway, Director at HR Dept

Jo Geraghty, Director at Culture Consultancy

Mark Herring - Director at Urbano & Talent Lab

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Talent Lab brought together three very knowledgeable and experienced bid professionals to share their experiences on working on mega and major client bids. The discussion led on to what would improve the process - and ultimately help create winning submissions, including whether the bid stages most companies follow are fit for purpose.

Panel:

• Caroline Brock, Director, Talent Lab
• Mike Raynor, Raynor Bid Consultancy
• Samantha Burns, Head of Bid Management and Direction, EiB

Facilitated by Mark Herring, Director, Talent Lab 
and Producer of the Urbano Network Only Connect Podcast

Also available as a video: https://vimeo.com/902956885

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