Building LCA for Architects (RIBA Expo 13 Nov)

Description

This CPD course equips architects and design professionals with the knowledge and tools to quantify and reduce the environmental impact of buildings through life-cycle assessment (LCA). It provides a practical understanding of how embodied carbon and life-cycle impacts can be evaluated and reduced across design stages — using software tools that integrate directly into standard architectural workflows.

The session combines theory and application. It introduces core LCA and embodied carbon principles, demonstrates how these apply to architectural decision-making, and provides follow-along exercises using real project examples. Participants will leave with the ability to apply building LCA in early design and to interpret results that support low-carbon design choices and compliance with emerging regulations and standards.

By the end of this CPD, participants will understand:

1. The relationship between architecture, building performance, and environmental impact.
2. The fundamental principles of life-cycle assessment (LCA) and embodied carbon.
3. How material choices, design strategies, and construction methods influence embodied carbon outcomes.
4. How to integrate LCA effectively into the architectural workflow, from concept to detailed design.
5. How to perform and interpret LCAs at different design stages to inform project decisions and meet sustainability targets.