About the CPD

This talk will cover the built environment’s impact on climate change, and why heritage might be key to unlocking many of the solutions. Drawing from work carried out by Purcell for the City of London Corporation, Laura will share lessons and innovations from the UK, that specifically seek to reduce carbon emissions and built climate resilience in our heritage assets, and how the methodology used can be applied to different contexts around the world.

About the Speaker

Ms. Laura BARON

Laura Baron is Head of Sustainability at Purcell, the world’s leading heritage architecture firm. As a qualified architect with over 15 years’ experience, she has developed a broad range of skills, working on many projects from large-scale urban masterplans to sensitive historic sites. Her role is to educate and advocate for environmentally and socially conscious design, at every stage of a project. Laura is passionate about finding innovative solutions to adapting and conserving our built heritage, against the backdrop of the climate emergency. Laura authored the Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit in partnership with the City of London Corporation, developing a comprehensive process for climate action in heritage settings. She is on the Steering Group of Architects Declare, a network of 1300+ architectural practices committed to addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency. She has contributed to multiple industry initiatives including the Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce, Architects Climate Action Network, LETI, and the New London Architecture Conservation and Retrofit Expert Panel.