As a wave of sustainable architecture positions new, green buildings across the city of Toronto, the potential for meaningful climate action feels imminent. Traditional building operations together with materials and construction represent nearly 40 per cent of global carbon emissions, making the shift toward eco-conscious building one of indisputable value. As this shift takes place, it’s natural to wonder how our city will change. In what ways will our skyline begin to look different? How will our homes and workplaces improve? What exactly comprises sustainable architecture? With a growing number of green buildings currently underway, the answers are all around us.

Carol Phillips is a partner at Moriyama & Teshima Architects, a Toronto-based firm spearheading two of the city’s most highly anticipated sustainable builds. From her point of view, sustainable architecture is the number one priority in design, and it starts with wood. “In a climate emergency, we have no other path forward but to build with sustainability in mind,” says Phillips. “Timber is a natural and renewable carbon sink, whereas the cement in concrete and the fabrication of steel are carbon-intensive. As we work to reduce the CO2 in our atmosphere, timber—and its fabrication—is currently our most responsible option.”

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