Design Primer for Low Carbon ConstructionPolicy, Strategy
Ha/f authored the Project Planning & Design Primer for Low-Carbon Construction, guiding Canada’s shift to net-zero buildings.
The primer outlines whole-life carbon concepts, introduces mitigation frameworks, and applies strategies across project phases—pre-design, design, construction, and occupancy—emphasizing systems thinking, phased decision-making, and life cycle assessments to reduce embodied carbon emissions.
/Read the Primer
Wellington HousePolicy, Strategy
Wellington House is a deconstruction and material reuse pilot project supported by the City of Guelph’s Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad.
The project diverted 90%+ of materials from landfill, showcasing the carbon, material, and cultural value of reclaiming building components over demolition.
The Cost + Carbon of Canadian Commercial Construction
Policy
The Mass Timber Institute at the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto teamed with Entuitive, Ha/f Climate Design, and Bird Construction to develop structural designs, life cycle assessments, and cost estimates for commercial buildings built in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto.
Working across four structure systems - reinforced concrete, steel, mass timber, and timber-hybrid - the project team developed schematic-level design, cost estimates, and regionally specific carbon data to reveal clear insights. /Read the Report
The Bentway Phase 1 LCA Strategy, Certification
Working with The Bentway, Ha/f Climate Design assessed Phase 1’s design and materials to understand their carbon footprint. The study found that concrete and paving are key sources of emissions, while green spaces store carbon. For future phases, the report recommends recycled materials, low-carbon alternatives, and nature-based solutions to create more sustainable and resilient public spaces.
Ha/f’s analysis supports The Bentway’s commitment to creating more climate-resilient and sustainable public spaces, while providing a valuable blueprint for reducing carbon impacts in urban infrastructure projects.