About
Holistic Building Strategies for Low-Embodied Carbon is a research-led initiative focused on advancing sustainable construction practices across Canada, with an emphasis on rural and regional communities.
Supported through Natural Resources Canada’s GCWood program, the project addresses one of the most pressing challenges in the built environment: reducing embodied carbon while meeting urgent housing needs.
Collaborative Solutions for Sustainable Construction
The initiative brings together architects, engineers, policymakers, educators, and communities to develop practical tools and knowledge systems that support:
Low-carbon
building design
Integration of
forest-based biomaterials
Adaptive reuse of
existing structures
Prefabrication and modern methods of construction
Project Outcomes
Through a combination of research, case studies, community engagement, and prototype development, the project delivers:
Educational courses and micro-credentials
Actionable toolkits for decision-makers
A Living Atlas of rural and regional housing
Carbon accounting and lifecycle assessment resources
How We Drive the Transition
Systemic Approach
We address carbon as a governance, economic, and social challenge — aligning policy, design, and construction practices together.
Scalable Framework
A replicable model for high-quality, low-carbon housing that works across diverse Canadian communities.
Knowledge-Driven
Practical modules, toolkits, and case studies built for industry and designed to evolve with the sector.
Faculty Team
Led by a diverse team of researchers, industry professionals, and subject matter experts, this initiative brings together community and industry leaders to bridge research and practice. Supported by dedicated research assistants, the work is grounded in collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange. It serves as a platform for advancing education, building capacity, and delivering practical tools for both industry professionals and emerging practitioners.
Veronica Madonna
Principle Investigator
Associate Professor
Undergraduate Program Director
RAIC Center for
Architecture
Athabasca University
Dr. Shabnam Inanloo
Associate Dean,
Strategic Initiatives,
Associate Professor and Director of Heritage Resources Management Program and Historical Resources Intern Program
Athabasca University
Dr. Douglas MacLeod
Professor,
Past Chair of the RAIC Center for Architecture
Athabasca University
Dr. Trevor Butler
Associate Professor,
Graduate Program Director,
RAIC Centre For Architecture
Athabasca University
Dr. Henry Tsang
Associate Professor,
Chair RAIC Centre for Architecture
Athabasca University
Research Assistants
Trishtina Godoy-Contois
Adrian Organowski
Cara Shan
Stephanie Collins
Chantal Shahmooradian
George Crawford
Twylla Sooysa
Richmond N’Goran
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!