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Maria Kordjamshidi explores balancing carbon reduction and stewardship at RAIC 2026
Maria Kordjamshidi shares practical strategies for balancing carbon reduction, ecological stewardship, and Indigenous perspectives in climate-responsive design.
Salas O’Brien sustainability project manager Maria Kordjamshidi, Ph.D., LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador, will present at the RAIC 2026 Conference on Architecture, hosted by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Her pre-recorded presentation, “Architecture in Balance: Carbon, Stewardship, and Regenerative Design,” will examine practical approaches for addressing embodied and operational carbon while considering broader ecological and cultural values. The session will be part of the conference’s on-demand education series.
Co-presenting with Moriyama Teshima Architects associate Mahsa Majidian, Maria will explore how evolving climate targets and sustainability frameworks can influence design decisions. The presentation will use the Rouge Visitor Centre as a case study, highlighting how federal and municipal mandates, Indigenous input, and design excellence came together to support a balanced, climate-responsive project.
Drawing on her work in sustainability and decarbonization, Maria will share practical lessons from balancing competing project goals. Attendees will gain insight into applying sustainability frameworks throughout the design process, evaluating trade-offs between competing goals, and incorporating Indigenous perspectives and land-based values into design decisions.
About RAIC
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is a not-for-profit, national organization dedicated to representing architects and architecture since 1907. The RAIC is the only national voice for excellence in the built environment in Canada focused on providing Canada’s architectural community with the tools, resources, and education to elevate their practice.
About Salas O’Brien
Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering, science, and technical services firm focused on advancing the human experience through the built environment. Our team is engineered for impact®, helping clients solve complex engineering challenges with a focus on efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability, while advancing our team members through growth and opportunity. We are a top firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, and we have appeared for over a decade on the Inc. 5000 list of North America’s fastest-growing private companies.
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