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Decarbonization Group

A black-and-white infographic titled "Local Decarbonization (Material Geographies)." On the left, an outline of New York State is segmented into three regions: Mountain, Valley, and Coast. Each region is associated with different natural materials, represented by icons: trees and bamboo for Mountain; hemp, corn, and mushrooms for Valley; and seaweed, wind, and sun for Coast. On the right, these materials are linked to categories such as coatings and finishes, wall panels, cavity insulation, dimensional lumber, and construction blocks.

About us

The Decarbonization Group addresses the challenges and opportunities of decarbonizing New York’s built environment—a crucial element in combating climate change and fostering equitable economic growth. Our vision is to collaboratively advance the decarbonization of the building construction and retrofit sector and its material and production supply chain. We achieve this through architectural, urban, and industrial design research, decarbonization projects, planning and policy proposals, publications, and symposia.

Our focus includes developing New York State-grown bio-based products and pilot implementation projects for the state’s construction sector. By working with industry, non-profit, community, and public sector partners, we aim to create jobs across the supply chain.

Projects

A close-up of a worker holding four rectangular adobe bricks made from a mixture of straw and earth. The bricks have a rough, fibrous texture and are stacked on top of a bundle of straw, which is tied together with a thin strip of material. The worker's hand is partially visible, gripping the bricks. The background is blurred and features additional straw, suggesting a rural or natural building environment.
Source: Adobe

UPSTATE + DOWNSTATE | HEMP

The UPSTATE + DOWNSTATE: “Hemp on the Move” initiative,  in partnership with Bronx community organization Mothers on the Move, focuses on developing a Bio-based Resilient Industrial District in the South Bronx. This district will manufacture hemp-based and other bio-based products for the building and retrofit sectors. Hemp blocks, hempcrete, boards, insulation, and interior finishes, which have proven health-promoting properties, could be tested in Bronx residential retrofits. In the short term, we are working on a showroom for bio-based materials in the Bronx.

Eventually, the production of these bio-based materials could be scaled to meet the demand of a larger construction market, especially the 50,000 energy retrofits catalyzed by New York City’s Local Law 97. Farmers and processors in Upstate New York would grow, decorticate, and transport the industrial hemp materials, creating green jobs along the supply chain. In Upstate New York, we will work with multiple partners to create a viable supply chain for New York State-grown industrial hemp fiber and hurd products, based on a demand and market analysis for hemp and other bio-based building products. In the South Bronx, in partnership with Mothers on the Move, we will develop a Bio-based Resilient Industrial District and a green workforce development strategy. Additionally, we will conduct comprehensive surveys of residential retrofit sites and develop demonstration projects that will test the efficacy of hemp-based solutions in addressing issues such as indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and environmental remediation.

By collaborating with Upstate New York farmers, industrial stakeholders, and community partners, we aim to create a circular economy that benefits both urban and rural communities while mitigating the adverse effects of traditional building materials on public health and the environment. Ultimately, our interdisciplinary applied research seeks to advance sustainable urban development practices that prioritize social equity, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity.

An aerial view of a construction project on top of an existing brick building in an urban setting. The new addition is made of light-colored cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, forming a multi-level structure. A large crane labeled "HIGHLINE" is lifting materials, and a construction worker is on an aerial lift working on a vertical timber wall. The building's lower facade features a mural with black birds in flight, red tree branches, and geometric shadow patterns.
Source: Acme Lofts, New Haven – GOA and Spiritos Properties

UPSTATE + DOWNSTATE | MASS TIMBER

The UPSTATE + DOWNSTATE: NYC Mass Timber Municipal Housing Project (MTMH) seeks to build mass timber affordable housing additions on top of city-owned buildings with unused development potential. More than two hundred buildings could be built above existing NYC libraries, firehouses, police stations, and health and social facilities. Thousands of units of affordable housing could be produced throughout the city without the need to acquire land or rezone the sites. We propose that these buildings be constructed using prefabricated mass timber from NYS forests, allowing for an expedited construction schedule. This much-needed affordable housing program could be privately financed as part of an innovative public-private partnership, creating hundreds of green jobs in Upstate and Downstate New York. 

We are collaborating with SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry’s Mass Timber Discovery Challenge team, led by Dr. Paul Crovella.

Members

  1. Meta Brunzema

    Adjunct Associate Professor – CCE

  2. Ann Dinh

    AICAD Post-Graduate Teaching Fellow

  3. David Burney

    Academic Director of Urban Placemaking Management; Visiting Associate Professor

  4. Landon Brown

    Visiting Assistant Professor

  5. Gregory Merryweather

    Adjunct Associate Professor – CCE

  6. Zehra Kuz

    Adjunct Professor – CCE

  7. Maria Vrdoljak

    Adjunct Assistant Professor

A black-and-white close-up portrait of an older woman with shoulder-length dark hair. She is smiling slightly and is wearing a patterned scarf over a dark top. The background consists of vertical wooden panels.
Frances Huppert,
FAIA Architect
A black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman with dark hair pulled back. She is wearing a thick, ribbed turtleneck sweater and is looking directly at the camera. The background is plain and light-colored.
Bhavini Kapur,
Urban Planner and Architect
A black-and-white portrait of a young man with short dark hair, wearing a button-up collared shirt. He is slightly smiling and looking directly at the camera. The background is a plain, light-colored wall.
Kevin Ellicks,
Graduate Architecture Student
A black-and-white portrait of a young woman with voluminous curly hair. She is wearing glasses and a dark collared shirt, looking slightly off to the side with a calm expression. The background is a plain white surface.
Alexsa Ortiz-Reyes, Undergraduate Architecture Student
A black-and-white close-up portrait of a young man with short curly hair and glasses. He is wearing a dark, button-up shirt with a subtle pattern and is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The background is plain white.
Jeremias Emestica, Undergraduate Architecture Student