High Performance Design Meets Boots on the Ground TORONTO

National non-profit Passive Buildings Canada and Stone's Throw Design, presents High Performance Meets Boots on the Ground.

This event brings together leaders from the design and construction fields (and beyond) to share ideas, network and learn about great products that get the job done to produce high performance buildings. See "Agenda" below.

Admission includes 1 ticket for beer or wine plus pizza (while supplies last). Non-alcohol drinks are free. 

Tickets are required for this event. 

PBC members get free tickets for all "Boots on the Ground" events during their membership. 

Membership starts at just $25 (the price of admission). Join today to get your free admission to this event! PBC members who need assistance getting their free ticket(s) please contact us. 

What do these events look like?

Presentations

Towards Multi-generational Living: An Urban Low-carbon Deep Energy Retrofit by Chris Phillips and Terrell Wong
From foundation to ridge, this project reimagines a modest brick bungalow as a vibrant multigenerational home—while dramatically cutting its carbon footprint. We’ll explore how deconstruction, material reuse, and minimizing foam and plastics can transform the way we build. Set on one of the most challenging urban sites, this renovation proves that sustainable construction isn’t just theoretical—it’s practical. If it can be done here, under these constraints, it can be done anywhere. Let’s take a closer look at how thoughtful design and smart building choices can reshape the future of housing.

Terrell Wong - is a licensed architect in Ontario practicing for over 35year specializing in low carbon energy efficient home design. Chris holds a Masters Degree in Building Science from TMU (2013) and is a graduate of the Sustainable Design and Build programme at Fleming College (2007). Chris is also a LEED® Accredited Professional. Realizing the need to make a difference in an often incredibly wasteful and unhealthy industry, Chris formed Greening Homes Ltd. in 2007.

We Know How to Build Better Buildings. So Why Don’t We? by Helen Stopps
We already know how to build durable, healthy, and energy-efficient buildings. Yet many buildings still fail to deliver these outcomes in practice. This talk argues that the challenge is often not a lack of technical knowledge, but the systems that shape how buildings are designed, constructed, and maintained. Drawing on emerging research, the presentation explores how small design decisions interact with larger housing systems. It also reflects on the role of community ethics in building science—who has access to knowledge, who interprets building data, and how these insights translate into action.

Dr. Helen Stopps is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research examines how housing systems shape building performance, health, and equity. She develops accessible building diagnostics—including low-cost sensing, data-driven monitoring, and spatial documentation tools—to better understand how buildings operate in real-world conditions. Working with communities, housing providers, and governments, her work focuses on translating building science knowledge into practical improvements in social housing, northern communities, and other under-resourced contexts. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates engineering, public health, and community-led research to support healthier and more resilient housing systems.

Exterior HVAC Pods: Compact, Complete, and Code-ready by Rob Blakeney
A "Mechanical Pod" is an innovative HVAC solution which places all HVAC equipment on the exterior of the building. Mechanical Pods emerged as a key innovation to complement the Energiesprong retrofit model, which originated in the Netherlands to deliver net-zero energy upgrades with minimal disruption to tenants. Local Impact Design was commissioned by the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) to investigate the Pod concept for its properties. While developed with deep energy and carbon retrofit in mind, the Pod concept offers benefits for new builds also, especially for small dwellings where interior space is at a premium.

Rob Blakeney is a green building engineer offers a comprehensive suite of consulting engineering services including building science (envelope), HVAC design, building structural, energy modeling, solar PV, and carbon accounting. These skills have been honed over an international career spanning 38 years in the building industry, including 20 years focusing specifically on green buildings and energy efficiency; as a consultant, contractor and developer. Rob’s involvement in the green building industry dates back to the advent of LEED Canada at the turn of the century, as Technical Advisory Committee member helping to write LEED version 1 and as an early Board Member of the Canada Green Building Council. Rob has also served on the Board of Directors for Passive Buildings Canada.

Agenda

6pm: DOORS OPEN: Networking and Mini-Trade Show (food & drink)
7pm: PRESENTATIONS: Three 20 minute presentations (no Q&A)
8pm: NETWORKING AND MINI-TRADE SHOW (food & drink)

Filming

Please note that this event will be filmed and promoted on public media. Note that by attending this event you consent to your voice, name and/or likeness being used, without compensation or recognition, in photographs, recordings, films and any and all media for any purpose including advertising, publicity, commercials, and any other purposes worldwide.