Let’s challenge short-term thinking
The Climate Design Initiative (CDI) is redefining how the design and construction industry responds to the climate crisis. As a catalyst for change, CDI connects industry professionals, fosters leadership, and drives innovation to create a low-carbon, climate-adapted future. Through training programs, collaborative networks, and cutting-edge research, CDI equips the next generation of leaders to turn urgency into action.
By leading the design and construction industry to adapt the build environment, we can have direct and profound influence on the future wellbeing of our society.
We need to move rapidly to change our industry
Purpose
As a non-profit organization registered in Ontario, CDI provides a platform for leadership, education, and innovation in sustainable design. The initiative is built on the belief that by equipping professionals with the right skills and networks, the industry can accelerate its transition to a more resilient and sustainable future.
Vision
CDI’s approach focuses on three core areas:
Leadership Development
Training mid-career professionals to become decision-makers in climate-conscious design.
Knowledge Exchange & Community Building
Hosting workshops, seminars, and collaborative events to strengthen industry-wide engagement.
Research & Consulting
Conducting targeted studies and projects to address knowledge gaps and drive tangible progress in climate adaptation.
Diverse perspectives and new ways of thinking will be critical to addressing the climate crisis.
Our initiatives
Housing and Climate: Housing Models
CDI is developing an inventory of already-built models for future Canadian housing with the Clean Economy Fund's Housing and Climate Task Force.
TCN is a CDI-sponsored initiative that brings together people from construction, deconstruction, design, and many other fields with the goal of promoting circularity thinking. We do this through events, workshops, and lectures that connect like-minded people to a variety of circularity topics and actions.
A CDI-sponsored collective to speed the adoption of bioregionally-appropriate materials in large buildings.
Green Roof Agricultural Innovation Network (GRAIN)
GRAIN brings together academic researchers with the sustainability sector to advance knowledge and innovation in building-integrated food production. Our intent is for this network to share expertise, identify research gaps, and mobilize solutions to address climate change and food insecurity in Toronto.
The New Stone Age
A collaborative research project to demonstrate the structural, environmental, and economic viability of natural stone as a contemporary primary building system in the Canadian context to address the challenges of both Climate Change mitigation and adaptation.
R.E.A.C.H. is an acronym that outlines five core steps to develop climate adaptation strategies for communities: Readiness, Extent, Adapt, Consult, and Harmonize.
AdaptTO
AdaptTO is an initiative driven by professionals and community members working collaboratively across sectors towards a more resilient Toronto. Climate change will be adding more pressure to our city. We want to understand what the future looks like, what our city’s existing vulnerabilities are and take proactive action to address those before the impacts occur.
Climate Hazard And Response Tool (CHART)
The climate is changing and new hazards threaten our homes. But to adapt our buildings, we must first understand what can go wrong. The Climate Hazard and Response Tool was created to assist building professionals to identify climate vulnerable building systems. Once we know what systems are vulnerable, we can then take steps to fix it.
Our people
Christina Ismailos
Christina works at the intersection of engineering, public policy, and climate change communication, currently serving as a Senior Science & Technology Advisor at Natural Resources Canada.
Alex Lukachko
Alex is a building scientist and building climate adaptation specialist with a background in architecture, and is typically involved in early project stage consulting for high-performance new construction or retrofits.
Robert Lepage
Dr. Robert Lepage, P.Eng., is a nationally recognized expert in climate change resilience for buildings. He advises on climate adaptation and mitigation pathways in existing buildings and new construction.
Craig Applegath
Architect, urban designer, and a pioneer in the planning and design of zero-carbon buildings and campuses, climate adaptation, and regenerative cities, Craig is a principal & founding partner of DIALOG’s Toronto studio.
