KPF Senior Environmental Performance Specialist Christina X. Brown and Associate Principal Gabriel Morales represented KPF as two-thirds of the expert panel “Decarbonizing Lab Buildings Through Electrification” at the event in Kansas City.
On October 9, Christina and Gabriel joined Patrick Krystyniak, Energy Engineer and Lead Consultant for WSP, to discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in decarbonizing laboratory buildings, a critical topic as academic and research institutions strive to meet ambitious climate goals. Laboratories, with their heightened thermal demands and mechanical requirements, often rely on natural gas for heating and hot water, making the transition to all-electric operations both essential and complex. The panel drew on the example of KPF’s all-electric research laboratory currently under construction at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, highlighting collaborative design strategies that address technical hurdles while prioritizing occupant health and safety.
Attendees gained insights into how evolving state and local energy policies, community needs, and the renewable energy transition are shaping the future of sustainable lab design. Presented as part of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Conference—the annual event convened to support the organization’s commitment to diversifying the architecture and design industry and increasing the number of licensed Black and minority architects—this panel joins a robust lineup of more than 60 sessions, keynotes, and workshops focused on trends and innovations in the AEC industry.
Christina and Gabriel’s panel took place from 10:30 to 11:30 AM in room Chicago A at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel.
