Material Selection for Low Carbon Design - 1.0 PDH (LA CES/HSW) / 1.0 GBCI SITES-Specific CE

Chris Hardy is a Senior Associate Landscape Architect and Arborist at Sasaki, based in Boston Massachusetts.  Chris has been the principal investigator for Sasaki’s landscape Carbon Conscience research team from 2019 to the present. This project includes building both landscape and architectural datasets and translating them into a free and accessible design application, providing carbon metrics for planning and urban design analysis. Before Sasaki, Chris worked at SWA San Francisco and earlier at MNLA in New York City. Outside of practice, Chris participates in the design community through advocacy, teaching, service, and writing. 

Meg Calkins, FASLA, SITES AP, is a Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at North Carolina State University. Meg’s scholarship focuses on the environmental and human health impacts of site construction details and materials. She is the author of the book "Materials for Sustainable Sites" and editor of the "Sustainable Sites Handbook". She is currently writing a book with the working title of "Details and Material for Resilient Sites: A Carbon Positive Approach" (Routledge 2025). Meg has taken an active leadership role in development and implementation of the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) since 2003.

Satyam is an associate on the Embodied Carbon Initiative within the Carbon Free Buildings team. His primary focus is on reducing the carbon impact of building materials by advocating for the broad adoption of low-embodied-carbon and carbon-sequestering building materials.

Satyam previously worked as a structural engineer and construction manager in his home country of Trinidad and Tobago. He planned, designed, and managed the construction of facilities in the education, healthcare, and housing sectors, to name a few. He focused on ensuring projects were on a sustainable pathway by reducing embodied carbon content, introducing green concrete solutions, and advocating for renewable energy and efficient wastewater management systems. He led cross-functional teams and fostered engaging communication efforts between stakeholders and contractors to ensure projects were finalized within expected timeframes and budgets, and to end-user satisfaction.