Date/Time
Date(s) - April 25, 2026
10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Categories

• Webinar

AIA Hong Kong x AIA Taipei

Architects as Change Agents – Designing for Climate, Equity, and Impact

Earth Day 2026 arrives at a critical moment for the built environment, as climate impacts intensify and social inequities deepen. This webinar will explore how the profession can meaningfully respond to climate change, the need for social equity, and the urgent matter of decarbonizing the built environment. The session will introduce key AIA climate initiatives, including The Framework for Design Excellence, the AIA 2030 Commitment, the Materials Pledge, and the Resilience Initiative—demonstrating how everyday design decisions can directly influence environmental performance, human health, and community well‑being.

Grounded in practice, the webinar will feature case studies that position architects as change agents who integrate sustainability and equity to achieve community benefit. One such project, the Food Angel Jockey Club Food Production Centre reimagined a Hong Kong industrial building as a socially and environmentally driven community kitchen supporting food recovery, public education, and climate‑resilient design – and received a 2025 AIA Hong Kong Honor Award in Architecture, as well as a Sustainability Award.

The program will also highlight regional policy leadership through a presentation of Taiwan’s new Net Zero Building Initiative and Green Façade Policy. This session will examine policy drivers, performance goals and design implications, with a focus on integrating energy efficiency, renewable systems, and vegetated façades to shape a low‑carbon, built environment.

Ultimately, this webinar will inspire architects and allied professionals to view climate action not as a constraint, but as a catalyst for better design. Learn how every project—regardless of scale, typology, or location—can advance environmental stewardship and social impact.

EVENT DETAILS

Sign up HERE to reserve your spot before Friday, April 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

About the Speakers

Richard Lee AIA
Chair, Sustainability Committee, AIA Taipei
Senior Consultant, C.Y.Lee & Partners

Richard is a New York State–registered architect and senior consultant at C.Y. Lee & Partners. His landmark projects include The One in Kaohsiung and the Siemens Headquarters in Beijing. With extensive cross‑cultural experience, he brings global design values to local practice and leads his firm’s initiatives as Sustainability Design Director. He is the Taiwan representative of CTBUH, a board member of SEED Taiwan, and an adjunct faculty member of the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Richard holds a BA in Environmental Design and an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Eugene Shum HKIA
Director and Head of Studio, Ronald Lu & Partners
Sustainability Committee, HKIA

Eugene is a Director and Head of Studio at Ronald Lu & Partners (RLP), a leading Hong Kong-based architecture firm with a focus on sustainability. Since joining RLP in 2001, he has applied his extensive knowledge and expertise across private and public sector projects, ranging from high-density urban planning to mixed-use developments and public open spaces. His recent work includes the Food Angel Jockey Club Food Production Centre, which incorporates eco-friendly catering practices and circular economy principles, setting a new benchmark for sustainable development. He is also responsible for Building 18W at the Hong Kong Science Park, a pioneering laboratory that showcases the Science Park’s strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and technology.

Vikki Lew AIA
Member, AIA Board Committee on Climate Action & Design Excellence (CCADE)

Vikki is a California-licensed architect with a diverse portfolio focused on the design of high-performance, sustainable buildings. She is the recipient of an AIA Upjohn Research Fellowship and an AIA College of Fellows Emerging Professionals Component Grant. Vikki serves AIA National as a member of the CCADE, and is concurrently chair of both the AIA International Sustainability Committee and the AIA Hong Kong Committee on the Environment. She is a WELL Advisor, an IPCC expert reviewer, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Oregon as well as a Master’s Degree in Sustainability, from Harvard.