Six trailblazers were recognized for their pioneering work in reducing embodied carbon in British Columbia’s built environment at the fourth annual B.C. Embodied Carbon Awards.
The Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC), through its Carbon Leadership Forum BC (CLF BC) program, hosted the awards on May 21 to highlight and celebrate what’s possible in low-carbon construction.
Embodied carbon comes from producing, transporting, and installing materials like steel, concrete, and insulation, as well as from demolition and disposal. It is estimated that by 2050, embodied carbon will represent 46 per cent of B.C.’s annual building sector emissions based on current practices. B.C. and Vancouver are leaders in this space, adopting practices like designing for less materials, using low-carbon materials such as sustainable mass timber, or moving to re-use construction waste in new builds.
The winners are:
Commitment to Circularity: VEMA Deconstruction
VEMA Deconstruction is a trailblazing company leading the building deconstruction field. Deconstruction is the systematic disassembly of a structure to recover and re-use materials, including in new buildings. VEMA applies a reuse-first approach to large-scale recovery, supported by rigorous processes and a first-of-its-kind certification for reclaimed lumber.
Large (Part 3) Buildings: UBC Anthropology & Sociology (ANSO) Building (submitted by Perkins&Will)
The ANSO Building, nearly as old as UBC itself, was built as an army base to protect Point Grey against attack and later served as a women’s dormitory. Now undergoing an $80-million renewal, the iconic 70,000-square-foot campus building is demonstrating what a “re-use first” approach can achieve. By preserving what’s possible and replacing only what’s necessary, the project is achieving a 50 per cent reduction in embodied carbon while retaining 77 per cent of the existing structure and envelope.
Small (Part 9) Buildings: Maverick – 205 Hythe Street (submitted by Carbon Wise)
This project brought material reuse into mainstream practice by reusing wood beams from a local restaurant, recovering glued laminated lumber and ceiling panels from the old Saputo dairy plant, and reusing insulation — saving more than six tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. The house sets a compelling precedent for how small-scale residential projects can deliver meaningful carbon reductions through replicable, community-benefiting approaches.
Organizational Commitment to Change: RJC Engineers
RJC Engineers is one of Canada’s largest independent, employee-owned engineering firms, with offices across British Columbia and a coast-to-coast presence. RJC is advancing low-carbon construction through measurable action and industry leadership. The firm has committed to achieving net-zero embodied carbon in structural designs by 2050, while embedding carbon accountability across offices and projects.
Public Sector Leadership: City of Nelson
Nelson’s deep collaboration with industry is advancing embodied carbon research, education, and action. They’ve strengthened carbon literacy of local builders, designers, and policy makers, cultivating a community that recognizes embodied carbon as a critical climate lever through their suite of exceptional resources that make low-carbon building choices easier.
Strengthening the Practice: Brenda Martens, ædify consulting & BCIT
Brenda Martens dedicated much of her career to circularity (a system designed to keep materials in use). She contributed to the development of deconstruction bylaws through her support of municipalities including Squamish, Victoria, and the District of North Vancouver. Brenda also played an influential role in education, including the development of BCIT’s Applied Circular Economy: Zero Waste Buildings micro-credential, the first accredited circular built environment credential from a post-secondary institution in North America.
