Christine Thuring - Guest Expert on Living Architecture and Ecological Design

"Ecological Design: Habitat restoration and living architecture in the Pacific Northwest"

Christine Thuring

Meet green roof specialist and plant ecologist, Christine Thuring, for a talk about the integration of ecological applications and functions into our built environment. In addition to their environmental, economic and social benefits, green roofs and living walls present a new dimension on which to create archipelagos of habitat for our native flora and fauna. By targeting vital food source plants for butterflies, for example, we may support metapopulations of rare or threatened species and bolster population resilience and foodweb structure. This presentation will outline the basics of rooftop greening and take the audience through the development of this locally emerging industry to a fearless and hopeful vision of the future.

Click here to read summary notes of the presentation written by a Light House volunteer.

Bio - With a BSc. Environmental Resource Science and Biology (Trent University, 1999), Christine Thuring worked for several years as a field botanist on projects of restoration ecology, land resource management and species at risk. She turned her attention to green roofs in 2001 and, after interning with a green roof company in Germany, Christine earned a MSc. Horticulture from Penn State University's "Centre for Green Roof Research" (2005). She has installed and designed green roofs in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Christine came to Vancouver in May 2006 and organized green roof events and displays for BCIT's "Centre for the Advancement of Green Roof Technology" during World Urban Forum. She remains an adjunct researcher at CAGRT. As the Resident Ecologist and Living Roof Specialist for NATS Nursery Ltd, she bridged the gap between plant specifiers and growers, advocating the use of native species on landscape and roof plantings. She is an active member of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and a contributing editor to Greenroofs.com.

PLEASE RSVP to info@sustainablebuildingcentre.com.
This is a free event but a donation of $2-$5 is suggested.

LOCATION
Light House: Sustainable Building Centre is located at 1575 Johnston Street, just East of the Public Market in the heart of Granville Island. Our centre is on the second floor and accessible via the glass door and staircase on the Southwest corner of the building. This event is sponsored by Light House Sustainable Building Centre and Cascadia Green Building Council, the local chapter of the CaGBC. Funding comes from Environment Canada and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.

Guest Expert seminars are intended to provide general information about green building products and technologies. Light House Sustainable Building Centre does not endorse any of the services or products discussed by guest expert speakers.