Sustainabuild brings industry leaders together to drive a retrofit-first approach for commercial buildings
Sustainabuild, the leading network for sustainability-focused professionals in the built environment, is set to host its latest event, ‘Retrofit First: Circular, Low-Carbon Design for Commercial Buildings', at Gensler’s London headquarters in Moretown on Thursday, 10 April 2025. The event will bring together key industry figures to explore how commercial properties can be transformed through retrofit-first strategies that prioritise material reuse and adaptation over demolition.
With 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 already built today, the pressure on London’s commercial property sector to reduce embodied carbon and improve energy efficiency has never been greater. Retrofit is emerging as a key solution, helping buildings meet net-zero targets, cut emissions, and contribute to a circular, low-waste economy.
The event will feature insights from Rob McNicol, Assistant Director of Policy and Strategy at the City of London Corporation; Hrabrina Nikolova, Principal Sustainability Officer at Westminster City Council; Luke Askwith, RIBA, Senior Associate at Gensler; and Lynette Qian, Chartered Senior Engineer & Sustainability Consultant at Arup.
Sustainabuild London Speakers
Speakers will discuss how the City of London and Westminster are implementing retrofit-first policies and advancing circular building strategies. Key case studies include 100 New Bridge Street, a major commercial retrofit project that significantly reduced embodied carbon through structural reuse while improving operational efficiency, and The London Cancer Hub, which demonstrates innovative circular design through material reuse, including structural steel repurposing and sustainable approaches to fit-outs.
The discussion will also explore the challenges and opportunities of embedding circular economy principles in commercial retrofit, addressing their impact on design workflows, procurement, specification tendering, costs, and project timelines.
Held at Gensler’s London studio, the event offers attendees the opportunity to engage with one of the world’s leading architecture firms. Gensler has pioneered sustainable design with projects such as Europe’s largest mass timber office building at 105 Victoria Street, the Sustainability Innovation Hub in Abu Dhabi, and the award-winning Ford Foundation Headquarters retrofit in New York.
Speaking ahead of the event, Matt Colgan, Director of Sustainabuild, emphasised the urgency of rethinking commercial building development:
“We need to bring built environment carbon emissions under control. The old cycle of ‘build, demolish, rebuild’ is unsustainable. The future lies in reusing and adapting existing buildings through creative, low-carbon design and engineering. The commercial sector has a major opportunity to lead this transformation. Retrofit isn’t just about sustainability, it’s about resilience, cost-effectiveness, and future-proofing real estate investments in an evolving regulatory landscape. This event will bring together leading voices to share knowledge, strategies, and solutions that will shape the future of London’s commercial buildings.”
This two-hour event is designed to foster networking and knowledge-sharing, offering attendees the chance to connect with industry peers, hear expert talks, and engage in interactive discussions. With over 40 sustainability-driven professionals expected to attend, it presents a valuable platform for collaboration, real-world case studies, and the exploration of cutting-edge low-carbon design strategies.
The event will take place at Gensler Studios, Thomas More Street, London, E1W 1YW, on Thursday, 10 April 2025, from 10:00 to 12:00.
Tickets are now available to book by visitingt: https://sustainabuilduk.com/events/retrofitfirst