To fully take advantage of integrating passive and active solar strategies into sustainable and low-energy buildings, certain choices have to be made at the early design stage. This is the stage when architects have a dominant role in the decision-making process. This talk will present the outcomes of two international research projects: IEA SHC Task 41: Solar Energy and Architecture, and Task 51: Solar Energy in urban planning, whose objectives include providing adequate tools, information and support to architects, planners and urban designers in their efforts to create high quality architecture and urban environments that integrate renewable energy generation.

Successful examples ranging from macro (urban design) to micro level (component integration) will be presented in order to create inspiration and stimulate discussion.

Dr. Miljana Horvat is educated as an architect (Arch.Dipl.Ing., Belgrade and M.Arch, McGill) who also completed her Ph.D. in Building Engineering at Concordia University in Montreal. Since 2004, she has been a faculty member at the Department of Architectural Science at Ryerson University. Her research includes design for energy efficiency, performance of building envelopes, sustainability and solar energy in architecture. Dr. Horvat’s research has been supported by funding from NSERC (Discovery), NRCan CANMET/Energy Sustainable Buildings and Communities group, Metcalf Green Prosperity Challenge, to name a few. She has been involved in research collaborations through International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (IEA SHC) projects where she has been leading Canadian research teams in Task 41: Solar Energy and Architecture (2009 – 2012) and Task 51: Solar Energy in Urban Planning (2013 – 2017). Miljana Horvat also supervises graduate students in the Master of Architecture and Master of Building Science graduate programs at Ryerson. Currently, she serves as an Interim Associate Dean, Graduate Programs, at Ryerson’s Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science.

The Building, Ecology, Science and Technology (B.E.S.T.) lecture series has been made possible since 2009 through the generous sponsorship of Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance.

Each B.E.S.T. lecture qualifies for 2 hours of Ontario Association of Architects Structured Learning Credits. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. If the lecture hall reaches capacity, an overflow space will be provided where the presentations are simulcast. Lectures are followed by an informal reception with complimentary refreshments and snacks.