The province of Québec and the Nordic countries are resolutely committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the construction sector. It was therefore only natural that experts from these northern regions should come together to share their best practices.
Named SymbioSE NOrdiQC, this collaborative project aims to create a community of practice between Quebec and the Nordics in healthy architecture with a low carbon footprint, while contributing positively to the transition to a bioeconomy in the field of construction and architecture. Now the project has received funding in both Québec and the Nordics.
This is a truly exciting collaboration. Sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do at White Arkitekter, and to be able to exchange expertise with our partners in the Nordics and Québec will be important for both regions in the transition towards a bioeconomy.
During the first two years of its mandate, this exchange group composed of experts in the field of sustainable architecture and construction will aim to identify and define projects and courses of action with a high potential for spin-offs, which can be implemented subsequently either jointly or on both sides of the Atlantic.
This collaboration between Québec and the Nordics will bring these two regions one step closer to their objectives in terms of healthy, low-carbon architecture, bio-based materials and improving the quality of life for the population. Schools, elderly homes and offices will therefore certainly be at the heart of the exchanges at the various projects.
Both regions are committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emission, so it only feels logical that we, experts from regions with a similar climate, are sharing our expertise and doing research together. We have an exciting group of partners and are very pleased to have secured the funding – we’re eager to get started.
The initiative is led in Québec by Cecobois, the center of expertise on wood, in collaboration with the University of Québec in Rimouski and the University of Montreal, and in the Nordic countries by White Arkitekter and the Swedish Wood Building Council (Träbyggnadskansliet) in collaboration with four universities in Sweden; Lund University LTH, Linnaeus University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Chalmers University of Technology, and one in Norway; Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
The collaboration has received financial support from the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec.
Although this collaborative project is still in its starting block, these meetings and workshops will certainly lead to an even closer long-term collaboration between Québec and the Nordics.
Marie-France Stendahl
Architect, Head of Business Development Canada
Stockholm