Retrofit Symposium

The Retrofit Symposium will bring together academic, government and industry experts to set the national research agenda to support the transformation of Australian cities.

Through a series of keynote lectures, panel discussions and site visits over two days, the symposium will advocate for an increase in the scale of retrofitting in Australia. Retrofitting buildings and infrastructure reduces carbon emissions and improves environmental, economic and social performance.

Speakers including Indy Johar (Architecture 00 and Dark Matter Labs) and Nicky Drobis (Fender Kastilidis) will explore how the built environment sector can best improve the performance of existing assets with retrofitting as it moves towards more sustainable standards.

Explore the full program

Day One - Tuesday 21 November

• Available to Symposium registrants only, guided site visits of selected retrofitted buildings in Melbourne will explore the retrofit opportunities and challenges of each site.
• A keynote lecture Retrofit and Beyond: Working Through the Limits will be presented by Indy Johar, Robert Garland Treseder Fellow. This lecture is also open to the public, register here.

Day Two - Wednesday 22 November

• Mandy Nicholson, Lecturer in First nations Design at the Faculty, will discuss First Nations’ perspectives on retrofitting buildings, infrastructure, and landscapes. This will be followed by a responding panel discussion featuring Deputy Lord Mayor Nicolas Reece and Grant Maher.
• Parallel sessions feature experts from academia, industry and government will discuss key themes around retrofit including commercial buildings, housing, digital tools and landscapes.
• A keynote lecture titled Green Dreams: Epic Retrofit Stories featuring Nicky Drobis of Fender Kastilidis will delve into case studies featuring landmark buildings and refurbishments including Midtown Centre, 500 Bourke Street and 90 Collins Street. Available in-person to Symposium registrants, with online live-stream. Find out more here.

Symposium Convenors: Professor Sarah Bell, Marita Doak, Enzo Lara-Hamilton, Core Lab Team,
Retrofit Lab - a Research and Innovation Laboratory activating the transition of Australia's buildings, infrastructure and landscapes for resilient, healthy, and sustainable cities.

Image: Melbourne Skyfarm by The Sustainable Landscape Company.