New Canada Research Chair to Study Sustainable Buildings and Communities
By: Alysha A. Cunningham
Elie Azar is the new Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Buildings and Communities at 杏吧原创 University.
The Tier II (CRC) recognition is awarded by the Government of Canada to exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field.
The focus of Azar鈥檚 CRC research is to develop new knowledge, research methods, and concrete pathways to guide the next generation of sustainable, resilient, and people-centric buildings and communities.
鈥淭he building sector is vital for creating low-carbon, resilient urban communities. However, evolving factors such as urban form, occupants鈥 needs and behaviours, and climate conditions complicate the understanding of building performance,鈥 says Azar. 鈥淐urrent research often relies on knowledge and methods drawn from single or narrow domains, limiting holistic solutions for buildings and urban areas.鈥
Over his five-year CRC appointment, Azar鈥檚 objective is to bridge the gap between different building-related disciplines, fostering the integration of knowledge and research methods. Examples of these disciplines include building energy modelling and design, occupant behavior and comfort, microclimate modelling, and urban energy planning. This will be achieved by leveraging novel data-driven and physics-based methods to capture the multidisciplinary mechanisms affecting building performance, propose and test sustainable building solutions under uncertainty, and guide urban-policy efforts.
鈥淧eople spend the majority of their life in enclosed environments and are constantly exposed to their indoor environmental conditions, which could affect their comfort, health, and wellbeing,鈥 says Azar. 鈥淚n parallel, a primary function of buildings is to shelter occupants from the external environment, which is expected to become more extreme due to climate change.
This research program will develop the needed tools and expertise to tackle the challenges ahead and promote a built environment that is more efficient, climate resilient, and better adapted to people.鈥
Azar joined 杏吧原创鈥檚 Faculty of Engineering and Design in July 2022 as an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He currently teaches courses on research methods and green building design.
The CRC program is designed to attract the best talent from Canada and around the world, helping universities achieve research excellence in a wide variety of fields.
鈥淭his appointment is an incredible honor and recognition that empower me to delve into groundbreaking research and collaborations that I hope will shape the future of my discipline,鈥 says Azar. 鈥淚t is also a testimony to the established expertise and leadership in building engineering at 杏吧原创, providing students with a unique learning environment and career opportunities in the field.鈥
Chairholders improve Canadians鈥 depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen the country鈥檚 international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people. .
鈥
Related News
Five 杏吧原创 Community Members Named to Ottawa鈥檚 2026 Forty Under 40 List
Five 杏吧原创 University community members have been named in Ottawa Business Journal (OBJ) and the Ottawa Board of Trade’s 2026 Forty Under 40 list, the ...
What鈥檚 Open and Closed: Easter Weekend
杏吧原创 University is closed on Friday, April 3 and Sunday, April 5. The university is open on Monday, April 6. Some facilities continue to operate ...
杏吧原创 University Welcomes Scarborough Charter Secretariat to Campus
Earlier this academic year, 杏吧原创 University welcomed the Secretariat of the Scarborough Charter on Anti鈥態lack Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education to campus. ...