Resilience: The Next Wave
Hugh Broughton Architects, the firm in charge of redeveloping Scott Base in Antarctica in association with Jasmax, is expected to speak at the CoreNet Symposium.
Rod Aitken, Head of Corporate Property at Auckland Council, speaks at the CoreNet Symposium.
The 2020 iteration of the CoreNet Symposium has been postponed from May to 23 September 2020 and will still take place at Shed 10 in Auckland.
The 2020 CoreNet Symposium has been postponed to 23 September 2020, but it still promises to be a highly topical look at what it takes to build resilient buildings at a time of immense change and challenge. George Hulbert finds out more.
The CoreNet Symposium is an annual highlight of the property calendar, this major event draws people from all corners of the corporate real estate industry – building owners, major occupiers, suppliers and knowledge leaders – to hear speakers from all over the world examine issues at the forefront of the industry’s collective mind.
This year, the topic is Resilience: The Next Wave, explains CoreNet Global New Zealand chapter chair Rod Aitken. “We have picked an important topic that follows a direct line from 2016, when wellness and well-being were at the front of people’s concerns. This year, we are delving into the world of resilience and, specifically, the ways in which we can build personal and real estate resilience at a time of immense change and challenge.
“It’s an exciting topic and we have some stellar speakers on the day, including the architects behind the redevelopment of Scott Base, which has to be one of the world’s most resilient projects, plus people involved in Resilient Vancouver, which has already done much to become a more resilient city.”
For Aitken, resilience in the corporate real estate context is about designing and creating robust buildings and places that support people in responding to events or adversity. Or, as he puts it: “how we get ourselves through and support ourselves, our families, wha¯nau and communities”.
He says that there’s a big difference between sustainability and resilience in the world of commercial real estate. “Sustainability is all about ensuring what we do now is sustainable for future generations. Resilience, however, is all about preparedness and adapting well to threats, stress and trauma. It is not a magical quality. It takes real mental work and focus to develop resilience over time. Right now we know there is adversity in our lives so the question is: how well do we bounce back? And what are the qualities each of us needs – the personal, professional and leadership qualities – to build resilience?”
Another aspect of the topic is how we can respond to, slow – and stop – the adverse effects we’re having on the world, he adds. “We’re asking how sustainable societies and buildings can grapple with the challenges and shocks that are coming, and how we create cities with more robust infrastructure and reduce coastal erosion so we can bounce back from big challenges and move forward.
“Ultimately, it is up to us as property professionals to create more-resilient buildings, places, neighbourhoods and communities – real estate that is able to support its inhabitants and operations. There are risks to be analysed and opportunities to be grasped. It is within our sphere of influence as individuals to plan and create spaces and cities that respond and bounce back from the challenges that we face.”
CoreNet New Zealand has announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Symposium has been postponed to 23 September 2020, and it will still be held at Shed 10 in Auckland. Details, including speaker lineups, are subject to change. Visit corenetsymposium.co.nz for the latest information and to register.
