Dr Golnaz Ighany is Sustainability Director at RIOS, a globally recognised architecture practice known for design excellence and leadership in
climate-positive design. As Sustainability Director, Golnaz guides RIOS’ global response to climate challenges, driving innovation in regenerative design while fostering multidisciplinary collaboration across project teams.
Golnaz holds a PhD from the University of Palermo, where her dissertation won first place in the EDUCATE Prize at the PLEA Conference. Her career has been defined by a commitment to architecture that moves beyond reducing environmental harm, toward creating measurable positive impact for people, place, and planet.
Over the course of her career, Golnaz has advanced landmark projects toward Whole Life Net Zero Carbon — she has contributed to London’s Bloomberg Headquarters, Apple Park Campus in Cupertino, and the Stirling Building at the University of Cambridge — work that has become a global benchmark for how sustainable design can address the complex
environmental challenges of both new construction and historic building contexts.
Golnaz’s work focuses on the integration of evidence-based design, environmental performance, and systems thinking, with a particular interest in how sustainability think tanks and design protocols can guide project teams toward climate-positive outcomes across diverse building typologies and cultural contexts. As an advocate for regenerative, human-centred design, she brings a collaborative, research-driven approach to every project.
Through her research, industry contributions, and built work, Golnaz continues to shape the evolving conversation around regenerative design and the future of sustainable architecture — she served on the IBPSA-USA Research Committee and as an NLA Expert on Net Zero strategies, having previously held key sustainability roles at BDP, Stanton Williams, and
Foster + Partners.
Dr Golnaz Ighany is Sustainability Director at RIOS, a globally recognised architecture practice known for design excellence and leadership in climate-positive design. As Sustainability Director, Golnaz guides RIOS’ global response to climate challenges, driving innovation in regenerative design while fostering multidisciplinary collaboration across project teams.
Golnaz holds a PhD from the University of Palermo, where her dissertation won first place in the EDUCATE Prize at the PLEA Conference. Her career has been defined by a commitment to architecture that moves beyond reducing environmental harm, toward creating measurable positive impact for people, place, and planet.
Over the course of her career, Golnaz has advanced landmark projects toward Whole Life Net Zero Carbon, including London’s Bloomberg Headquarters, Apple Park Campus in Cupertino, and the Stirling Building at the University of Cambridge — work that has become a global benchmark for how sustainable design can address the complex environmental challenges of both new construction and historic building contexts.
Golnaz’s work focuses on the integration of evidence-based design, environmental performance, and systems thinking, with a particular interest in how sustainability think tanks and design protocols can guide project teams toward climate-positive outcomes across diverse building typologies and cultural contexts. As an advocate for regenerative, human-centred design, she brings a collaborative, research-driven approach to every project.
Through her research, industry contributions, and built work, Golnaz continues to shape the evolving conversation around regenerative design and the future of sustainable architecture — serving on the IBPSA-USA Research Committee and as an NLA Expert on Net Zero strategies, having previously held key sustainability roles at BDP, Stanton Williams, and Foster + Partners.
The conversation of the night:
Regenerative Design Intelligence: From Evidence-Based Design to Impact
The conversation of the night:
Regenerative Design
Intelligence: From
Evidence-Based Design to Impact
Regenerative design is no longer aspirational — it’s becoming the standard by which the built environment will be judged.
In this keynote, Dr Golnaz Ighany of RIOS will explore how Regenerative Design Intelligence combines evidence-based design, environmental data, systems thinking, and collaborative practice to transform the way we shape the built environment — moving beyond simply reducing harm, toward creating measurable, positive impact.
Drawing on landmark projects including London’s Bloomberg Headquarters, Apple Park Campus in Cupertino, and the Stirling Building at the University of Cambridge, Golnaz will unpack how informed decision-making at the earliest stages of design can accelerate the transition from net zero ambitions to truly regenerative outcomes.
She’ll also share practical, case study-led insight into performance-led design approaches — revealing what evidence-based design can unlock, and what architects need to understand to lead the next generation of climate-positive projects.
What you’ll take away:
– Understand the principles of Regenerative Design Intelligence.
– How evidence-based design, environmental performance analysis, and systems thinking can inform regenerative decisions from the earliest stages of a project.
– How Environmental Intelligence supports better design outcomes.
– How climate analysis, performance simulation, and measurable design metrics can guide integrated decisions that balance environmental, social, and economic objectives.
– The importance of collaboration and measurable impact.
– How multidisciplinary collaboration, performance-driven frameworks, and clear sustainability targets can help deliver projects with lasting positive outcomes.
Regenerative design is no longer aspirational — it’s becoming the standard by which the built environment will be judged.
In this keynote, Dr Golnaz Ighany of RIOS will explore how Regenerative Design Intelligence combines evidence-based design, environmental data, systems thinking, and collaborative practice to transform the way we shape the built environment — moving beyond simply reducing harm, toward creating measurable, positive impact.
Drawing on landmark projects including London’s Bloomberg Headquarters, Apple Park Campus in Cupertino, and the Stirling Building at the University of Cambridge, Golnaz will unpack how informed decision-making at the earliest stages of design can accelerate the transition from net zero ambitions to truly regenerative outcomes.
She’ll also share practical, case study-led insight into performance-led design approaches — revealing what evidence-based design can unlock, and what architects need to understand to lead the next generation of climate-positive projects.
What you’ll take away:
– Understand the principles of Regenerative Design Intelligence.
– How evidence-based design, environmental performance analysis, and systems thinking can inform regenerative decisions from the earliest stages of a project.
– How Environmental Intelligence supports better design outcomes.
– How climate analysis, performance simulation, and measurable design metrics can guide integrated decisions that balance environmental, social, and economic objectives.
– The importance of collaboration and measurable impact.
– How multidisciplinary collaboration, performance-driven frameworks, and clear sustainability targets can help deliver projects with lasting positive outcomes.
