Event Description

It’s a pivotal moment for climate action. Federal headwinds are impeding progress, states are prioritizing energy cost and reliability, and New York City is entering a new mayoral era with fresh opportunities. Where do we go from here?

At NYC NEXT: 2026 Building Trends, industry leaders will unpack the forces transforming the future of commercial and residential buildings and the strategies that can move New York toward a cleaner and more resilient built environment, while keeping affordability front and center.

Join Urban Green Council at NYU on June 3 to hear from the people and companies leading the way to decarbonizing buildings. Then, connect with industry peers at our post-conference reception at the AIA Center for Architecture. 

Session 1 • How to sell decarbonization in 2026

Fireside chat • On energy insecurity with Diana Hernandez
Energy insecurity impacts approximately 1 in 10 U.S. households, with plenty more at risk. In this fireside chat, Diana Hernandez, author of Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy, joins Daphany Rose Sanchez to unpack the essential dimensions of energy insecurity. They’ll discuss the physical, economic, and behavioural toll of inadequate energy, as well as strategies for advancing equity.

Session 2 • Meeting the multifamily moment: Challenges, breakthroughs and what’s next

NYC’s multifamily buildings are at a crossroads: LL97 deadlines are approaching, summers are getting hotter, and the economics of electrification remain stubbornly complex. This session examines how innovations in policy approach, technology and retrofit practices are creating a path forward to balance affordability, carbon reduction and access to cooling in NYC’s multifamily sector.

Fireside chat • Building toward 2030 with Laura Popa
A conversation about NYC building decarbonization, Local Law 97 results and the road ahead.