MTA Senior Urban Designer and BEAT Executive, Maya Desai, recently co-organized a compelling panel discussion and workshop – “Building Equity on Construction Sites” – as part of Building Equity in Architecture Toronto’s (BEAT) fifth forum. The BEAT Executive team strategically planned this event, which took place at the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University, bringing together a diverse panel who discussed topics surrounding construction site behaviours and dynamics. The event included a panel discussion on breaking down barriers within the AEC industry and a hands-on workshop focusing on aligning values among stakeholders that work on construction sites.

The panel included MTA Partner, Carol Phillips, alongside Jen Hancock of Chandos Construction, Lisa Laronde, CPA of CAWIC – Canadian Association of Women in Construction, and Gayle Meeks of Perkins&Will, who addressed a diverse audience comprised of students, industry leaders, and advocates for women in STEM. Lisa Laronde led the interactive workshop which resulted in some key values as takeaways.

This event was not only a platform for sharing experiences, but also an opportunity to inspire the next generation. Thank you to all who attended and added to the meaningful discourse.