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Michael Jemtrud

Title: 
Associate Professor
Michael Jemtrud
Contact Information
Email address: 
michael.jemtrud [at] mcgill.ca
Office: 
Macdonald-Harrington Building Room 307
Position: 
Chair in Architecture, Energy, and Environment
Degree(s): 

BA Philosophy, BSc Architecture, BArch (Penn State), MArch (۲ݮƵ)

Research areas: 
Design-build pedagogies and research
Multi-sectoral decarbonization pathways
Building-energy retrofit
Climate conscious design and construction
Biography: 

Michael Jemtrud is the Chair in Architecture, Energy, and Environment and an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture. He is a founding member of the DeCARB (DeCarbonizing ARchitecture and Building) Research Group at ۲ݮƵ University whose mission is to develop new concepts, methods, tools, and integrated solutions for the reduction of the Global Warming Potential of the full building environments process (design, construction, operation of buildings) in transitioning to a clean energy, low-carbon future. He is the Founding Director of FARMM (Facility for Architectural Research in Media and Making) and former Director of the School of Architecture from 2007-11.

Prof. Jemtrud is trained in design and construction techniques for high-performance design and construction and skilled in multi-stakeholder co-design and consultation having worked with various communities and industries in Montreal and across Quebec. His primary mode of research and teaching is applied and focused on real-world implementation: designing, prototyping, and constructing at full-scale by incorporating novel building technologies and configurations that address climate change including policy and socio-economic pathways. His current research focus concerns developing solutions for Building Climate Retrofit and Renovation of existing building stock

Recent initiatives:

2024-25: Social and Technological Assessment of Retrofits (STAR): A scoping review. McISCE Catalyst Innovation Fund (CIF) with Prof. Mylène Riva.

2021-26: ReCONstruct: Building Climate Retrofit Solutions for Canada. NSERC Alliance (with Hydro-Québec and Quebec Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Energy Transition sector). Principal Investigator.

2020-23: BARN (Building Architecture Research Node). Canada Foundation for Innovation - Innovation Fund/Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation. Principal Investigator.

2020-21: Buildings as a Global Carbon Sink. ۲ݮƵ Sustainability Systems Initiative - Clean Tech Fund. Co-applicant (PI: Salmaan Craig).

2019-23: Arctic Wood Architecture Network. Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education. Co-applicant (PI: Niels Martin Larsen, Aarhus School of Architecture).

Recent research-creation: Built Work, Design Propositions, Installations, Exhibitions

2022-ongoing: L'Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève Community Centre, deep energy retrofit design and realization.

2023-24: Musée de la civilization, Quebec City “For Tomorrow” exhibit. Contribution of model and drawings of Deep Performance Dwelling.

2021-ongoing: ۲ݮƵ Bike Infrastructure.

2020-ongoing: ۲ݮƵ Bird Observatory (paused).

2020: Farmer's Market Pavilion design, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (unrealized)

2019: Eco-village, Saint-Octave-de-Métis, Québec. Architecture, urban design, sustainability strategy and design proposition (unrealized).

2018-21: ۲ݮƵ Bicentennial Music Pavilion. Installed at Les Jardins de Métis, Place Hydro Québec on international competition site.

2016-18: Solar Decathlon China competition. Faculty lead (Dezhou). Design and construction of the Deep-Performance Dwelling. Building, competition and exhibition.

Selected publications: 

2024: Amiri, A., Jemtrud, M., Lavigne, K., Chung, D. (2024). Comparing simulations of deep energy retrofits for a community centre using past and future weather scenarios. eSim 2024 IBPSA Canada Conference Proceedings, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

2024: McNally, J., Cruickshank, C.A., Jemtrud, M. (2024) Comparison of Weather Data Sources and Impact on Hygrothermal Model Accuracy. eSIM conference, June 5-7, 2024, Edmonton, AB.

2024: Prochnau, K., Fallica, S., Mendoza, J., Jemtrud, M., and Fai, S. (2024) Analyzing Deformations in As-Found Buildings for Accommodation in Panelized Retrofit. Transforming Construction with Off-site Methods and Technologies (TCOT) Conference, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

2024: Dalkowski, T., Osborne, P., … Cruickshank, C. A., Jemtrud, M. (2024) Panelized retrofit testing for commercial buildings using biogenic materials. Transforming Construction with Off-site Methods and Technologies (TCOT) Conference, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

2024: Shen, H., Ho-Von, L., King. T,…Chung, D., Jemtrud, M. (2024). Developing a Building Identification Tool to Support Mass Deep Energy Retrofits. Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture 112th Annual Meeting Proceedings.

2023: Jemtrud, M., King, T., (2023) Building Capacity for mass deep energy retrofit in Quebec: A systems perspective. PhiusCon 2023, Houston, TX. Presenter.

2023: Osborne, P., Kayed, S., Yue, J.L., Chung, D., Jemtrud, M. (2023) Deep climate Retrofit: Assessing Life-Cycle Thinking of Emission Calculators in Construction. ACSA/AIA Intersections Research Conference: Material Economies, Amherst, MA. Presenter.

2023: Osborne, P., Aquilué, N., Mina, M., Moe, K., Jemtrud, M., Messier, C. (2023) A trait-based approach to both forestry and timber building can synchronize forest harvest and resilience. PNAS Nexus, Volume 2, Issue 8

2022: St-Jean, P., Clark, O.G., Jemtrud, M. (2022) A review of the effects of architectural stimuli on human psychology and physiology. Building and Environment, volume 219, 109182,


For current or potential Graduate students:

Thank you for your interest in advanced studies at ۲ݮƵ University School of Architecture and in the work of my research group and the . Please note that graduate applications are processed through ۲ݮƵ's web site (see /gradapplicants/how-apply).

Whether seeking a 1) potential graduate studies advisor and/or 2) research assistantships in the FARMM lab please follow the following instructions. Due to high volume, generic inquiries will likely not be considered.

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