Caroline Butchart

Sustainability Lead, Senior Structural Engineer | P.Eng., M.Eng., CEng, MIStructE., LEED Green Associate
Cyclist, hiker, dog mom, climate enthusiast

Caroline graduated from the University of Leeds with a Master’s degree in Architectural (and Structural) Engineering, and an interest in adventurous engineering, protecting the environment, and exploring new possibilities. More than a decade later, these passions hold true. Caroline still enjoys adventurous engineering, but with a heavy dose of “climate anxiety” pushing her to be protective of the world’s resources, particularly given the construction industry’s super-sized carbon footprint.

Caroline’s experience includes leading large-scale projects in both the UK and Canada, and she particularly enjoys working on the refurbishment and expansion of existing buildings. Throughout Caroline’s career, she has focussed on minimizing her climate impact, and has developed tools, resources, and guidance documents for structural engineers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their projects. Driven by this, Caroline paused her engineering career to focus exclusively on embodied carbon in construction. During this time, she worked for a not-for-profit organization developing resources, educational content, workshops and more for architects, engineers, and local governments. Caroline also co-authored the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Professional Embodied Carbon Considerations for Structural Engineers, and is an active member of the CAGBC Embodied Carbon Technical Advisory Group and the Carbon Leadership Forum British Columbia hub.

Caroline has also worked on glass projects in the UK, Europe, and North America, and spent several years working in research for the Glass and Facade Technology Group at the University of Cambridge (UK). She was a contributing member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Structural Glass Committee.

In her spare time, Caroline enjoys creatively creating, as well as spending as much time outdoors as possible – either hiking with her dog Gabby, or riding with her cycling club. When not outside, she enjoys exploring Vancouver’s coffee shops and breweries.