Climate Adapted Buildings was established to address one of today's most significant challenges: the increasing impact of climate change on Canada's existing building stock.
As buildings face greater exposure to extreme heat, freeze-thaw cycles, heavy precipitation, high winds, and accelerated material deterioration, owners require specialized engineering expertise to make informed decisions about maintenance, retrofits, and long-term asset management.
CAB delivers objective, research-driven consulting services that help governments, institutions, municipalities, commercial property owners, architects, and engineering firms develop practical, resilient solutions that protect buildings for future generations.
Our mission is to help organizations create safer, stronger, and more resilient buildings by delivering innovative engineering solutions that improve durability, enhance climate resilience, and support sustainable asset management.
We envision a future where Canada's buildings are designed and maintained to withstand evolving climate conditions, maximize performance, reduce environmental impact, and protect long-term investments.
Dr. Michael A. Lacasse is an internationally recognized authority in building science, climate adaptation, and the durability of building materials.
Recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, Dr. Lacasse was recognized for his significant contributions to Canada through leadership and influential research on the impacts of climate change on Canada's buildings and on reducing the costs associated with premature building failure.
With more than 30 years of experience at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), he has led groundbreaking research in building envelope performance, moisture management, service life prediction, and climate resilience.
Today, through Climate Adapted Buildings, Dr. Lacasse provides clients with practical engineering guidance backed by decades of scientific research and industry leadership.
Climate Adapted Buildings focuses on highly technical building science solutions for prospective clients where empirical data is offered to justify retrofit capital expenditures, including
We begin by understanding your building portfolio, operational challenges, and long-term objectives.
Our experts perform comprehensive investigations to evaluate building condition, identify vulnerabilities, and collect performance data.
Using predictive models and building science expertise, we assess how changing climate conditions may affect building performance and service life.
We develop practical, evidence-based strategies tailored to your building's budget and operational goals.
We collaborate with project teams throughout the retrofit process, providing technical guidance to ensure successful outcomes.
This course builds a thorough understanding of the practical and technical factors involved in effectively diagnosing building defects and rehabilitating building envelopes. It focuses on identifying the causes of building envelope deficiencies and thereafter developing strategies to remedy these defects with effective, durable, and resilient solutions.
Concordia University, Montreal ― January 2026
This contribution explored the need to integrate recent climate projection models into modern building codes and façade engineering practices. By redefining performance criteria to account for future environmental loads rather than historical data, this presentation offers a methodology for designing sustainable, resilient façades that can withstand increasingly severe and ongoing climatic challenges.
Venice, Italy - 22-24 Sept. 2027
For the CIB W040 (Heat, Air, and Moisture Transfer of Buildings) Workshop, I provided an overview of research on rain penetration in wall assemblies in the context of a changing climate. The presentation provided information on the earliest studies that have been completed on rain penetration and thereafter focused on the more defining studies, including more recent studies undertaken in Canada and Belgium
17th International Conference on the Durability of Building Materials and Components, Montreal ― July 2026
This CSCE (Canadian Society for Civil Engineering) Tech Talk webinar provided an overview of the origins of Building Science and Building Engineering in Canada, where accredited Building Engineering programs are offered across Canada today, and the importance of Building Engineering in a changing climate. The presentation also introduced the newly formed CSCE Task Force on “Buildings,” which focuses on Advancing Climate-Responsive, Resilient, and Energy-Efficient Buildings in Canada. This webinar formed part of the current CSCE Buildings Task Force program.
CSCE Tech Talk Webinar - 25 September 2025
