Chi holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture – Honours, Master of Sustainable Architectural Studies, and PhD in Environmental Design from the University of Calgary. Her professional experiences in architecture and sustainable design include healthcare, institutional, multi-family housing, energy-efficient design, and zero-carbon buildings. She aspires to advance the teaching of sustainable design practices through experiential learning and integration of holistic life cycle thinking to address complex challenges within the built environment. Her scholarly interests include developing circular economy frameworks for communities, advancing carbon-neutral design, and establishing benchmarks for net-zero materials and buildings. She leads the Net Zero Design + Research Lab (NDL) and currently mentors four undergraduate students in applied research projects funded through internal and external grants.

• Signature Learning Experience (SLE) Fellowship Award Recipient, Sustainability. Published May 17, 2023 – Insider, Announcing the Signature Learning Experience Fellowship. https://central.sheridancollege.ca/announcements/announcing-signature-learning-experience-fellowship

BOOK CHAPTERS:

• Dara, C. (2024). Sustainable Commercial Interiors: A Life Cycle Product Assessment Approach. Book Chapter in the Cambridge Scholars Publishing by "Current Issues in Interiors [CII] 2024 Symposium. (Manuscript under editorial review).

• Dara, C. (2015). Affordability and energy consumption: a study on zero carbon new built homes in the United Kingdom. Geographical Locality Studies, 3(1), pp. 668-689.

JOURNAL & CONFERENCE PAPERS:

• Dara, C. (2024). Achieving Net-Zero Emissions: Decarbonizing Commercial Interiors through Performance-based Product Specification. Current Issues in Interiors, CII 2024. International Symposium, Yaşar University, Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design. May 08-10. İzmir, Turkey.

• Dara, C. (2024). Decarbonizing Conventional Building Materials for Net-Zero Emissions: A Feasibility Study in Canada. Net-Zero Future 2024, 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices. June 19 - 21. Oslo, Norway. 

• Dara, C., & Hachem-Vermette, C. (2022). Life Cycle Embodied Energy and Carbon Emissions of Panelized Wall Systems. The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design 17 (1): 37-56. doi:10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v17i01/37-56.

• Dara, C., Hachem-Vermette, C., & Assefa, G. (2019). Life cycle assessment and life cycle costing of container-based single-family housing in Canada: A case study. Building and Environment, 163, 106332

• Dara, C. & Hachem-Vermette, C. (2019). Evaluation of low-impact modular housing using energy optimization and life cycle analysis. Energy, Ecology and Environment, 4(6), 286-299.

• Hachem-Vermette, C., Dara, C., & Kane, R. (2018). Towards net zero energy modular housing: a case study. 35th Annual World of Modular: Modular and Offsite Construction (MOC) Summit at Modular Building Institute's Annual Convention & Tradeshow. March 22-25, Hollywood, Florida.

• Dara, C. & Sinclair, B. (2018). Liberating architecture: A critical review of the landscapes of innovation advancement in modular design + construction. 11th International Symposium on Architecture of the 21st Century. InterSymp-2018, July 30 - August 3, 2018, Baden-Baden, Germany.

• Dara, C., & Hachem-Vermette, C. (2018). Life cycle assessment: low energy and low carbon modular housing in Canada. ESCC 2018: 5th International Conference on Energy, Sustainability and Climate Change. June 4-6, Mykonos Island, Greece.

• Olagunju, A., & Dara, C. (2014). The role of indigenous communities in the environmental assessment of hydro projects: North or South, It's all the same? Journal of Global and Science Issues, 2(3), pp. 16-27.

• Altan, H., & Dara, C. (2013). Achieving zero carbon new built homes: demonstrated through a case study. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies, 165 - 176.  August 26-29, Hong Kong. Paper ID: SET 2013-165.

RESEARCH REPORTS:

• Hachem-Vermette, C., Dara, C., & MacGregor, A. (2017). Evaluation of the Impact of Building Envelope Design on Energy Performance of Container-Based Housing Types. Report prepared as an account of work sponsored by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Engage Grant, pp. 1-63. July 2017.

• Dara, C. (2010). Projects Monitoring and Evaluations of Ultra-Modern Universal Basic Education (UBE) Schools Projects. Cypress Global Ltd, United Nations, Millennium Development Goals (MDG) projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Special Projects, Imo State, pp 1- 359. 2011. 

PRESENTATIONS:

• Panelist, “Alberta Energy Efficiency + Innovation Summit (AEE+I Summit).” Breakout #2: Exploring Embodied Carbon: Research, Material Choices and Design Perspectives in Alberta. Loft Ballroom, The Hudson Downtown Calgary, Sponsored by ENBIX-Alberta Ecotrust. April 23 & 24, 2024.

• Speaker, “HMC Speaker Series: inhouse,” Presenter Topic: Targeting Net-Zero Whole Life Carbon Lesson learned, A New Interdisciplinary Series by FAAD, FAST, and FHASS, HMC Gallery Room, B234, Sheridan College, March 8, 2023. 

• Dara, C., & Hachem-Vermette, C. (2017). High-performance modular housing: a case study of thermal performance optimization for shipping container housing. First Annual Research Design Conference, Faculty of Environmental Design. (Extended abstract and presentation). March 30, Calgary, Alberta.

*Panelist, Alberta Energy Efficiency + Innovation Summit, 2024                           *Net-Zero Future 2024, Oslo Norway *LobbyFest Calgary, 2023