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Chapman Taylor’s Alexander Esfahani and Catalina Ionita to speak at Sustainability and Placemaking Roundtable in Manchester on June 24th 2025

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Chapman Taylor’s Alexander Esfahani and Catalina Ionita have been invited to speak at an exclusive roundtable event hosted by Polypipe Building Products on Tuesday 24 June at The Hilton Deansgate, Manchester. The invite-only event, held alongside Housing 2025, will bring together key voices from across the built environment to explore how to sustainably shape the future of Manchester—widely regarded as the UK’s second city.

The roundtable will convene leading figures from housing associations, house builders, architects, and contractors to discuss two central themes:

  • The sustainable growth of Manchester’s city centre – including the integration of sustainable materials, low-carbon infrastructure, and urban drainage systems in high-density developments.

  • The expansion of Greater Manchester and its commuter towns – covering the role of regulation, responsible development on greenfield and flood-prone sites, and the infrastructure needed to futureproof growth.

Catalina and Alexander will contribute insights from Chapman Taylor’s work in placemaking, urban design, and sustainable development, drawing on both UK and international project experience.

Event Details:
📍 The Hilton Deansgate, 303 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LQ
🕤 9:30am – Arrivals and networking
🕙 9:45am–12:00pm – Roundtable discussion
🕛 12:00–12:30pm – Lunch and further networking

The event offers a valuable opportunity to connect with industry peers, share knowledge, and help shape the conversation around sustainable urban development in Greater Manchester.

Contact Erin Roberts erin@refreshpr.co.uk for more information.

Alexander Esfahani (Bsc(Hons), MArch, PGDip ARB)

Associate Director / Head of Sustainability, UK

Alexander joined Chapman Taylor’s Manchester studio in 2016 as part of the Feasibility team, predominantly focusing on the Residential and Mixed-Use sectors.

He has experience working on a wide range of projects at all work stages, with recent projects including Manchester Goods Yard which was successfully handed over in 2021.

Alexander is passionate about creative design and has been instrumental in developing our sustainability strategy and a number of R&D initiatives. As the global head of Chapman Taylor’s Responsible Design Steering Group, he promotes and coordinates environmental principles and best practice within the company.

Areas of expertise:

Residential / Workplace / Responsible Design / Net Zero Carbon

Dr Catalina Ionita (BA(Hons) MArch ARB RIBA AFHEA)

Senior Architect, UK

Catalina joined the Manchester studio in 2021 as an Architect supporting the Feasibility team. She brings a passion for successful placemaking to her work in the residential and mixed-use sectors.

She has experience working on a wide range of projects at all work stages, including large residential developments, masterplans, offices, and listed building restorations.

Cat is also a Women in Property North West committee member with a strategic role as Inclusion Champion. For one day a week, she teaches a Masters of Architecture and Urban Design course at the Manchester School of Architecture.

In 2024, she completed a PhD in Urban Activation and Placemaking from Sheffield Hallam University.

Areas of expertise:

Placemaking / Residential / Mixed-Use / Research

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