SUSTAINABILITY
Core to our work is a consideration for all aspects of a design. This includes structural performance, as well as constructability and aesthetics, but it also extends to environmental impact. We are constantly searching for products and practices to reduce the carbon footprint of the projects we work on, and are implementing them to ensure that our designs reflect our values and benefit our community.
SE2050 Commitment
The SE2050 program is an industry-recognized effort to reduce the embodied carbon of the buildings we design. Structural engineering firms across the nation have committed to the program, pooling data and strategies to collectively jumpstart more sustainable design. Although we have been working on green practices for much longer, we committed to SE2050 in 2023 and have been taking part in order to help guide our industry toward environmental progress.
Cement Replacement
Cement is a crucial component of the concrete we use for footings, walls, and slabs. While we use these extensively as the foundation of our designs, the manufacture of cement is usually the largest material emissions source. However, cement can be partially replaced with byproducts from other industrial processes: fly ash from coal combustion and ground granulated blast-furnace slag from steel manufacturing. After coordinating with local concrete plants to clear up any concerns about availability, workability, or strength, we began specifying these cementious substitutes on all our projects.
Cross-laminated Timber
Cross-laminated timber is made by adhering multiple layers of ordinary lumber in alternating directions. Large panels are fabricated in a specialized facility and cut for individual use, increasing efficiency and safety on the job site while in many cases avoiding the need for a more carbon-intensive concrete solution. We have a rapidly growing portfolio of projects using CLT on individual residences and private and public structures.
Local Retrofits and Remodels
A large portion of our work has always been local remodel and retrofit projects. By working to improve existing structures, we keep materials out of landfills and preserve historic architecture right here in our own city.
Office Practices
Our staff reduces commuting time through a combination of hybrid work setups and getting to our office via cycling or public transit. Plus, after a recent office renovation, items were reused, donated, or recycled whenever possible.