According to Buro Happold structural engineer and SE 2050 cochair Luke Lombardi, the project was designed to prove that the industry doesn’ t have to wait decades to begin making meaningful progress on environmental goals.
The Reframing the Future prototype structure showcased several practical strategies already present in the marketplace, including shape-optimized precast concrete that significantly reduces material use, reclaimed structural steel reused without energy-intensive remanufacturing, and locally sourced mass timber made from urban trees that would otherwise become waste.
While innovative materials are critical, Turner Construction feels contractors play an equally important role in advancing sustainable building practices. Caroline Murray, sustainability manager at Turner, explained that bringing new ideas to life requires more than technical expertise; it requires a willingness to embrace calculated risk.
“ There is a risk any time you do something new, and in the construction industry, we’ re very risk averse because there’ s a lot of money wrapped up in it [ construction projects ]. There’ s real physical risk,” Murray explained.“ In each party, there’ s an element of courage to step into the unknown. But climate change requires us to be bold and work together, to rethink what acceptable risk looks like.”
- Caroline Murray
Photos by of Alexis Feitel
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