A recent study, 2023 State of Design & Make by software developer Autodesk, contains some interesting takeaways for the design and construction industry.
Respondents to a survey of industry leaders from the architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, and entertainment spheres strongly support the idea that improving their organization’s sustainability practices is good for business. Some 80% of respondents say stellar sustainability policies and practices strengthen their organization’s reputation and help in the war for talent.
“Sustainability attracts talent,” says Fiona Short, principal and architect at Warren and Mahoney, a multidisciplinary architectural practice, in a post on the Autodesk web site. “You want the right people to come and want to work for you, and you want to be a company that people are proud to work for. A focus on sustainability helps you to get the best out of people because they’re passionate and their work aligns with their values.”
The survey also found evidence to support the notion that digitally mature companies have a distinct advantage over peers who lag in adopting technology such as cloud computing. Many companies believe a robust digital platform that enables remote work will be a key competitive advantage. And the respondents say the performance gap between digitally adept firms and laggards is getting wider.
“If there is one overarching takeaway from the survey data and interviews, it’s this: success today and tomorrow depends on our ability to transform how we work, and digital tools will help us respond,” the Autodesk post says. “Modern, trusted design and make platforms allow people to create better, faster, more affordably and sustainably, by making data more accessible and extensible, and collaboration more seamless across functions, geographies, and industries.”
Related Stories
| Apr 19, 2011
Is a building sustainable if it kills birds?
Migratory birds were flying into the windows and falling, dead or injured, to the foot of the LEED-Platinum FBI building in Chicago. The FBI building isn't the only LEED-certified structure to cause problems for migratory birds, however. Some of the more than 33,000 LEED-certified buildings in the U.S. use large amounts of glass to bring in natural light and save on energy—and all that glass can confuse birds.
| Apr 19, 2011
Philadelphia opens massive, LEED-Silver recycling center
The 60,000-square-foot single-stream material recovery facility (MRF) in Philadelphia will process around 20,000 tons of newspaper, cardboard, aluminum, glass, and plastic every month, and will simplify the collection of recyclable materials and increase recycling rates by 50%.
| Apr 19, 2011
AIA announces top 10 green Projects for 2011
The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment announced its Top 10 Green Projects for 2011. Among the winners: Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., and the Vancouver Convention Centre West in Vancouver, British Columbia.
| Apr 19, 2011
BMW dealers driving up sustainable construction in NYC
BMW North America will invest $60 million in two green dealerships in Manhattan. The new stores, which are being designed to cut energy use by 25%, reflect the auto company’s effort to reposition itself as environmentally conscious.
| Apr 19, 2011
15 mind-blowing skyscrapers
Our friends at Inhabitat have rounded up 15 incredible buildings—from underground cities to vertical farms to bio-fuel power plants and skyscrapers.
| Apr 19, 2011
Help the editors choose the next BD+C White Paper topic
The editors of Building Design+Construction want your input on the topic (or topics) we should tackle for our 2012 green building White Paper. Send us your ideas today.
| Apr 14, 2011
U.S. embassies on a mission to green the world's buildings
The U.S. is putting greater emphasis on greening its worldwide portfolio of embassies. The U.S. State Department-affiliated League of Green Embassies already has 70 U.S. embassies undergoing efforts to reduce their environmental impact, and the organization plans to increase that number to more than 100 by the end of the year.
| Apr 14, 2011
USGBC debuts LEED for Healthcare
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) introduces its latest green building rating system, LEED for Healthcare. The rating system guides the design and construction of both new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings, and can be applied to inpatient, outpatient and licensed long-term care facilities, medical offices, assisted living facilities and medical education and research centers.
| Apr 13, 2011
Danfoss Chairman of the Board Joins Clinton Global Initiative
Danfoss, a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration and motion systems, today announced that Jorgen M. Clausen, Chairman of the Board, has received and accepted a membership from former President Bill Clinton to join the Clinton Global Initiative.
