flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Increased focus on sustainability is good for business and attracting employees

Sustainability

Increased focus on sustainability is good for business and attracting employees

A new Autodesk study also finds that digitally mature companies outperform less mature competitors.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | May 1, 2023
Increased focus on sustainability is good for business and attracting employees
Image courtesy Autodesk

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

Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022

Top 50 Senior Living Facility Contractors + CM Firms for 2022

Whiting-Turner, Ryan Companies US, W.E. O'Neil Construction, and KBE Building Corp. top the ranking of the nation's largest senior living facility contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022

Top 40 Student Housing Facility Contractors + CM Firms for 2022

J.H. Findorff & Son, PCL Construction Enterprises, Juneau Construction, and Sundt Construction top the ranking of the nation's largest student housing facility contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.

| Aug 29, 2022

Montana becomes first U.S. state to approve 3D printing in construction

Montana is the first U.S. state to give broad regulatory approval for 3D printing in building construction.

| Aug 26, 2022

Idaho Building Code Board considers gutting large part of state energy code

Idaho Building Code Board considers gutting large part of state energy code.

Giants 400 | Aug 25, 2022

Top 100 Apartment and Condominium Contractors for 2022

Clark Group, Suffolk Construction, AECOM, and Lendlease top the ranking of the nation's largest apartment and condominium contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.

University Buildings | Aug 25, 2022

Higher education, striving for ‘normal’ again, puts student needs at the center of project planning

Sustainability and design flexibility are what higher education clients are seeking consistently, according to the dozen AEC Giants contacted for this article. “University campuses across North America are commissioning new construction projects designed to make existing buildings and energy systems more sustainable, and are building new flexible learning space that bridge the gap between remote and in-person learning,” say Patrick McCafferty, Arup’s Education Business Leader–Americas East region, and Matt Humphries, Education Business Leader in Canada region.

| Aug 25, 2022

New York City’s congestion pricing aims to reduce traffic, cut carbon

Officials recently released an environmental assessment that analyzes seven different possible pricing schemes for New York City’s congestion pricing program.

Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Aug 24, 2022

Solutions for cladding performance and supply issues

This course covers design considerations and cladding assembly choices for creating high-performance building envelopes — a crucial element in healthy, energy-efficient buildings.

| Aug 24, 2022

California’s investment in ‘community schools’ could transform K-12 education

California has allocated $4.1-billion to develop ‘community schools’ that have the potential to transform K-12 education.

| Aug 24, 2022

Architecture Billings Index slows but remains healthy

For the eighteenth consecutive month architecture firms reported increasing demand for design services in July, according to a new report today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category

Mass Timber

Charlotte's new multifamily mid-rise will feature exposed mass timber

Construction recently kicked off for Oxbow, a multifamily community in Charlotte’s The Mill District. The $97.8 million project, consisting of 389 rental units and 14,300 sf of commercial space, sits on 4.3 acres that formerly housed four commercial buildings. The street-level retail is designed for boutiques, coffee shops, and other neighborhood services.


Construction Costs

New download: BD+C's May 2024 Market Intelligence Report

Building Design+Construction's monthly Market Intelligence Report offers a snapshot of the health of the U.S. building construction industry, including the commercial, multifamily, institutional, and industrial building sectors. This report tracks the latest metrics related to construction spending, demand for design services, contractor backlogs, and material price trends.



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021