What: Recognizing that buildings are the largest single contributor of greenhouse gases, the AIA is encouraging architects and engineers to exercise leadership in their professions and to work toward sustainable, energy-efficient building designs by joining the AIA 2030 Commitment, with the ultimate goal of carbon-neutral buildings by 2030.

Thornton Tomasetti is the first structural engineering firm to join the AIA 2030 Commitment, joining the ranks of more than 100 architects that have signed on to date.

“This is a significant milestone for our 2030 Commitment Program,” said AIA President, George H. Miller, FAIA. “It was our original intention to have disciplines in addition to architecture firms commit to reducing energy consumption in their project portfolios, and we strongly encourage other engineering firms to follow Thornton Tomasetti’s lead and join the program as well.”

“Truly sustainable high-performance buildings will always be the result of a collaborative, integrated design process involving all design disciplines – no one can do it alone,” said Wolfgang Werner, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Thornton Tomasetti’s director of sustainability. “Naturally we are thrilled to join a community of like-minded firms that is motivated by our common goal to realize a more sustainable built environment.”

How: As a participating firm Thornton Tomasetti commits to implement the following four key steps:

• Within two months of signing the commitment, Thornton Tomasetti will establish a team to guide the development of the firm’s sustainability efforts and implementation of its commitment plan.

• Within six months of signing the commitment, Thornton Tomasetti will implement a minimum of four operational action items. These actions will be undertaken while the long-term sustainability plan is in development.

• Within one year of signing the commitment, Thornton Tomasetti will develop a long range sustainability action plan that aligns with the stated 2030 benchmarks for achieving carbon neutrality.

• Subsequently, ThorntonTomasetti will make the sustainability action plan available by providing it to the AIA for posting and committing to annual progress reports.

About Thornton Tomasetti (www.ThorntonTomasetti.com)
Thornton Tomasetti provides engineering services to clients worldwide on buildings of all sizes and complexity. From the tallest buildings and the longest spans, to innovative building systems and materials, the firm is committed to creating the best solutions through its technical ingenuity, pursuit of excellence, and responsiveness to client needs. Our work is in three practice areas: Building Structures, Building Skin and Building Performance. Founded in 1956 as Lev Zetlin & Associates, today Thornton Tomasetti is a 550-person organization of engineers and architects collaborating from offices across the United States and in Shanghai, Hong Kong, London, Moscow, and the Middle East.

Contact
Great Ink Communications – 212.741.2977
Roxanne Donovan/Eric Gerard/Marieka Baily/Mitch Breindel

Thornton Tomasetti – 917.661.7800
James M. Kent, JKent@ThorntonTomasetti.com