Sustainable Construction Firms in the USA: Which are the Top 7?

Building owners, businesses, and consumers have grown to expect Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications from the United States Green Building Council, as well as other sustainability requirements. While contractors and clients may be reluctant to increase project expenses, Dodge Data & Analytics World Green Building Trends 2016 SmartMarket Report discovered that sustainable construction firms in the USA boost a building’s value by 4%.

The following firms are the most successful in terms of design revenue. These sustainable construction firms in the USA are incorporating sustainable practices throughout their projects and business culture to not only reduce their environmental effect but also gain a competitive edge in an era when climate change mitigation and corporate governance are becoming increasingly important to the public.

What is Sustainable Construction?

The building industry is well-known for its massive carbon footprint, accounting for around 42% of total yearly greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. This is primarily due to the manufacture and transportation of resources, as well as trash generated on-site. There is also embedded carbon from the buildings’ lighting, cooling, and heating once they are completed.

Sustainable construction firms in the USA aims to lessen the industry’s environmental effect by adhering to six basic principles:

1. Eco-friendly building materials.
2. Water Conservation
3. Waste Reduction
4. Energy Efficiency
5. Indoor air quality.
6. Improved operating and maintenance practices.

Technology is leading the way in putting these principles into practice. For example, Building Information Modeling software generates digital models that include sustainability principles into building throughout the design phase. Another example is prefabrication, which builds construction components off-site to reduce waste and increase on-site efficiency.

Sustainable construction firms in the USA results in a variety of benefits, including decreased operational costs, regulatory compliance, and an improved industry reputation. According to a recent survey, organizations that prioritized ESG in their decision-making saw 28% cumulative growth over five years. Individuals benefit from green buildings because they offer better indoor environments, which improves resident well-being and productivity.

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Top 7 Sustainable Construction Firm in the USA

1. Gensler

Project: 110 The Queen’s Walk

Gensler, a multinational design business, was founded in 1965. The organization is well-known for its studies into workplace design. When it comes to sustainable construction firms in the USA, Gensler uses a systems-based approach to better understand the client’s context and challenges.

Gensler’s strategy has garnered industry plaudits. In 2020, Gensler became the first company to win three COTE Top 10 Awards in a year. The business has also designed Living Building Petal certified projects, like as Etsy’s headquarters in New York, NY.

2. Roof and Realm

Project: Prefabricated modular homes

Roof and Realm builds prefabricated modular homes and ancillary dwelling units (ADUs) from recycled steel. Its product ranges, which include the Realm X Series, Realm Y Series, and Realm Z Series, provide configurable alternatives to meet a variety of demands. The steel construction provides excellent strength and longevity. On the other hand, the modular design allows for efficient on-site assembly, which reduces energy consumption, on-site construction waste, and building delays. This sustainable construction firm in the USA benefits homeowners, developers, and architects looking for sustainable and adaptable housing options.

3. Perkins&Will

Project: Jackson West Medical Center Doral Campus, Doral, Florida

Perkins&Will has a long history of delivering exceptional design work. In recent decades, this sustainable construction firm in the USA has also played a key role in efforts to make the sector more ecologically responsible. Its ethos promotes the use of sustainable methods throughout the design process, including non-toxic materials, energy-efficient systems, and biophilic approaches. The company has also vowed to remove embodied carbon from all commercial interior spaces they build by 2030.

This sustainable construction firm in the USA’s collection of work encompasses a wide range of typologies, from sports stadiums to offices and laboratories, and exemplifies its purpose to build beautiful environments that benefit the lives of individuals and the larger globe. Perkins&Will also pushes for equity throughout the built environment. The firm has been lauded for its efforts to promote social justice, and it has a program that provides free architectural services to organizations in support of affordable housing, childcare, healthcare, and education projects.

4. Miller Hull Partnership

Project: EMission Zero Hub

Miller Hull Partnership is a nationwide architectural sustainable construction firm in the USA based in Seattle, Washington, and San Diego, California. Sustainability has been central to the company’s character since its inception in 1977. Miller Hull now holds ten COTE Top Ten Awards and has completed five Living Buildings, including the Bullitt Center in Seattle. Its offices are also Living Building Petal-certified.

Miller Hull expanded their sustainability efforts in 2021 by creating EMission Zero, a campaign aimed at eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from all buildings they construct.

5. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Project: Wellesley College Science Complex, Wellesley, Massachusetts

After becoming a carbon-neutral company in 2022, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has set its sights higher, aiming for all active projects to produce net zero operating carbon by 2030. The comprehensive concept of this sustainable construction firm in the USA, which is responsible for some of the world’s most environmentally advanced structures, employs sustainable engineering principles to create environments that promote social well-being and environmental health.

This commitment to changing industrial standards can be evident in every aspect of the firm’s work, from large-scale masterplans to small-scale furniture design. Urban Sequoia is among its most ambitious concepts to date. The futuristic idea combines high-rise structures with the functions of trees, creating a skyline capable of absorbing carbon at unprecedented rates.

6. EHDD

Project: Millikan Laboratory and Andrew Science Hall at Pomona College

Since Joseph Esherick began the company in 1946, EHDD has been a leader in sustainable design, seeking to minimize the environmental impact of its work. The practice’s Net Zero Energy concept was launched almost fifteen years ago, and it still advocates for a more ecologically conscious industry. This sustainable construction firm in the USA is a proponent of clean electricity and is working to reduce structure-based emissions by embracing alternatives like as mass wood and ultra-low cement concrete, as well as conducting its own research into new, cutting-edge solutions.

While this sustainable construction firm in the USA is best known for its residential and aquarium projects, it also has experience creating libraries, science centers, educational spaces, museums, and zoos. Along with its focus on sustainability, the team ensures that its initiatives encourage equity and diversity, creating environments in which users can thrive.

7. COOKFOX Architects

Project: CITY TOWER, New York, New York

New York based practice COOKFOX Architecture considers itself a guardian of the world’s natural resources. This sustainable construction firm in the USA’s dynamic work in the urban landscape, from private houses and multi-family housing to offices and retail spaces, reimagines how spatial users interact with structures and the natural environment. Drawing on biophilic architecture, its initiatives bring humans and nature into direct contact in even the most developed cityscapes.

Dedicated to contextually responsive design in all its forms, the company begins each brief with extensive research into a site’s cultural, historical, and locational aspects. The team works with these several layers of identity, maintaining the past while reimagining it in a contemporary, regenerative design language.

FAQs 

What are the key principles followed by Sustainable Construction Firms in the USA?

• Answer: Sustainable construction firms in the USA adhere to six core principles: environmentally friendly building materials, water conservation, waste reduction, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and enhanced operation and maintenance methods. These concepts seek to lessen the environmental impact of buildings during their entire life cycle.

What benefits do Sustainable Construction Firms in the USA provide for businesses and individuals?

• Answer: Sustainable construction firms in the USA provide numerous benefits, including lower operational costs, regulatory compliance, and improved industry reputation. Green buildings also provide better internal settings, which leads to increased well-being and productivity among residents and employees.

How do Sustainable Construction Firms in the USA incorporate technology into their projects?

• Answer: Sustainable building relies heavily on technology, with technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) software assisting in the integration of sustainability principles into the design phase. Prefabrication also enables for the construction of components off-site, which reduces waste and improves on-site efficiency.

Which Sustainable Construction Firm in the USA focuses on eliminating greenhouse gas emissions?

• Answer: Miller Hull Partnership is a sustainable construction firm in the USA that established the EMission Zero campaign in 2021 with the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from all buildings it constructs. This program is consistent with their longtime commitment to sustainability, which has earned them numerous important honors.

Conclusion

The sustainable building construction business prioritizes sustainable and environmentally friendly construction processes. This industry focuses on offering innovative construction materials and solutions that minimize carbon emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and prioritize environmental responsibility. These sustainable construction firms in the USA provide a diverse range of products and services, such as cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, insulation, roofing, and energy management systems. They want to assist customers in creating high-performing and ecologically friendly buildings by addressing the difficulties of sustainable construction, resource management, and climate change. With a strong emphasis on sustainability and efficiency, the industry is preparing for a future in which green construction practices are the standard and net-zero emissions and energy-efficient structures are prioritized.

Resources:

Neumannmonson | Startus-insights | Deloitte | Sigmaearth | Re-thinkingthefuture | Elemental.green | ConstructionDive | ENR | ConstructionDigital | Architizer

For all the pictures: Archdaily