Excellence in Action: SE 2050 Recognized Firms Advancing Decarbonization

SE 2050 is an initiative dedicated to supporting structural engineers in understanding, reducing, and ultimately eliminating embodied carbon in their projects by 2050. Since its establishment in 2019, SE 2050 has grown into a national movement, with a rapidly expanding network of signatory firms committed to advancing embodied carbon reduction strategies and driving industry-wide change. Each firm in SE 2050 is required to develop an Embodied Carbon Action Plan (ECAP)—a roadmap detailing their commitments to education, reporting, reduction, and advocacy.. In 2024, the SE 2050 Recognition Program was introduced to celebrate firms that have gone above and beyond in implementing embodied carbon reduction strategies. Winners were determined through a public nomination and voting process for exceptional contributions in Education, Reporting, Reduction, and Advocacy. The program highlights leadership in the field and encourages continued engagement in advancing sustainable structural design. Best in Education – Degenkolb Degenkolb developed internal training programs and open-source educational materials to empower structural engineers across the industry in embodied carbon literacy. Best in Reporting – HOK HOK has set a high standard in transparency by developing a comprehensive tracking system, ensuring their data not only informs firm-wide strategy but also contributes to broader industry benchmarks. Best in Reduction – HKS HKS has integrated embodied carbon analysis into the earliest design phases, demonstrating how proactive decision-making can significantly reduce carbon impact without compromising performance or aesthetics. Best in Advocacy – Walter P Moore WPM has taken embodied carbon beyond design, actively engaging in policy discussions and industry-wide advocacy to push for low-carbon procurement and legislative action. A moderated discussion with their representatives offers a rare opportunity to gain firsthand insights into their efforts. Attendees will leave with tangible strategies to advance their own embodied carbon initiatives, making this session a vital knowledge-sharing platform.