Cemex Presents: Advancing Lower-Carbon Concrete in High-Design Construction: A Case Study of Norton Rose Fulbright Tower (formerly 1550 on the Green)

Norton Rose Fulbright Tower (formerly 1550 On the Green), a 28-story Class A office tower in downtown Houston, sets a new benchmark for sustainable urban development. As a LEED Platinum-certified building, it demonstrates how lower-carbon concrete can achieve ambitious environmental goals without compromising architectural vision or structural performance.

This session, co-presented by Cemex, Walter P Moore, and Skanska, provides a behind-the-scenes look at how early collaboration, whole-building life-cycle assessment (WBLCA), and innovative material strategies drove embodied carbon reductions over 40% across vertical and horizontal elements. Attendees will learn how WBLCA and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) informed concrete selection and mixture design, balancing carbon budgets with structural needs in Houston’s variable climate.

Panelists will share lessons learned in applying LCA early in design to identify “hot spots,” optimize concrete and reinforcement strategies, and maintain accountability throughout construction. This case study will highlight how integrating sustainability, constructability, and design intent can advance carbon reduction in high-profile projects.