TOLEDO, Ohio, April 18, 2022 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is celebrating Earth Day by signing a set of sustainability commitments. These commitments will be signed by SSOE’s CEO Vince DiPofi, PE, and include the Architecture 2030 Challenge and Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). In acknowledging the importance of reducing emissions, these sustainability-focused challenges will ultimately better serve our clients, colleagues, and communities.
The mission of Architecture 2030 is to rapidly transform the built environment from the major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central solution to the climate crisis. For nearly two decades, Architecture 2030 has provided the leadership and designed the actions needed to achieve the CO2 emissions reductions for a high probability of limiting planetary warming to 1.5°C. The Architecture 2030 Challenge calls on all architects, engineers, planners, and individuals involved in the building sector worldwide to design all new projects, renovations, landscapes, cityscapes, and infrastructures to be zero carbon by the year 2030. SSOE is signing the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2030 Commitment—which is based on the Architecture 2030 Challenge—and embracing the pledge to target, measure, and track building performance metrics aimed at achieving zero energy / carbon.
The SBTi drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling organizations to set science-based emissions reduction targets. The SBTi defines and promotes best practices in emissions reductions and net-zero targets in line with climate science, provides technical assistance and expert resources to companies who set science-based targets, and performs independent assessments and validation of targets. SSOE has committed to defining near-term science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions that support limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C by signing the SBTi Commitment Letter.
SSOE’s Jennifer Breault, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Architect and Chair of the firm’s Sustainable Design Strategy Group, stated, “These commitments signify the important role and responsibility of the AEC industry to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and avoid the worst effects of climate change. This is a journey that many of our clients are currently on or aspiring to, and SSOE can provide value and expertise in delivering resilient, sustainable, net-zero-ready solutions”.
SSOE has remained committed to delivering sustainable design solutions that exceed our clients’ expectations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The decision to sign the AIA 2030 Commitment is inspired by the acquisition of Stevens & Wilkinson, now SSOE’s Building Design Group (BDG), with the firm’s holistic approach to sustainable design. In addition, BDG will serve as the green research and development hub for SSOE from which other business units can source sustainable design strategies, further enhancing the firm’s sustainability mission.
