SEI's 2nd North American Structural Engineering Sustainability Symposium

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Date and time: Feb 11, 2026 12pm – 3:30pm EST Free event, hosted on Zoom. Contact: Bianca Augustin, [email protected] SEI’s North American Structural Engineering Sustainability Symposium returns for its 2nd run! Taking place February 11, 2026, this free, virtual, half-day event hosted by the SEI Sustainability technical committee, convenes structural engineers and related industries to discuss how the profession can meaningfully reduce the climate impact of the construction industry. Join us and gain practical strategies that can be implemented today wherever you are in your climate journey. Symposium Agenda: 12pm - 12:10pm - Intro 12:10 PM - 12:50 PM - The Public Side: What’s New in the Policy Landscape Clients rely on you to know what they can build. Today, that includes knowing what is compliant with evolving sustainability laws and incentive programs. This session reviews the latest policies impacting structural systems and breaks down exactly how they affect design and material selection. We will focus on practical application: identifying which regulations apply to your projects and how to guide clients through the requirements and available incentives. 12:55 PM - 1:40 PM - Beyond the Numbers: Communicating the Value of Sustainable Design The biggest barrier to sustainable structural design often isn’t technical feasibility—it’s communication. How do you explain the importance of GWP to a client focused on ROI? How do you visualize trade-offs for a design team overwhelmed by choices? This session focuses on the vital translation skills every structural engineer needs today. Our communication experts will demonstrate how to pivot from technical analysis to persuasive storytelling, utilizing both high-impact graphics and targeted verbal communication to champion sustainability at every stage of the project. 1:50 PM - 2:35 PM - The Economic Case: Real-World Strategies for Sustainability Sustainability may not be free, but it pays back in ways that matter. For design firms and project owners the question isn’t whether to invest, but how to justify and maximize that investment. This session examines the economics from two critical angles: the design firm and the project budget. We will explore how sustainability acts as a catalyst for firm profitability while unpacking the real cost metrics of low-carbon construction. Learn how to frame sustainability as a strategic business advantage for your firm and a compelling economic choice for your clients. 2:40 PM - 3:10 PM - The Sustainable Toolkit: Standards, Ratings, and Design Strategies Sustainability is not just a material attribute; it is a design parameter that intersects with every part of the structural workflow. This session connects the dots between high-level design strategy and ground-level technical compliance. We will explore how to leverage structural efficiency to meet increasingly stringent rating systems like LEED v5, and how to confidently specify novel materials within the safety net of current ASTM standards. Join us to learn how to weave these technical requirements into a cohesive design approach that satisfies both the code and the climate. 3:10 PM - 3:25 PM - Closing Remarks Optional Networking Stay tuned for updates and check out last year’s symposium on the SEI YouTube channel! #SustainableInfrastructure

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