Breaking Down Silos: How Bergmeyer's Design Collaborative Approaches The Challenge Of Sustainability

The building industry faces mounting pressure to address its outsized environmental impact. By some estimates, construction and building operations already account for 42% of global carbon emissions, which means nearly half of all emissions worldwide stem from constructing, operating, or demolishing buildings. This impact is poised to grow dramatically: between 2020 and 2060, the world is expected to add 2.6 trillion square feet of new floor area to the global building stock, the equivalent of building a new New York City every month for 40 years. With three-quarters of 2050's infrastructure yet to be built, the decisions made today about how to design, construct and operate buildings will shape emissions for decades to come.

Bergmeyer, which began as an architecture firm, has evolved beyond that traditional firm model and is pioneering a different approach. With an interdisciplinary structure that breaks down conventional barriers between specialties, the firm has transformed into a design collaborative that shapes how spaces are conceived, built, and renovated. But perhaps more importantly, Bergmeyer is leveraging its collaborative model to reshape how sustainable design is integrated into all aspects of the design process.

Read the full interview from Forbes with Christopher Marquis, Rachel Zsembery, and Christian Davies here.