Cities are evolving—and sustainability is leading the way. Around the world, architects, engineers, and builders are reimagining how communities can grow responsibly, balancing development with environmental stewardship. The result is a new era of urban design that prioritizes efficiency, wellness, and long-term resilience.

From Concept to Construction: What Sustainable Design Really Means

Sustainable design goes beyond installing solar panels or adding a green roof. It’s about creating holistic systems that minimize waste, optimize performance, and improve quality of life.

At its core, sustainable design integrates principles such as:

• Energy efficiency through smart building systems and passive design.
• Resource conservation via recycled or renewable materials.
• Healthy environments that promote well-being and community connection.

Certifications like LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge help guide this process—setting measurable benchmarks for sustainability and accountability.

The Materials Revolution

Materials are at the heart of this transformation. Traditional concrete and steel are being joined—or replaced—by innovative, low-carbon alternatives.

• Mass timber is gaining popularity for its strength, beauty, and carbon-sequestering benefits.
• Recycled concrete and steel reduce waste and emissions.
• Locally sourced materials help cut down transportation costs and carbon output.

Together, these advancements are redefining what modern skylines can look like—without compromising performance or aesthetics.

Integrating Nature into Design

Biophilic design is changing the way we think about urban spaces. Architects are increasingly weaving natural elements into the built environment, creating buildings that breathe and neighborhoods that thrive.

Features such as green roofs, living walls, and urban greenways help reduce heat, improve air quality, and foster biodiversity—all while providing people with places to recharge and reconnect.

Projects like these prove that sustainability isn’t just a design trend—it’s a wellness strategy for entire cities.

Smart Cities and Sustainable Tech

Technology is another major driver of urban sustainability. Smart sensors, data systems, and AI-powered controls are helping cities manage energy and resources with unprecedented precision.

Imagine buildings that automatically adjust lighting and temperature based on occupancy, or entire districts that track water use in real time. These systems don’t just reduce waste—they optimize performance, making sustainability scalable.

Economic and Social Benefits

Sustainable design doesn’t just make cities greener—it makes them stronger. Communities that invest in responsible design see tangible returns, including:

• Lower long-term operating costs through efficient systems.
• Increased property values for sustainably built projects.
• Improved public health thanks to better air, light, and walkability.
• Attraction of talent and investment, as sustainability becomes a key economic driver.
• Stronger community engagement, as residents take pride in local environmental leadership.



These benefits prove that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for business and people, too.



The Future of Urban Design

CONTINUED ON WEBSITE...

Infrastructure projects—whether sprawling highways, cutting-edge airports, or iconic bridges—are among the most challenging undertakings in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. Their scale, complexity, and impact mean that the success or failure of these projects can define reputations, influence communities, and even shape regional economies.

Over the years, seasoned project teams have distilled invaluable lessons from navigating these challenges. Here’s what they’ve learned.

1. Early Collaboration Is Everything

One of the most consistent lessons from large-scale infrastructure projects is the power of early collaboration. Aligning owners, designers, and contractors from day one reduces misunderstandings, minimizes rework, and often prevents costly delays.

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and design-build approaches exemplify this principle, fostering an environment where all key players contribute to problem-solving early in the design phase. The result? Smoother execution and a shared sense of ownership over project outcomes.

2. Expect the Unexpected

No matter how thorough the planning, unforeseen challenges will arise—unexpected site conditions, environmental hurdles, or permitting delays can throw even the most detailed schedules off course.

Successful project teams embrace adaptive management, keeping contingency plans in place and empowering decision-makers to respond quickly. Flexibility isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a requirement for keeping complex projects on track.

3. Technology as a Risk Reducer

Advances in technology have transformed how infrastructure projects are delivered. Building Information Modeling (BIM), drones, and digital twins allow teams to visualize projects in three dimensions, detect potential clashes before they occur, and maintain accurate documentation.

By leveraging these tools, project teams reduce risk, enhance coordination, and make data-driven decisions that prevent costly mistakes down the line.

4. Communication Is the Real Foundation

Infrastructure projects rarely exist in isolation—they involve a web of stakeholders, from government agencies and contractors to local communities and regulatory bodies. Transparent, consistent communication builds trust and keeps projects moving forward.

Whether it’s public engagement, stakeholder briefings, or internal project updates, teams that prioritize communication often navigate complex challenges with greater ease.

5. Safety and Workforce Culture Drive Success

CONTINUED ON WEBSITE...

Here’s the scoop (no sugar-coating): whether Missouri or Illinois “observe” Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day is a mixed bag. It depends on which “level” you mean (state, local, school districts), and “observe” can mean anything from a full-blown holiday to just a proclamation or event. Let us break it down.

Missouri

• Missouri officially observes Columbus Day as a state holiday on the second Monday in October. Missouri Office of Administration+2pers.oa.mo.gov+2
• In fact, the state’s personnel/HR site lists “second Monday in October – Columbus Day” as one of the state’s paid holidays. pers.oa.mo.gov
• Some counties and governments may also recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some fashion (e.g. via proclamations or dual observance), but the primary legal holiday in Missouri is still Columbus Day. For example, in Kansas City the city formally recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day, even while the state continues closing offices for Columbus Day. Axios
• So if you’re asking “will state offices in Missouri be closed?” — yes, for Columbus Day. Missouri Office of Administration+2Missourinet+2

Illinois

Illinois is trickier and more nuanced:

• Illinois has a law recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a commemorative observance on the last Monday in September (not in October). FindLaw Codes+2NBC Chicago+2
• But that does not replace Columbus Day in Illinois (at least so far). The state still officially observes Columbus Day (the second Monday in October) as the state holiday in many contexts. Chicago Sun-Times+2NBC Chicago+2
• Some entities (cities, school districts) in Illinois may choose to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Columbus Day or make local changes, but that is not uniform or mandated statewide. Village of Barrington Hills+1
• There have been efforts to change the law to move the Indigenous Peoples’ Day observance to October and remove Columbus Day (e.g. HB3982) but as of latest sources, those haven’t fully passed or taken effect. NBC Chicago+3Illinois General Assembly+3Illinois General Assembly+3
• Also, interestingly, some media sources list “Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in Illinois state holiday calendars, probably reflecting ambiguity or local variations. Factorial
• In practice, many state-level offices in Illinois don’t list Columbus Day as a holiday in their “state holidays” pages (i.e. it may not always be a paid day off). For example, the Illinois central management services state holiday list doesn’t show Columbus Day on 2025. Illinois CMS

What that means for October 13 (the second Monday in October)

• Missouri: Yes — October 13 (when it falls on the 2nd Monday) is observed as Columbus Day by the state.
• Illinois: The state does not observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on that date (Illinois reserves Indigenous Peoples’ Day for the last Monday in September). The October 13 slot is still treated as Columbus Day in many institutional contexts, though in many localities there may be alternative observances or symbolic recognition of Indigenous Peoples.

I hope this helps you as much as us. I know I had questions!



By: Kelly Jackson