Closing the Materials Gap: Practical Steps for Making Better Materials Choices
Everyone wants lower-carbon, healthier materials. The hard part is execution: data gaps, risk management, substitution pressure, and the sheer volume of products. In this panel, an owner, architect, construction manager, and materials consultant compare notes on where projects actually get stuck—and what teams are doing that actually works. We’ll share a practical checklist: how to define requirements, translate them into specs, review submittals, manage alternates, and learn from past projects. AI is part of the solution, but mostly as plumbing that makes decisions visible and repeatable. Leave with steps you can use immediately for your next project—starting this week.
Session Chairs
Session Speakers
Identify typical material improvement obstacles and best practices for addressing them.
Classify the five impact categories under the Mindful Materials Common Materials Framework.
Evaluate solutions used by different project team members to drive success in the final outcomes.
Explain the role of AI-enabled tools in supporting materials work.
This session is pre-approved for 1 credit hour toward AIA (LU|HSW), BPI, LEED (BD+C, ID+C), WELL, MA CSL, and NARI certification. Those who attend a full day of the conference are additionally eligible for credit toward Phius and RESNET certification.