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.