The builder's role in delivering sustainable tall buildings

This paper will cover the role of the builder in delivering sustainable tall buildings. Using projects completed by Turner as examples and citing data from Turner Construction's Green Market Barometer Surveys, it will discuss the high degree of misperception on the part of decision makers about the true costs and benefits of green buildings that have, until recently, slowed the adoption of green buildings in the commercial market. It will discuss the importance and the limits of the builder's role during the pre‐construction, procurement, construction and post‐construction phases of a project, and the construction manager's ability and obligation to inform the client by providing current and accurate information on costs and benefits of green building. It will discuss progress in both raising the bar for what is possible (and at what cost) as well as raising the floor for what constitutes acceptable minimum performance in terms of legislation, regulation and market demand. It will pose questions to the design/construction/development community about how and if tall buildings individually and as part of the larger urban fabric can be truly sustainable, and if it is possible to take tall buildings from sustainable to restorative. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.