Balfour Beatty Showcases Its Focus on Sustainability in Partnership With Innovative Clients and Industry Partners

Ever wondered how the buildings of the future will be built?

On 27 October at The Verge Conference in San Francisco, Matthew Braun from Balfour Beatty Construction U.S. will present his experiences of creating one of the USA's greenest buildings - the modernisation of the Edith Green Wendall Wyatt federal building in Portland, Oregon.

Refurbishment of the 18-storey, 40 year old building, currently ranked as one of the top 10 green buildings in the USA[1], proves that a sustainable approach to construction means so much more than an impressive set of carbon reduction statistics.

Matthew and his team at Balfour Beatty pioneered a first of its kind labour agreement that delivered:

• 20% apprentice participation;
• 17% minority craft workers;
• 8% female craft workers.

During his speech, Matthew will explain the impacts of the latest construction and technological trends, how Balfour Beatty is preparing for the future by bringing more Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) into its supply chain, and how a sustainable approach can result in enormous cost savings.

"We are rightly proud of the energy efficiencies and cost savings that were made throughout construction, and will continue to be made throughout the life of the building. However, true sustainability involves working with local suppliers and ensuring that the workforce of the future is sustainable. An industry filled with diversity at all levels is essential, and this is why we are engaging so heavily with MWBEs".

Matthew will also present a newly released video detailing the full range of sustainable inputs that ensured the building saved near to $1,000,000 in comparison to less agile construction approaches, and will continue to save over $300,000 per annum in reduced energy costs.

The video, released today, is the first in a series being produced by Balfour Beatty.

View the Blueprint Video

Find out more about the Verge Conference

[1] As voted by the American Institute of Architects, 2014, http://gsa.gov/portal/content/190419

Media enquiries:

Owen Johns
Tel. +44 (0)20 7216 6905
Email owen.johns@balfourbeatty.com

Notes to editors:

Balfour Beatty (www.balfourbeatty.com) is an international infrastructure group that delivers world class services essential to the development, creation and care of infrastructure assets; from finance and development, through design and project management to construction and maintenance. Balfour Beatty is the third largest general builder in the US.

Our businesses draw on more than 100 years of experience to deliver the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise to our clients principally in the UK and the USA, with developing businesses in Australia, Canada, the Middle East, South Africa and South East Asia. With proven expertise in delivering infrastructure critical to support communities and society today and in the future, our key market sectors focus on infrastructure - transportation (roads, rail and aviation), power and energy, water, and complex buildings (both commercial and social).

Balfour Beatty employs 40,000 people around the world.