Innovation, often driven by the collection and use of data, is reshaping how projects are planned and executed. Historically, metrics like fuel consumption and equipment usage were logged for asset management or cost tracking. Now, they’re being used to measure the environmental impact of construction.

“Sustainable construction starts with data,” says Cameron Koch, a sustainability project manager and LEED champion with PCL. “We’re automating processes and using information about fuel volumes, engine types and operating hours to inform clients interested in their Scope 3, indirect emissions.”

PCL is working closely with equipment vendors to access telematics data — including operating hours and fuel consumption. "With the help of our project teams, we’re able to track and report emissions data,” says Koch, “gathering better insights into on-site performance and opportunities and allowing the project to reduce environmental impacts and, ultimately, save money.” 

Data gathered also includes water usage, waste volumes and the performance of completed infrastructure — whether it is a building or a wastewater treatment facility — to better understand the long-term impact of a project on a community. “It’s not just about what our clients build,” Koch says. “It’s about how those assets perform over time and how they contribute to community resilience.” 

Embodied carbon — the measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the entire lifecycle of building materials, from raw material extraction to manufacturing, transportation, construction, maintenance, renovation and eventual disposal — is another key focus.

“Low-carbon options can come with premiums and longer lead times, but even sourcing locally can make a difference,” says Koch. “If you’re buying low-carbon steel from across the country, the transportation emissions can negate the benefit.” 

Put simply, the steel industries in the United States and Canada have a carbon advantage over many import sources because they operate on cleaner electrical grids and because of shorter transportation routes.

Sustainable procurement guidelines and Environmental Product Declarations are becoming more common and are fast becoming a requirement for suppliers who want to stay competitive.  

Resilience, once a buzzword, is now a design imperative. “Everything being built today has to withstand the inevitable climate changes it will face,” Koch says. “Whether it’s drought, flash floods, extreme heat, or violent storms, many clients are planning for and building projects that will withstand those forces.”

One relatively new development is the integration of climate risk analysis into early project planning. “It’s becoming part of the design, part of the material selection, and part of the construction process,” Koch explains. “If a client is investing in a new asset, they want it to last.”

This shift is happening whether owners are seeking formal certifications or not. “LEED is a great framework,” says Koch, “but many building codes are pointing towards high-performing, climate-resilient buildings and clients are asking for resilience as a baseline whether they plan to work towards formal recognition or not.”

One promising trend in sustainable construction is industry-wide collaboration. PCL participates in collaborative industry associations such as AXA XL Sustainability Circle, DCX Sustainability Exchange, Canadian Construction Sustainability Alliance, Greening Health Care and the Climate Smart Building Alliance. 

Through initiatives like these, building sector leaders aim to accelerate the pathway to net zero and drive climate action across the industry. “Major contractors are sharing data and strategies to accelerate progress,” says Koch. “It shows what the industry can do when we work together to tackle global challenges.”

The full breadth of sustainable construction also puts a focus on occupant comfort and human health, prioritizing indoor air quality, natural light, thermal and acoustic comfort, and the use of healthy materials.

“Owners and tenants alike are putting greater emphasis on the health and comfort of the people in the building,” says Koch. “This can include things like high-efficiency HVAC systems with proper filtration, a focus on windows and skylights to bring daylight in and individual temperature controls where appropriate.”

Smart technologies and IoT sensors — smart electronic devices that detect and measure physical world changes (like temperature, motion, light and air quality) and convert them into digital data that is shared over the internet — are being used to monitor air quality, temperature and energy use, enabling feedback loops to adjust conditions in real time. Wellness-focused design standards like WELL Building Standard and LEED also play a key role, providing performance-based benchmarks for air, water, nourishment, light, fitness and comfort.  As the LEED champion at PCL, Cameron’s pride shines in helping clients reach new heights with the latest version, LEED v. 5.

Sustainability doesn’t end when the project team leaves a jobsite. In fact, in some ways, that’s only the beginning. If a project is to meet sustainability goals, there needs to be a seamless handover to the team that will be operating the building. Koch likens it to handing over a sports car: “If the owner doesn’t know how to drive it, they won’t unlock its full potential,” he says.

Proper handoffs — including digital twins, training and performance data — ensure that buildings operate as designed and continue to deliver environmental performance long after construction ends.

“We’re building technologically sophisticated, high-performance buildings,” Koch says. “If there’s no collaboration at handoff, the performance won’t match the design.”

Smart technologies and IoT sensors — smart electronic devices that detect and measure physical world changes (like temperature, motion, light, air quality) and convert them into digital data that is shared over the internet — are being used to monitor air quality, temperature and energy use, enabling feedback loops to adjust conditions in real time. Wellness-focused design standards like WELL Building Standard and LEED also play a key role, providing performance-based benchmarks for air, water, nourishment, light, fitness and comfort.  As the LEED champion at PCL, Koch's pride shines in helping clients reach new heights with the latest version, LEED v. 5.

From data-driven design to collaborative innovation, sustainable construction is no longer a trend, it’s the future. At PCL, that future is being built every day.

“Our clients are not just constructing buildings and factories,” Koch says. “They’re building resilience — for people, for communities, and for the planet.”