According to the World Economic Forum, adopting circular practices in construction could cut sector emissions by up to 75% by 2050. For architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals, advancing beyond operational energy to address embodied carbon and material lifecycles is no longer optional, it’s central to meeting climate goals and creating resilient communities. By prioritizing sustainable building materials and understanding their full life-cycle, organizations cut emissions, reduce risk, and unlock project savings.

Join USGBC Tennessee at T3 The Finery to explore how material strategies are shaping the local built environment. Navigating the realities of advanced high-performance envelopes, structural systems and comprehensive life-cycle planning delivers measurable value for companies and communities. Attendees will learn how to practically apply the USGBC’s LEED v5 rating system framework to real-world projects, specifically focusing on material transparency, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and low-carbon procurement.

This event features a keynote on the business case and financial ROI of high-performance buildings, alongside focused case studies on glass technology and campus sustainability visions. An expert panel will then discuss the practical trade-offs and sourcing realities of specifying low-carbon materials in our region, concluding with a behind-the-scenes tour of Nashville’s premier mass timber building.