Structural engineering “best practices” incorporates strategies that embrace the tenets of sustainable design. Sustainable design is not a novelty; it is a mainstream approach that reflects good design. Federal, state, and local governmental agencies, public and private buildingowners, and the general public have established and expect their buildings to incorporate sustainable design practices. Responding to the public’s needs makes good business sense. The intent of this presentation is to inform the structural engineer of the significance of sustainable design and increase awareness of considerations associated with it. Each of the following issues is presented in cursory form as is appropriate for this type of survey presentation: the global perspective, impacts and responses, materials, resource conservation in design and construction, structural systems and performance based engineering, and collaboration opportunities with other design professions.
