Ones To Watch: Innovators In Commercial Real Estate: Alex Ianchenko, EHDD

Innovation Highlight:
Building transformation — not replacement — is increasingly becoming the most important decarbonization strategy for architects and real estate leaders. Our work on AIA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Stevenson Hall at Sonoma State University, and others reflect a growing recognition of the importance of existing buildings: We’re transforming them into certified, sustainable structures that carry us into the future. Reimagining what exists is a key tenet of a climate-positive future, unlocking the latent potential of the buildings, materials, and infrastructure in our cities.

Innovation in Action:
Across universities, research campuses, civic institutions, and cities, organizations are grappling with portfolios of aging buildings that no longer meet contemporary expectations around performance, flexibility, accessibility, wellness, or energy use. Increasingly, the challenge is not simply how to replace outdated facilities, but how to strategically reconfigure and reinvent them while moving toward carbon neutrality. Also, of the 27 projects on our boards last year, nearly one-third included plans to purchase renewable electricity generated off-site.