Tyler Bick, Structural Engineer, KPFF Consulting Engineers
Member since March 2024
Description of your work in green building:
I am a structural engineer who works in building design, focusing on buildings in healthcare and education. Our sustainability group focuses on internal education and as an internal resource to help our team understand our clients’ sustainable initiatives. We also work towards our goals set out in the SE2050 commitment, which aims for net zero embodied carbon in buildings by 2050.
Recent Green Building recognition:
I spent a few years working on the WUSM Gary C Werths building, which is a LEED silver certification. It’s a large reinforced concrete building that I learned a lot from working on; it’s also where I was first exposed to embodied carbon analysis.
Sustainability passion:
A structural engineer’s contribution to the sustainability of a building lies mainly in the materials that make up a building’s structure – primarily steel, concrete, and wood. Significant development has been made in concrete science and the constituent materials, and it’s interesting to see these approaches deployed. In recent years, we’ve been studying embodied carbon analysis and the inputs involved.
Most meaningful experience with MGGBC Chapter:
Last fall, we were involved in a panel discussion with other members of the design and construction industry. It was great to hear what other design community members are both doing well and struggling with regarding sustainability. We’re all in this together.
What will most impact the future of green building:
There is a perception that a sustainable building is a building that costs more, but there are many approaches that are cost-neutral or even becoming standard practice. For example, the cement industry has largely transitioned to a type of cement that requires less energy and less processing to produce and is more environmentally friendly. We can’t completely change how we build buildings overnight, but every small step counts on our way to carbon neutrality.
Favorite LEED (or sustainability) Project:
The Visitor’s Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden, which is LEED Gold certified. My wife and I are regular visitors. Our office provided the structural services for it, and while I didn’t personally work on it, it’s a really incredible space.
Favorite place in the St. Louis region or Missouri Gateway GBC territory:
I’m a big fan of several of the South City neighborhoods. There are excellent parks, interesting neighborhoods to explore, and great food.