2022 Message from the Co-CEOs

One of our seven corporate responsibility goals is to demonstrate positive environmental and social impact across all our practices, because designing for a better world is the future of our industry. In the past year, we envisioned how our diverse expertise can translate into effective climate action.

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges our world faces. But the magnitude of the problem, along with the complexity of potential solutions, has given Thornton Tomasetti an unprecedented opportunity to have a positive impact on the world. We owe it to both current and future generations to reduce the effects of climate change and leave our planet in a better condition than when we found it.

We’re committed to addressing this challenge and working with our clients and partners to make lasting contributions. We’ve already begun applying our creativity and ingenuity – in science, engineering, technology and our entire skill set – to expand climate action across all our offices and practices.

Our goal is twofold:

• Decarbonization: Reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 to 2^oC above preindustrial levels.
• Resilience: Ensure that the world can respond to, withstand and recover quickly from the impacts of global warming.

At Thornton Tomasetti, we look beyond the obvious to identify and solve real problems. We’ve been solving challenging engineering problems since our inception, and our wide-ranging expertise in decarbonization and resilience is already helping address climate challenges. We’ve designed structures and systems that minimize embodied carbon and last for generations. We’ve adapted centuries-old buildings and bridges to serve beyond their originally anticipated life spans. We’re helping develop next-generation transportation systems, like HyperloopTT, that will enable transportation electrification and ensure safe deployment of alternative fuels in the rail industry. Our experience in disaster response – investigating, analyzing, repairing, protecting and rebuilding – has built our understanding of both multihazard mitigation and the road to recovery.

In the energy sector, we’ve made significant strides in helping clients transition to renewable energy, improving battery and nuclear safety, and safely capturing and storing carbon. In the area of high-performance façades and whole-building energy modeling, we’re designing and helping fabricate innovative systems that sustainably harness and use energy.

In the past five years, more clients have started thinking about how their goals and actions impact what’s happening around them. Their vision is widening. They want to understand the environmental and social impacts of their decisions. In the past, we’ve looked to government to drive change at this scale. Now, industry leaders have realized that, at minimum, we must partner with government. And when change isn’t moving in the right direction, we have to lead.

We believe that every stakeholder in our industry has the responsibility – as individuals, companies, government agencies, clients, developers and builders – to address the big issues of our time. With all of us aligned, our industry will continue to make a positive difference. Addressing climate change requires collective courage and ingenuity. Together we look forward to building a better future.