Our Work
Results From More Than 1,700 Client Engagements
Proven Results & Exceeded Expectations
Wherever you are on your journey, we’re here for whatever you need. It’s all we’ve done — thoughtfully, responsively, and creatively — for over twenty years.
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Recent Work

City of Portland
Case Study
City of Portland
Case Study
Practices Engaged:
Healthier Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Government & Public Service (Local / Municipal)
Building Types:
City Halls & Civic Centers, Offices (Core & Shell + Interiors)
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Salesforce
Case Study
Salesforce
Case Study
This letter to the industry highlights the urgent need to address embodied carbon in MEP/IT/AV systems. While operational emissions have seen progress, this embodied carbon remains a challenge. This article reveals insights to guide the industry toward a 50% reduction by 2030 to stay on track for meeting net-zero carbon targets for 2050.
Practices Engaged:
ESG + Corporate Sustainability, Sustainable Built Environments, Carbon, Materials
Industry Sectors:
Real Estate Development, Real Estate Management, Operations & Maintenance
Building Types:
Offices (Interiors)
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AI Meets Lower Carbon Concrete
AI Meets Lower Carbon Concrete
Concrete accounts for 8% of global GHG emissions, which is more than every country except the US and China. Lower carbon concrete is a critical climate solution, but designing it isn’t simple. While AI offers promise, experts warn of its limitations in capturing real-world variables. This post explores why human expertise still leads the way, and how integrative strategies are reshaping concrete’s future.
Practices Engaged:
Materials
Industry Sectors:
Building Products & Construction Materials
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Ashland School District
School Bond Climate Action Plan
Ashland School District
School Bond Climate Action Plan
Ashland, OR
For this bond-funded facilities program, Brightworks designed project-specific energy efficiency and sustainability measures to align with the City of Ashland’s Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP). The project took advantage of Energy Trust of Oregon and City of Ashland incentives for building energy analysis and natural gas energy savings. Additionally, the City of Ashland water department provided incentives for low-flow plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems upgrades.
Practices Engaged:
Government Sector Sustainability, Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
K-12 Education
Building Types:
Real Estate Portfolios, K-12 Schools


City of Sammamish
Climate Action Plan
City of Sammamish
Climate Action Plan
Sammamish, WA
Brightworks is developing the City of Sammamish’s greenhouse gas baseline and Climate Action Plan (CAP) in alignment with best practices, King County, Washington state, and partner cities. The plan includes recommended actions by city government and community members alike.
Practices Engaged:
Government Sector Sustainability
Industry Sectors:
Government & Public Service (Local / Municipal)


City of Santa Monica
Pico Branch Library
City of Santa Monica
Pico Branch Library
Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica’s LEED-Platinum-Certified Pico Branch Library boasts water cisterns, a photovoltaic solar array, extensive daylight in interior spaces, and views to the outdoors. The project also won the USGBC LA’s 2015 Innovation Award.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Government & Public Service (Local / Municipal)
Building Types:
Libraries


Rethinking Scope 3 Emissions Strategies
Rethinking Scope 3 Emissions Strategies
This article explores the pitfalls of current supply chain engagement strategies and offers a roadmap to allow scope 3 emissions programs to drive real, measurable change—efficiently and equitably.
Practices Engaged:
ESG + Corporate Sustainability
Industry Sectors:
Manufacturing, Real Estate Development, Technology (Non-Bio)
Building Types:
N/A
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Harvard University
Healthier Materials Program
Harvard University
Healthier Materials Program
Cambridge, MA
As part of its extensive work with Harvard’s Office for Sustainability, Brightworks supported the Harvard Healthier Building Academy (HHBA) in conducting material research, developing a campus-wide healthier materials program, and establishing material requirements for Harvard buildings. (Image: Kris Snibbe/Harvard University)
Practices Engaged:
Materials
Industry Sectors:
Building Products & Construction Materials, Higher Education (Private Four-Year+)
Building Types:
Campuses, Districts & Neighborhoods


Moore & Giles
Case Study
Moore & Giles
Case Study
Practices Engaged:
ESG + Corporate Sustainability
Industry Sectors:
Apparel, Clothing & Fashion, Consumer Goods & Services, Manufacturing
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IA Interior Architects
Corporate Sustainability & SBTi Program
IA Interior Architects
Corporate Sustainability & SBTi Program
All IA Offices, Global
Having worked together for over fifteen years, IA Interior Architects engaged Brightworks to help it inventory its GHG emissions and then become the world’s first architecture firm to make a commitment to set near-term and net-zero science-based targets via the Science Based Targets Initiative. (Photo by Ed Reeve)
Practices Engaged:
ESG + Corporate Sustainability
Industry Sectors:
Professional Services


Infrastructure Masons
iMasons Climate Accord
Infrastructure Masons
iMasons Climate Accord
Industry-Wide, Global
In April 2022, iMasons launched the iMasons Climate Accord (ICA), an industry initiative to transform the data center industry toward net-zero carbon. To spearhead this effort, Brightworks team members provide staff augmentation to the organization. In this capacity, Brightworks convenes iMasons stakeholders, establishes and manages day-to-day operations and special programs, and facilitates all working groups, including the iMasons Climate Accord governing body.
Practices Engaged:
Carbon
Industry Sectors:
Infrastructure, Professional Services, Technology (Non-Bio)
Building Types:
Data Centers


King County
Metro Transportation South Annex Base
King County
Metro Transportation South Annex Base
Tukwila, WA
In partnership with Jacobs, Brightworks is providing Living Building Challenge program management services for this new facility for King County Metro, the county’s public transportation agency. The South Annex Base will house up to 250 electric buses and make important progress towards achieving King County Metro’s goal of operating a zero-emissions fleet.
Practices Engaged:
Government Sector Sustainability, Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Government & Public Service (Local / Municipal), Transportation
Building Types:
Maintenance & Operations Facilities


Macerich
Tysons Corner Center Mixed-Use
Macerich
Tysons Corner Center Mixed-Use
McLean, VA
Working with Hines, Macerich continues to transform the Tysons Corner Center shopping mall into a mixed-use urban center. For over ten years, the once-solely-retail Tysons Corner mall site has been diversifying in uses. The site now includes offices, a 300-key Hyatt Regency hotel, and apartments.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Real Estate Development, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Real Estate Management, Operations & Maintenance, Retail
Building Types:
Retail, Malls & Shopping Centers, Multifamily Residential


Meta
Corporate Headquarters
Meta
Corporate Headquarters
Menlo Park, CA
Commissioned by Mark Zuckerberg and designed by Frank Gehry, this new headquarters for Facebook provides an innovative open work environment for employees. The building also features a zoned rooftop landscape offering unmatched views of San Francisco Bay.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Technology (Non-Bio)
Building Types:
Large-Scale Developments / Megadevelopments, Offices (Headquarters)


Mindful Materials
Common Materials Framework
Mindful Materials
Common Materials Framework
Industry-Wide, Global
Brightworks was contracted by mindful materials to manage the development of the Common Materials Framework, including facilitating the Stakeholder engagement and feedback process. Brightworks then also support mM in furthering the development of CMF tools that will facilitate the industry’s adoption and alignment associated with the CMF, as well as supported by providing insights on reference guide development and forum resources. (Photo by Francois Olwage)
Practices Engaged:
Materials
Industry Sectors:
Building Products & Construction Materials, Manufacturing, Professional & Trade Associations


Moore & Giles
Corporate Sustainability Program
Moore & Giles
Corporate Sustainability Program
Forest, VA
Premium leather manufacturer Moore & Giles has made substantial achievements in sustainability through efforts such as operating their headquarters on solar, offsetting UPS and FedEx shipping emissions, and using an innovative plant-based tanning method created from fallen olive leaves. To further Moore & Giles carbon neutrality goals, Brightworks combined its unique expertise in sustainable materials and corporate sustainability to develop an impact reduction roadmap.
Practices Engaged:
ESG + Corporate Sustainability
Industry Sectors:
Apparel, Clothing & Fashion, Consumer Goods & Services, Manufacturing


Our Just Future
The Nick Fish Affordable Housing
Our Just Future
The Nick Fish Affordable Housing
Portland, OR
This addition to Portland’s Gateway neighborhood provides a mix of affordable and market-rate housing and serves as the headquarters for affordable housing non-profit Our Just Future. Brightworks managed its LEED for Homes Gold certification.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Healthcare & Social Services, Real Estate Development
Building Types:
Affordable Housing


PAE
PAE Living Building Office
PAE
PAE Living Building Office
Portland, OR
Brightworks Sustainability successfully managed the process of achieving the Living Building Challenge Materials Petal for PAE’s flagship headquarters working with engineer PAE, developer Edlen & Co., and ZGF Architects. The world’s first developer-driven Living Building, this 58,000-square-foot office building is a teaching tool for sustainable design and construction. (Photo by Benjamin Benshneider Photography)
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments, Materials
Industry Sectors:
Real Estate Development
Building Types:
Offices (Interiors), Offices (Core & Shell), Offices (Headquarters)


University of Southern California
30 Year Campus Masterplan
University of Southern California
30 Year Campus Masterplan
Los Angeles, CA
Addressing outdoor environments, land use, transportation, water, energy, building design, waste, recycling, and hazardous materials, Brightworks Sustainability developed sustainability concepts for USC’s 30-year master plan, the university’s first-ever master plan.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Higher Education (Private Four-Year+)
Building Types:
Campuses, Districts & Neighborhoods


Vantage Data Centers
Embodied & Operational Carbon Strategy
Vantage Data Centers
Embodied & Operational Carbon Strategy
Asia Pacific, Europe, North America
Brightworks supported this data center developer in reducing embodied and operational carbon by first benchmarking their designs, then identifying high-impact measures in a variety of diverse climates to improve ongoing energy performance.
Practices Engaged:
Carbon
Industry Sectors:
Real Estate Development, Technology (Non-Bio)
Building Types:
Data Centers


ZRZ Realty
Zidell Yards Sustainability Master Plan
ZRZ Realty
Zidell Yards Sustainability Master Plan
Portland, OR
Upon completion of a master plan by Sasaki, Portland’s Zidell family retained Brightworks to develop a sustainability master plan for 33 acres on the Willamette River. Originally a shipyard, the new Zidell Yards is slated to become to a mix of parks, housing, retail and office space. The sustainability plan translates the Zidell family’s sustainability vision into a technically and economically feasible plan.
Practices Engaged:
Sustainable Built Environments
Industry Sectors:
Real Estate Development
Building Types:
Multifamily Residential, Offices (Core & Shell), Large-Scale Developments / Megadevelopments, Maritime / Waterfront
