Award-winning design
Hanley Wood's editors also weighed in on sustainability, showcasing today's most sustainable projects. Jim Schneider, senior editor of eco-structure, presented his magazine's 2008 Evergreen Award winners. Although each featured innovations in materials and energy efficiency, concrete played a small part in most designs.

Tim Gregorski, editor in chief of Concrete Construction, presented concrete's contribution to the green movement, with the GreenSite Award winners of 2008. The contest, co-sponsored by The Concrete Producer, specifically honors sustainable construction using concrete. The seven winning projects embody concrete's sustainable attributes: thermal mass, durability, and efficient use of materials.

Sustainable concrete construction still has a long way to go, said The Concrete Producer's editor in chief, Rick Yelton, but the possibilities are virtually limitless. Yelton illustrated his point with the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction's awards program, which strives to, "celebrate innovative, future-oriented, and tangible sustainable construction projects."

In 2008, the nine North American Holcim Award winners included projects under construction, as well as concepts for improving future structures. Yelton challenged the luncheon's audience to consider, "Why can't concrete be a part of the most environmentally responsible structures of the future?"