Datum Engineers Makes Commitment to Reduce Embodied Carbon in Structural Engineering Practices

DALLAS - Nov. 10, 2021 - PRLog -- Datum Engineers recently signed a letter of support for the SE 2050 Commitment Program, making it one of the first 75 engineering firms in the US to commit to a holistic shift in sustainable engineering design. "We wholeheartedly support the mission of the SE 2050 Commitment as envisioned by the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers," says Datum President, Michael Brack, PE. "As one of the early adopters to take on this bold challenge, we are committed to transforming the practice of structural engineering by prioritizing the reduction of embodied carbon through the use of less impactful structural materials. Our approach is holistic, firm-wide, project based, and data-driven."

To underscore this commitment, Datum has named Swarna Karuppiah, PE as its Sustainability Champion. "Swarna clearly understands our culture and our mission and has recently authored Datum's first Embodied Carbon Action Plan," says Brack. Swarna currently serves as an SE 2050 Committee Member, helping the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to address sustainability issues as they relate to the practice of structural engineering in the US and beyond. Datum's broader Sustainability team includes engineers and technicians from all three of its offices in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, Texas. "We at Datum recognize our responsibility to help the building design community address climate change issues and the impacts that our structural systems have on the environment," Brack adds. "We challenge all of our structural engineering colleagues nationwide to join in this important mission."

Karuppiah says, "Every individual has a role to play in tackling climate change. We, as structural engineers, are glad to take this step forward towards sustainable practices and prioritize embodied carbon reduction in our designs."

"Structural engineering firms that have joined the SEI SE2050 Commitment Program can now input specific project data into the database made possible by the SEI Futures Fund," explains Victor Van Santen, P.E., S.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE, 2022 SEI President. "The goal to have 50 firms sign up to join the SE2050 Commitment in 2021 has already been surpassed. This commitment by structural engineering firms like yours is an indication of how important this issue is to our profession."

Datum Engineers (https://www.datumengineers.com/), founded in 1937, is a Texas-based firm devoted to the art of structural engineering. Datum serves a nationwide client base of architectural firms as well as corporate, institutional, public and private development owners. Completed projects include all manner of buildings that are important to our communities and range up to 60-stories in height and over $1 billion in construction cost. In addition to designing new structures and additions, the firm performs investigations and forensic consulting on existing structures.