From Aspirational to Operational: How Sustainability Is Evolving in Construction

Sustainability in construction has long been a topic of discussion—but the nature of that conversation is changing. In this episode, host Eric Thomas sits down with Joe Speicher, Chief Sustainability Officer at Autodesk, and Allison Scott, Director of Sustainability Growth and Engagement, to explore how the industry is shifting from aspirational goals to operational strategies.

Recorded live at Autodesk University 2025 in Nashville, this conversation dives into how firms are turning sustainability promises into measurable outcomes, and the role technology plays in enabling that transformation.

We discuss:

• How sustainability has become a data problem—and why that’s a good thing
• The importance of connected construction and digital threads
• The environmental impact of AI and how to deploy it responsibly
• Why data centers are at the heart of the sustainability conversation
• How Autodesk is helping customers operationalize sustainability across the built environment

Assets mentioned during the episode:

• A Guide to Alignment in the Built Environment

Digital Builder is hosted by Eric Thomas of Autodesk.