The first commercial construction project for low-carbon cement

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Feb 5, 2025

Yanni Tsipis, Senior Vice President at WS Development, leads the charge on Boston’s largest net-zero office building using innovative low-carbon cement. He discusses the groundbreaking nature of this new material and its potential to revolutionize the construction industry, which traditionally accounts for significant emissions. Yanni shares insights on the logistical challenges, the importance of stakeholder buy-in, and the financial implications of adopting sustainable alternatives. His journey marks a pivotal moment in eco-friendly construction practices.

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ANECDOTE

Unusual Collaboration

Yanni Tsipis, overseeing Boston's Seaport District redevelopment, discovered Sublime Systems' green cement in an MIT Tech Review article.
Intrigued, he contacted Sublime, marking an unusual move for a developer to reach out directly to a supplier's supplier.

INSIGHT

End-User Influence

End-user interest, like that from WS Development, is invaluable for early-stage climate tech companies.
Influential customers can drive adoption by pushing their supply chain towards low-carbon solutions.

ANECDOTE

Cool Factor

WS Development's motivation for using Sublime's cement stemmed from genuine interest and their company culture.
This competitive advantage allows them to attract tenants seeking sustainable and innovative spaces.

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In May 2024, Yanni Tsipis was watching as his team prepared to pour a low-carbon version of concrete — one that had never been used in a commercial project. As senior vice president of WS Development, he was in charge of the team building Boston’s largest net-zero office building for operating emissions (not embodied emissions), and he had spearheaded an effort to use a new type of low-carbon cement from a startup called Sublime Systems.

It's hard to understate how big of a deal it is for the construction industry to try a new version of cement. It’s the glue that holds concrete particles together, and the recipe used today has barely changed since 1824. It's incredibly versatile stuff, but making it accounts for nearly 8% of global emissions, so there's pressure on the industry to clean up. But with the literal foundations of buildings, bridges, and roads at stake, you can understand why the industry might be slow to change.

But Yanni's team wanted to try.

In this episode, Lara talked to Yanni about the journey to the first commercial deployment of this low-carbon cement. He talks about the economics of cement, securing enough material in time to meet construction deadlines, and earning buy-in from WS Development’s internal team, plus their long list of contractors and subcontractors. It’s a case study in finding the right customer for a first-of-a-kind climate tech project.

Credits: Hosted by Lara Pierpoint. Produced by Daniel Woldorff and Erin Hardick. Edited by Anne Bailey and Stephen Lacey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.

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