Leaving the World Better Than We Found It
A Conversation with Specifications Leader Carlota Longo
For people who are new to the AIA Materials Pledge, especially from a specifications standpoint, how do you describe what the pledge is really about?
The AIA Materials Pledge is, at its heart, a commitment to leave the world better than we found it. In specifications, that means weaving sustainability into the everyday decisions that shape our projects. Of course, it’s not just the specifications team who is responsible for implementation. It’s an important effort, and absolutely requires multidisciplinary collaboration and firm-wide participation. The pledge only works when all disciplines are involved, because better materials touch everyone’s work. I’m grateful we have strong champions across the company who are helping to build momentum, one thoughtful step at a time.
We introduced the Materials Pledge to the entire firm through a big presentation in 2024, and that launch helped everyone understand the five tenets of the pledge and where their work connects. (Those tenets are human health, social health and equity, ecosystem health, climate health, and circular economy). I left that presentation feeling confident! We have the right players around the table, and with patience and collaboration, I know we’ll get exactly where we need to go.
You’ve been a sustainability advocate for a long time. What originally sparked your interest in healthier, more responsible materials?
My journey started well before the pledge. I became interested in LEED around 2011, when our firm made a big push in that direction. Learning about LEED’s rigorous requirements completely reframed how I think about the impact of buildings on the people who occupy them. It’s impossible to learn about indoor environmental quality, materials chemistry, and life cycle impacts without becoming an advocate.
On a personal note, I also try to live these values. A documentary I watched years ago, Buy Now, really opened my eyes to the consequences of constant consumerism. It made me more mindful about what I buy and what I keep. When you start thinking about waste at a household scale, it’s easy to see the parallels in the built environment. Buildings are simply larger, longer lived expressions of those same choices.
For project teams or new employees who feel overwhelmed by where to start, what guidance do you give them?
For people within our firm, the very first thing I recommend is revisiting the multidisciplinary presentation we shared firm wide when we introduced the pledge. It’s a great overview, and it breaks down the five tenets in a way that makes the whole thing much more approachable. I also point people directly to the AIA Materials Pledge itself; there’s something grounding about reading the source document.
The good news is that most of the manufacturers and reps we meet, probably 90%, are already familiar with the pledge and moving toward better transparency and healthier products. For anyone who isn’t, their curiosity is usually piqued as soon as we bring it up. And for our internal project teams, I always remind them that many sustainable choices are already standard practice here. For example, LS3P has specified low and no VOC paints for nearly two decades. Sometimes the first step is simply recognizing that we’re not starting from scratch. We’ve been building toward this for a long time.
Do you find that most people are immediately on board with following the Materials Pledge, or do you sometimes meet with resistance?
Well, this effort is still relatively new, and we do need to do some educating. I always approach those conversations with curiosity. When someone says, “My client doesn’t want to hear about sustainability,” my first question is, “why?” Sometimes it’s a misunderstanding about cost, sometimes it’s lack of awareness about health impacts, and sometimes it’s simply fear of complexity. Early in LEED’s history, sustainable materials were seen as expensive, but that’s rarely the case anymore.
The reality is that we’ve already incorporated many healthier requirements into our standard specifications. No one has to ask for low- or no- VOC products in their building, for example. We incorporated those without anyone needing to request them. So, I frame sustainable materials not as “extra,” but simply as best practice. Once people recognize that, the resistance almost always softens.
From your perspective as Specifications Leader, which materials or divisions are the most challenging—or the most exciting—as we deepen our commitment?
One area I’d love for us to focus on more is the ILFI Red List of chemicals to avoid. I’ve been aware of it for seven or eight years, but it’s not something we talk about often as a firm. Becoming more mindful of those chemicals, especially in materials where they traditionally hide, would be a meaningful next step.
In terms of challenges, exterior products like waterproofing are among the most difficult. They fall outside the building envelope, and many manufacturers haven’t fully embraced
greener formulations yet. But some companies are making real progress, and I’m eager for us to continue exploring those options. On the exciting side, our specifications team has incredibly passionate people already working to “bake in” better products for our spec sections, and we expect to start rolling out updates this spring.
Looking across the industry, where do you think the next big opportunities are for LS3P and for designers more broadly?
Within the five tenets of the pledge, there are a few that are relatively easy to achieve and others that require more collective effort. I think the next leap is not only evaluating products themselves, but also paying closer attention to the companies
behind them. Many manufacturers are embracing ESG aligned practices such as rethinking labor policies, emissions, transparency, and corporate responsibility. Choosing to work with companies who treat sustainability holistically raises the bar for the entire industry.
I’m also excited about greater interdisciplinary collaboration thanks to our practice integration efforts. When the right voices are in the room together including specs, interiors, sustainability leaders, architects, and engineers, we make stronger decisions. It feels like we’re on the cusp of something really powerful.
How do you see LS3P growing internally—through education, culture, or operations—as we advance our sustainability commitments?
One of the most energizing things happening right now is that several team members are pursuing Living Future Accreditation. The firm made it incredibly accessible, which signals how serious we are about building internal expertise. I’m working my way through the modules myself, and even though it’s hard to find uninterrupted time, the content is invaluable.
Beyond education, I’d love to see us continue “practicing what we preach” in our offices. At a previous WELL
certified workplace, even simple practices like eliminating desk side trash cans or making fresh fruit available daily reinforced a culture of health and sustainability. We don’t need to pursue a formal WELL certification to adopt ideas that support wellness and reduce waste. Our new Charlotte office already reflects that mindset, and it’s inspiring to see.
Anything else you’re excited about as you look toward the future of materials and specifications at LS3P?
I’m especially excited about bringing our interns and new hires into this conversation early. Specifications often aren’t taught in school, so we’re building a slide deck and onboarding experience to give them that foundation. Helping the next generation understand materials and sustainability is one of the most meaningful things we can do for the profession.
Overall, I’m hopeful. We have passionate people, strong partnerships, and a clear mission. If we keep taking steady steps, together, we’ll continue to raise the standard for what responsible, healthy, beautiful buildings can be.
