Focusing on key global cities such as Singapore, Amsterdam, Dubai, Tokyo, London, New York, Melbourne and Buenos Aires, the report provides deep insights into the evolving nature of work, highlighting significant shifts in workplace strategy, technology adoption, and employee expectations.

As to key trends, the report underscores a surge in hybrid working models: although the return to office is gaining momentum, 85% of organizations are now prioritizing flexible work arrangements, which is reshaping business districts.

It also identifies AI-driven automation as a major driver of efficiency, with 72% of companies integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline operations; smart mobility and AI-driven solutions are transforming urban life and the infrastructure.

Sustainability remains a key focus, with businesses increasingly investing in eco-friendly office spaces and carbon-neutral policies; cities are prioritizing sustainability, inclusivity, and connectivity to build a better future

As well as identifying these key trends, the report reveals three core categories of cities:

• Innovation-led cities (e.g., Singapore, Amsterdam, Dubai) are rapidly evolving and heavily investing in innovation and people.
• Steadily evolving cities (e.g., Tokyo, London) are leveraging their size and resources for gradual change.
• Adaptive cities (e.g., New York, Melbourne, Buenos Aires) are showing resilience and adapting to pressures.

Commenting on the findings, Philip Ross, CEO of UnGroup (UnWork, WORKTECH and WORKTECH Academy), stated:

Work is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Organizations must embrace innovation, from AI-powered workplaces to dynamic hybrid strategies, to stay competitive. Our report provides a roadmap for leaders navigating this rapidly changing landscape.

By taking a deeper dive into eight world cities, this report aims to show how a greener, smarter, more inclusive and more connected urban future is being built in specific locations and under specific conditions. Businesses that adapt to these trends, and successfully align technology, culture, and sustainability will be best positioned for long-term success.

Wish You Were Here: Eight World Cities Shaping the Future of Work is available to WORKTECH Academy members (others may join today to access it).

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Each session is 60 minutes. Sessions are approved for 1 CEU for Designers and 1 LU for Architects. Certificates are available post session after completing a 10-question quiz.

Commercial facility management, real estate and design topics are addressed in these NeoCon on-site sessions in the tracks for Workplace/Sustainability/Industry Directions:

Good Leads the Way: United Airlines Headquarters Decarbonization Journey: The renovation and restack of 13 floors at the United Airlines headquarters in Chicago created a hybrid workplace infused with a dynamic energy that reinforces employee pride. This space brings together staff through shared experiences connected to United’s brand story: an airline where Good Leads the Way.

Wellness Real Estate: Supercharging Transformation & Growth: Wellness is emerging as a critical catalyst for growth. This on-site CEU will explore how design that intentionally supports the holistic health of users elevates individual and community well-being and unlocks significant market opportunities. Drawing from Gensler’s research, the session will define and survey a $580 billion U.S. Wellness Real Estate Market and its expansion across the workplace, multifamily residential, hospitality, and retail sectors.

Transforming Buildings into Material Resources: Demolition projects have a significant impact on climate change due to the energy and resources required, as well as the emissions created during the process. Material recovery through deconstruction is an unparalleled opportunity for reducing embodied carbon, while also diverting construction waste, reducing exposure to toxic pollutants, protecting natural resources, and creating green jobs.

How Can Science Make Us All More Creative. Really. In an era where information floods our senses and technology reshapes thinking patterns, the ability to focus has become a precious resource. Our physical surroundings play a key role in enhancing or hindering individual and group creative capabilities. This session explores how scientific research into environmental psychology is leveraged to create spaces that support focus and creativity. From ambient sounds to colors, natural materials, light, and spatial configuration, our environments shape creative potential. Understanding these principles isn’t just about designing better workplaces—it’s about creating environments that help navigate information while maintaining the clarity for innovative thinking.

Virtual sessions in the facilities management track:

FF&E Changes in Sports Spaces: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Clubs: Using case study examples from Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s Field Level VIP Clubs, this panel will take a deep dive into navigating the changing landscape of furniture in public assembly spaces. The dynamic group of experts will discuss client expectations and best practices for specifying the right product for the application – extending beyond aesthetics and considering factors such as durability, mobility, accessibility and functionality. As conversions teams are constantly reconfiguring spaces, the session will address approaches to finishes and features to facilitate versatile, multi-use public environments, and to deliver high quality visitor experiences. This panel will discuss how to champion sustainability and community connections. Panelists will underscore proactive communication across the project’s lifecycle, best practices for engaging complex stakeholder networks and a pipeline for continued client communication after installation and solving for arising issues.

Moving Towards Circularity: A Playbook for Sustainable Furniture Planning & Specifications: Think sustainable furniture planning has to be overwhelming, costly or impractical? Think again! This session empowers facility owners, designers, and specifiers with tools and strategies to simplify sustainability and make a measurable impact–and (gasp!) maybe even enjoy the process.

Discover how informed selections, certified materials, and sustainable practices lead to smarter choices that boost durability, extend furniture life, and keep items out of landfills–while saving money and improving budget efficiency. We’ll guide you through RFPs, procurement, and change management, transforming these steps into powerful tools for creating healthier spaces and minimizing environmental harm.

Whether you’re tackling large-scale projects or refining your specification process, this session offers practical strategies to achieve financial savings. Leave with fresh ideas, useful tools, and the confidence to make impactful decisions that save resources and create lasting value.

The Industry Directions, Sustainability and Wellness tracks feature these sessions:

Behavior by Design: Can Design Make Us Better People?: Beyond aesthetics, well designed environments impacts everyone and enables us to enjoy: Improved wellbeing, business and medical outcomes; reduced isolation loneliness and crime; safe neighborhoods and strong communities. Conversely, bad design can interfere with all of these. Data collected in & on spaces reveals correlations between spatial design and human behavior. Can designers tune design for desired human behavior? Should we? Who decides? This session will present projects and research that illustrate the outcome of spatial design on its occupants and the potential for design-orchestrated behavior. The session will invite audience members into discussion on the implications for the possible future of design.

Building Products Selection & Procurement: The release of LEED V5 this year represents the boldest major update for materials and products in over a decade. The material selection landscape is changing each day, and those designing as well as specifying finishes, furniture, flooring, etc. are placing a critical lens on the process taken to affect change in the built environment. This session will cover what’s new for V5 and how to maximize points in the new rating system. You will hear from USGBC staff and members of the LEED Technical Advisory Group who helped launch the new rating system. USGBC will discuss the Building Product Selection & Procurement credit, which is rooted in the impact areas of LEED Version 5. Members of the Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group will address the ways in which the criteria areas, which have been intentionally aligned with the Mindful Materials Common Materials Framework, will impact the industry from the perspective of those designing, specifying and manufacturing.

Creating Long-Term Value from the Experience Design Process: When architecture, interior design, technology, signage, and service design are coordinated separately, the result is a fragmented experience for users. And as organizations expand, this siloed approach to design results in a broader sense of inconsistency, affecting trust, loyalty, and satisfaction. The solution to this fragmentation and inconsistency is experience design: an integrated, human-centered, place-oriented approach that brings all design disciplines together. While many organizations are going through the process of experience design, they are missing a crucial piece of the puzzle: how to maintain that value over time. The key? Experience design guidelines that turn experiential thinking into a set of actionable and adaptable outcomes. This session explores how both organizations and designers can create, implement, and continuously update experience design guidelines to maximize long-term ROI.

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For decades, IFMA has recognized and championed the business case for energy efficiency — highlighting its role in enhancing U.S. economic competitiveness, reducing environmental waste and strengthening national security.

Consumers and businesses alike rely on Energy Star ratings when making informed decisions about appliances and equipment. Eliminating this publicly funded resource without consulting the industries and individuals who depend on it is shortsighted and irresponsible. Dean Stanberry, immediate past chair of IFMA

Facility managers face the realities of energy management every day. Commercial buildings are among the largest consumers of electricity in the United States, making them key targets for energy-saving opportunities. Facility managers not only reduce operational costs through energy-efficient strategies but also educate building occupants on best practices and emerging technologies.

Energy Star is not just for U.S. households — it’s a global benchmark with far-reaching influence across commercial facilities of every type. From HVAC systems to lighting, life safety equipment and manufacturing tools, Energy Star provides independent, trusted confirmation of quality and efficiency. Facility managers, building owners and employers depend on this program to maintain healthy, sustainable workplaces that support core business functions. Michael V. Geary, CAE, President & CEO of IFMA

IFMA says it remains committed to collaborating with policymakers and industry stakeholders worldwide to promote efficiency, innovation and sustainability in the built environment.

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Energy savings of up to 15%

Advantages of PCM ceiling panels stem from the fact that they support thermal comfort with no mechanics, energy expenditure, or fossils fuels to burn! A valuable, sustainable solution for a world prioritizing decarbonization, ceiling panels with PCM technology can reduce energy costs and consumption by as much as 15%.* By enabling energy savings, these ceilings offer advantages including:

• Reduced reliance on fossil-fuel powered HVAC systems
• Less wear on HVAC systems — critical to facilities with aging systems and strict budgets
• Improved thermal comfort — especially well-suited for changing climates or environments with daily hot-cold fluctuations
• Ability to enhance indoor environmental quality with features like acoustical sound blocking and absorption
• Easy installation and little-to-no maintenance

Energy-saving ceiling products also fit into the thermal comfort portion of the WELL Building Standard and can contribute to energy and atmosphere credits for LEED.

Up to 50% in tax credits

While the above advantages can work to help a facility realize ongoing savings related to lower energy consumption and less reliance on mechanical heating and cooling — a project owner can get a “head start” on cost benefits because PCM ceiling panels qualify for certain tax credits. Projects utilizing energy-saving ceiling panels may qualify for Investment Tax Credit (ITC) 48E, which was introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and offers tax incentives for investments in clean energy technologies. Because of their thermal energy storage properties, most projects using PCM ceiling panels may qualify:

• Up to 40% federal tax credit
• Additional 10% tax credit if the project is deployed in an “Energy Community.” (i.e., a Brownfields site or fossil-fuel-dependent community)

When investing in energy-saving ceilings for a project, consider a solution that helps you maximize tax savings opportunities. For example, when installing an Armstrong Templok Energy Saving Ceiling, the ceiling panels, and associated grid, trim, and labor all qualify for tax credits under ITC 48E. Moreover, these panels are made in the U.S.A. of domestic and global content, meeting a requirement for additional tax savings.**

Qualifying energy saving ceiling projects include those of taxpayers and non-taxpaying entities and span multiple sectors, including:

• Public — such as government entities
• Private — corporations, healthcare facilities and others
• Education — K-12 and higher education
• 501 (c)(3) charitable organizations

The list of ideal projects is extensive and includes K-12 schools, public and private universities, dorms, museums, hospitals, nonprofit offices/facilities, military bases, courthouses, faith-based buildings, convention centers, and arenas — to name a few. In addition to getting information from the ceiling manufacturer, it’s important to consult your tax advisor to confirm qualification of your project.

More affordable, more sustainable

Thanks to tax credits, the use of energy-saving ceilings could make your next construction or renovation project more affordable. And, with PCM technology helping reduce energy costs, the impact on your bottom line won’t stop there. You can learn more about energy saving ceilings and related tax credits by visiting Armstrong Ceilings.

Notes:

• *Cooling energy savings according to research estimates measured in lab tests. Results may vary.
• ** This article lists various federal tax credits and deductions that your project may qualify for when purchasing Armstrong TEMPLOK Energy Saving Ceilings. Please consult your own tax attorney or advisor.
• LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council; WELL Building Standard is a trademark of the Well Building Institute.

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The Universal Fiber Systems team and Board of Directors are excited to welcome Jonathan Craig as our new CEO. Jonathan’s extensive expertise in fiber technologies and global business strategy, shaped by key leadership roles within our supply chain ecosystem, makes him an excellent choice to lead UFS into its next chapter.

Marc Ammen, outgoing CEO and Executive Board Chair

Craig succeeds Marc Ammen, who is retiring after over fifteen years as CEO and twenty-five years with Universal Fiber Systems. Under Ammen’s leadership, UFS achieved significant growth, establishing global manufacturing sites and completing key acquisitions, including Sapona Yarns and Fiber Innovation Technologies. Ammen will continue to serve as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors.

Craig joins Universal Fiber Systems from Ascend Performance Materials, where he most recently served as Vice President of Polymers and Fibers. During his tenure, he was instrumental in delivering significant profit growth by driving operational efficiency, customer-focused innovation, and industry-leading sustainability initiatives. He led the transformation of a specialty chemicals division and previously held senior roles in supply chain and finance at Ascend. Earlier in his career, Craig also held leadership positions at Bigler LP and Biogen Idec.

His appointment comes at a pivotal time for UFS, as the company expands its global footprint and now serves twenty-seven end markets through targeted investments and strategic acquisitions.

I’m honored to join Universal Fiber Systems and lead such a talented and dedicated team. UFS has a strong history of innovation and serving diverse customer needs. I’m excited to build on that legacy and work closely with our teams and customers to create meaningful solutions for the future. This opportunity is not just a professional milestone but also a meaningful transition for my family. I’m grateful for the support of my wife Elizabeth and our four children as we begin this next chapter together.

Jonathan Craig

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May 13, 2025 –

Over the past three years, the BIFMA e3 Subcommittee — comprising a diverse group of BIFMA members, government agencies, architects, designers, and other industry stakeholders — collaboratively reimagined the standard. The rigorous revision process began with a pilot review and continued through two cycles of association ballots followed by two ANSI ballots. Each phase generated invaluable feedback that helped shape a more transparent, accessible and performance-driven standard.

Key guiding principles during the revision included:

• Simplification of the standard: Streamlining requirements for clarity and ease of implementation
• Establishment of minimum requirements per tier: Transitioning from a credit-based system to clearly defined minimum standards for each performance level
• Alignment with key partners: Maintaining strong consistency with foundational sustainability frameworks such as LEED, WELL and ILFI

As a result, the updated standard introduces several significant enhancements:

• LEVEL 4 achievement: Establishing a new milestone for industry excellence and innovation
• Climate-positive criteria: Pushing the envelope of sustainability by advancing beyond neutrality
• Chemical optimization: Implementing a class-based approach that sets stringent criteria for chemical management

The revised framework builds successively from foundational policies and inventories (Level 1) through assessments and, ultimately, optimization, culminating in the industry-leading benchmarks set by Level 4.

Mendy Claridge, e3 Subcommittee Chair and Director Program Management and Transformation at Kimball International, stated:

This revision represents a bold step forward for sustainable furniture design and manufacturing. By streamlining the requirements and integrating progressive criteria, this allows the industry to meet market sustainability demands while aligning with complementary standards globally.

BIFMA extends its sincere thanks to every individual and organization that contributed insights throughout this review process, saying that their collaboration ensured the development of a standard that not only meets current environmental challenges but also sets a visionary roadmap for the future of sustainable furniture design.

To access the ANSI/BIFMA e3-2024 Furniture Sustainability Standard and additional BIFMA standards, visit BIFMA.

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RentCafé’s annual report tracks the pipeline of apartments converted from former office spaces, which has now reached an astounding 70,700 units in the pipeline — more than triple the 23,100 units converted in 2022.

Check out the hotspots of conversion and the key trends:

• The conversion pipeline has grown by 28% year-over-year in 2025, comprising 51,630 units carried over from the pipeline at the start of 2024 and 19,021 new conversions.  
• New York has the biggest office-to-apartment conversions pipeline (8,310 units), followed by last year’s #1, Washington, D.C. (6,533 units); Los Angeles in third place (4,388 units); Chicago (3,606 units); and Dallas (2,752 units).  
•  In 16 of the top 20 metros, more than half of all adaptive reuse projects involve office-to-apartment conversions. Four metros stand out with shares exceeding 70%: Phoenix (71%); Minneapolis (78%); Dallas (79%); and Omaha, NE (85% — marking the largest share nationwide). 
•  There’s an increasing focus on repurposing modern buildings: Newer office buildings constructed between the 1990s and 2010s now represent 1.27% of the completed conversions. However, their share is expected to grow significantly, with their share set to rise to 7%. 
•  Office conversions now represent 42% of all the 169,000 apartments emerging from future adaptive reuse projects — up from 38% in 2024. Nationwide, 14.8% of all office buildings are deemed suitable for conversion, according to CommercialEdge’s Conversion Feasibility Index.  
• Office-to-apartment conversions have more than tripled, growing from 23,100 units in 2022 to 70,700 units in the pipeline in 2025. 
• Modern buildings constructed between the 1990s and 2010s are becoming more common in conversion projects. While they accounted for just 1.27% of completed conversions, their share is projected to rise to 7%. 
• According to CommercialEdge’s Conversion Feasibility Index, 14.8% of all office buildings in the U.S. are suitable for conversion. 

Additionally, here are some of the most notable conversion projects across the country, each set to bring hundreds of much-needed apartments to their respective cities:  

1. In New York City, a standout project is the transformation of Pfizer’s former global headquarters at 219 E 42nd St., which is expected to create 536 rental units. 
2. A key conversion in Washington, D.C., is the Universal Buildings project at 1825-1875 Connecticut Ave. NW. The property — totaling more than 1 million square feet — will be transformed into The Geneva, a residential complex containing 525 new apartments with at least 69 affordable units. 
3. In Los Angeles, the 3rd biggest office conversion hub in the country, a significant project is the ARCO Tower redevelopment, which will transform the 33-story office building at 1055 Seventh St. into brand-new apartments. 
4. One major project in Chicago is 30 N LaSalle St., where 432,000 square feet of space will be revamped into 432 new apartments, including 130 affordable units. 
5. In Dallas, the Bryan Tower stands out as a key project to watch: Built in 1973 and purchased by Woods Capital in 2022, the 1.1-million-square-foot glass tower will be transformed into 425 new apartments. 

Read the annual report tracking office-to apartment conversions at RentCafé.

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In the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M, Dr. Thomas Overbye, a professor and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Smart Grid Center director, and Dr. Jonathan Snodgrass, a senior research engineer, are working to understand the ramifications of the increased number of EVs on the power grid — and how to potentially use EVs to the grid’s advantage.

Dr. Snodgrass pointed out:

If everyone got an electric vehicle, it would more or less double the usage of the grid, and that’s a big deal. So, the question is, how do we leverage the flexibility of residential charging? Because if EVs are flexible, they can actually be an asset to the grid, not just a liability.

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Flexible charging is used to maintain balance, Snodgrass added. For instance, right now, when a user plugs their car in for the night, the car starts charging immediately, which adds strain on the grid, since the grid usually has its highest load between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. However, if we can use the “smarts” in an EV charger to allow the utility company to change when the vehicle charges, the EV can truly become a flexible load.

Known as a price-responsive load, the EV could charge for the first three hours, then stop and start again, depending on what the grid can handle. All of this would consider a user’s driving needs and ensure their car is charged before they leave the next morning.

Dr. Snodgrass continued:

Suppose you get home at eight or nine at night after running your errands and picking up your kids. When you plug in your car, you don’t necessarily care when it charges, you just care if it’s going to have enough juice to get you to work and school in the morning.

Charging levels

Typically, charging EV batteries can range from hours to days, depending on the charging speed. Level 1 uses a standard 120-volt house outlet and can take days to fully charge a car or truck. Level 2 uses a 240-volt supply, the kind that water heaters need, and can charge most electric vehicles overnight.

If a user wants to quickly charge their EV, they use Level 3 fast chargers, which are high-speed charging stations. A fast charger at 50 to 350 kilowatts has the same electricity demand as 25 to 50 houses and can charge a car in 30 to 60 minutes. Since these stations have their own converters, the car does not have to rely on its slower internal converter. However, it’s a big load on the grid.

Imagine several people pull up at the same time to a charging station and plug in their EVs to DC fast chargers. A megawatt of load would be added to the power grid almost immediately, and the frequency of the grid would fluctuate because the balance between electricity supply and demand is off. The grid prefers a load that changes predictably and smoothly.

Dr. Snodgrass explained:

The power grid can handle multiple megawatt loads, switching in and out, but it puts pressure on the grid. It’s not designed for that. It’s like, can you drop a glass on the floor without it breaking? Yeah, totally. But it’s not designed to be dropped on the floor. It was designed to be placed down carefully and lifted up carefully.

Partnerships

The research team is working with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and ElectroTempo, a leading software firm and a startup out of TTI.

Dr. Snodgrass remarked:

TTI is one of the best transportation centers in the world, and we have one of the best grid modeling groups in the country led by Professor Overbye, the group leader for energy and power in the electrical and computer engineering department. For a university, we have some of the best grid modeling and simulation capabilities in the world.

ElectroTempo takes real transportation data (i.e. real miles traveled) and converts it to EV miles to determine a forecasted load. They pass the data to Overbye’s team, and they perform grid simulations to make predictions about the impact it would have on the grid if “x” percent of people switched to EVs.

With that information, they could inform utility companies if distribution, transmission lines or transformers need to be upgraded or if they could expect overload problems in certain areas. Some of those issues could be solved by shifting the EV load around or by replacing power lines or transformers before they become overloaded.

Dr. Snodgrass concluded:

In some cases, it may not be worth electrifying a certain area. For example, utilities should tell people who live in this neighborhood, if you really want electric vehicles, the first 10% of customers can electrify, no problem. After that, they will have to pay a surcharge because utilities will need to upgrade your line. It depends on how utility companies want to handle it.

Funding for this research is administered by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the official research agency for Texas A&M Engineering. Learn more at the Smart Grid Center.

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The annual recognition was announced at the 2025 Green Schools Conference in Orlando in collaboration with the Green Schools National Network (GSNN). The Green Schools Conference is said to be the only event to unite everyone involved in creating and advocating for green schools. The two-day event provides a platform for the green schools community that inspires and facilitates the movement’s progress.

Anisa Heming, director at the Center for Green Schools, stated:

This year’s Best of Green Schools awardees are individuals and organizations dedicated to improving our schools and creating healthy and resilient learning environments. The awards are an opportunity to spotlight how anyone can make an impact in their community and support students and educators. We are grateful for all those who believe in our mission and join us in achieving it.

Ileana Albareda, executive director at the Green Schools National Network (GSNN), pointed out:

The 2025 Best of Green Schools honorees are proof that sustainability in education is not just a goal, it’s a movement. Their work is transforming schools into healthier, more resilient places for students to learn and thrive. They are part of a growing network of changemakers, and their leadership is inspiring others to take action, push boundaries, and create lasting impact.

This year’s Best of Green School winners represent some of the most engaged individuals and organizations in the green schools movement. In 2024, the Center for Green Schools reached over 600 unique individuals from over 350 school districts at its educational events. It published an online School Health Research Library and several new publications and briefings, including individual school health research highlights, a School District Indoor Air Quality Management Plan Toolkit and executive-level briefings on decarbonization and climate resilience planning.

The awards were presented to organizations or individuals that have worked to move green schools forward in eight categories. This year’s recipients are:

K-12 School: Rochester School

• The campus for Rochester School, in Colombia, was built in 2012 and was designed for sustainability, learning, and health. The school has achieved over 70% energy savings and 40% potable water savings compared to a conventionally-built school of the same size. The campus features a solar aquatic center, intelligent classroom hubs, and other campus features that serve as a living textbook for the curriculum. The school takes pride in graduating students who embody the principles of these innovative systems and contribute to the world’s sustainable future.

 Ambassador: Lauren Click   

• Lauren Click from Arizona is transforming food waste education in public schools. In 2024, Let’s Go Compost expanded from a single school to 111 public schools, 75% of which are Title I. Under her leadership, the nonprofit provides hands-on composting educational tools that make waste reduction education accessible and impactful for students nationwide.

School System: Denver Public Schools

• Denver Public Schools has worked on sustainability initiatives since 2009, focusing on environmental protection, economic prosperity, and social development. The DPS Sustainability Team approaches its work with bold action, innovation, and accountability while engaging students and staff in creating a livable future and thriving learning environments.

 Student Leader: Molly and Emma Weber

• Emma Weber and Molly Weber from Boulder, Colorado, spearheaded a local campaign for climate justice in their school district and later expanded to a statewide movement. They built a network of over 60 students in their school district, won a first-of-its-kind Green New Deal for Schools resolution through their school board, and are currently working with state senators and representatives to pass legislation. Their efforts have focused on implementing sustainable infrastructure, climate curriculum, climate disaster plans, and pathways to green jobs in public schools.

 Business Leader: Texas Disposal Systems 

• Eco Academy, an education program of Texas Disposal Systems, is designed to help minimize waste in Central Texas schools by educating K-12 students about trash, recycling and composting options on their campuses. The program provides training, curriculum, signage and other educational materials for staff, administrators, and students to make recycling fun and enable real-world application. Each school’s participation is documented, and diversion data is made available.

Policy Maker: U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott and U.S. Senator Jack Reed 

• U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) have been steadfast in supporting a federal role that ensures that high-need communities have resources to build and repair healthy, green schools for their students. They introduced the Rebuild America’s Schools Act, which, if passed, would invest $130 billion in school buildings. They have led the way for their colleagues for many years. In 2023, their offices were essential in funding a national clearinghouse for school infrastructure and a grant program to help states serve their school districts better.

  K-12 Educator: Erin Stutzman

• As an educator in the Boise School District, Erin empowers students through community outreach and project- and place-based learning, helping them use their voices to create meaningful change at local, state, and national levels. In collaboration with Nez Perce youth and tribal elders in Lapwai, Idaho, her students have had the opportunity to learn from Indigenous customs and build partnerships around shared environmental goals. Together, they have secured rooftop solar panels through grant writing, advocated for climate action in schools, and supported the nationally recognized Save Our T-Pack initiative to protect Idaho’s wolves.

School District Champion: Darien Clary

• Darien Clary, the director of sustainability at Austin Independent School District, has led efforts to integrate sustainability across 130 facilities, serving 73,000 students and 10,000 staff since 2016. Her work has influenced green building practices, renewable energy, and sustainable food systems, earning recognition in the New York Times and Forbes. She has also authored publications on whole-school sustainability.

For more information and links to individual recipients, visit 2025 Best of Green Schools.

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Overview

In a small community where resources are finite, Union City, Indiana, faced the challenge of upgrading critical infrastructure while balancing financial, sustainability, and community priorities. Through a strategic partnership with ABM, the city implemented a comprehensive energy, lighting, HVAC, and infrastructure upgrade that exceeded financial, operational, and community goals — maximizing outcomes while minimizing waste.

“ABM played a critical role in helping us identify what we could be doing better — how we could be more efficient and sound from an infrastructure perspective,” said Union City, Indiana, Mayor Chad Spence. “Their expertise helped us hit the mark on sustainability, financial responsibility, and community impact.”

Challenges

Union City’s historic infrastructure, including a museum housed in a former railroad hotel, required urgent repairs. Leaky roofs and outdated systems posed risks to both the buildings and their irreplaceable contents. Additionally, high energy consumption — particularly at wastewater treatment facilities — placed a significant financial burden on the city’s budget, limiting opportunities for community growth and development.

Key challenges included:

• Aging infrastructure in need of modernization
• High energy costs straining the city’s budget
• Preserving historic structures while improving efficiency
• Overcoming permitting and regulatory hurdles for renewable energy solutions

An engineering and infrastructure solution

ABM’s industry-leading Engineering & Infrastructure Solutions team, led by Chris Mastrianni, Joe Boetsch, Ann Smith (LEED AP), and Erick Dustin, worked closely with Union City leadership to design a future-focused plan.

Key project components:

• Energy efficiency and sustainability: Integration of solar arrays to reduce dependency on the grid and lower operational costs
• Infrastructure upgrades: Modernization of lighting, HVAC systems, and wastewater treatment facilities to improve efficiency and performance
• Financial innovation: A strategic financial model that leveraged energy savings to fund additional infrastructure improvements
• Community impact: Reinvesting cost savings into critical areas such as parks, streets, and sidewalks

Results and impact

By thinking outside the box and leveraging innovative solutions, ABM helped Union City achieve:

• Significant energy cost savings – Enabling reallocation of funds to community growth initiatives
• Improved infrastructure efficiency – Enhancing operational performance across city facilities
• Preserved historic structures – Protecting the city’s heritage while modernizing key assets
• Sustainability and resiliency – Positioning the city for a more energy-independent future

Union City powers a sustainable future

Union City’s successful partnership with ABM showcases how smart infrastructure investment can drive long-term sustainability, financial efficiency, and community growth. By prioritizing innovation, fiscal responsibility, and sustainability, Union City has set a precedent for how small communities can thrive through strategic energy and infrastructure improvements.

The “ABM Partners with Union City to Upgrade Municipal Infrastructure” video and transcript are available at ABM.

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