MORRISTOWN, N.J. and WASHINGTON, July 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Louis Berger, a global professional services firm, today announced plans to implement the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) Envision® sustainable infrastructure rating system in Louis Berger's U.S.-based and international operations.
"Envision will help project teams plan, design, construct and operate resilient infrastructure to create stronger, more sustainable communities," said Tom Lewis, president of Louis Berger's U.S.-based operating company. "Envision ensures that we are implementing the correct project in an optimal way to meet the existing and future needs of our clients and the people they serve."
ISI's Envision rating system provides a framework to assess and rate the social, environmental and economic benefits of all types and sizes of infrastructure projects. As a charter member of ISI, Louis Berger aims to train and credential 100 employees as Envision Sustainability Professionals (ENV SP) within the next year. An ENV SP is an ISI-credentialed practitioner who is trained to use the Envision rating system to address sustainability in the design, construction and operation of an infrastructure project.
"The companies with credentialed ENV SPs are better able to analyze and evaluate the levels of infrastructure sustainability, which includes the economic, environmental and social aspects of the triple bottom line in their community projects," William Bertera, ISI president and CEO, said. "The Envision tool can help decision makers develop verified sustainable projects for all types of infrastructure, other than habitable buildings. It can also be used for industrial infrastructure, which has a significant effect on the sustainability of the communities in which they are sited."
In its initial phase, Louis Berger plans to implement Envision across priority regional markets in the U.S., Panama, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, select employees have begun the Envision assessment process within business units where the rating system can have an immediate impact, including Louis Berger's environmental and disaster management, and power and energy practices.
"We are very excited to work with ISI on this important initiative, which will enable us to support our stakeholders around the world with economically viable approaches to projects that also achieve the highest level of sustainability," said Heather Unger, chair of Louis Berger's corporate social responsibility committee.
About Louis Berger
Louis Berger is a $1 billion global professional services corporation that helps infrastructure and development clients solve their most complex challenges. We are a trusted partner to national, state and local government agencies; multilateral institutions; and commercial industry clients worldwide. By focusing on client needs to deliver quality, safe, financially-successful projects with integrity, we are committed to deliver on our promise to provide Solutions for a better world.
Louis Berger operates on every habitable continent. We have a long-standing presence in more than 50 nations, represented by the multidisciplinary expertise of 6,000 engineers, economists, scientists, managers and planners.
About the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure
Envision® is the product of a joint collaboration between ISI, which was founded by three national engineering associations (ASCE, ACEC, and APWA), and the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Information on ISI and Envision can be found on the ISI website, www.sustainableinfrastructure.org.