Arup's sustainability consulting service supports corporate responsibility and sustainability agendas.
From offices around the world, the team, all specialists in their field, advise at every stage of a project or business development.
A comprehensive service
Arup provides sustainability advice on a wide range of environmental, social and economic issues. These services can be provided either alone or as part of a package, incorporating the firm's wider planning, design, engineering and management skills.
The firm offers comprehensive services aimed at developing and implementing policies, plans, strategies and management systems, assessing impacts, managing risk, designing mitigation measures, gaining regulatory approvals, undertaking audits and reviews, reporting publicly and controlling costs.
At Treasure Island in San Francisco, Arup is advising on transportation planning, site infrastructure and sustainability strategies, helping to transform a former naval base into a 6,000-unit residential and mixed-use development.
Sustainability appraisal and assessment tools
A strong tradition of research and the desire to find innovative methods have led Arup to develop a number of unique appraisal and assessment tools. One such tool is the Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine (SPeAR®). This evaluates sustainability performance measures, using a four-quadrant model that focuses on the key elements of environmental protection, social equity, economic viability and efficient use of natural resources.
Carbon management and climate change
Arup's expertise also helps to shape policy. The firm has been working with businesses and national and regional governments to develop policy on carbon management and climate change, as well as ensuring that all issues are considered as part of its design and consultancy work.
Together with the Climate Group, Arup provided practical guidelines to help Californian businesses meet the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction policy. Through the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) , the firm is helping cities to develop robust plans to prepare, withstand and recover from the predicted impact of climate change.
Assisting clients achieve market leadership
Ultimately, Arup's success is defined by the success of the projects it works on. In many instances, clients have achieved a position of market leadership as a result of working with Arup on sustainability and environmental management work. Its specialists worked with property company British Land to help the business achieve its aim: to lead the market in developing and managing buildings in a sustainable manner.
Integrated multidisciplinary resources
A huge range of multidisciplinary resources within the firm enables Arup to offer fully integrated project teams. This means that whatever the challenge, the firm has the expertise and resources to resolve it. Its specialists are characterised by their technical flair, people skills and, notably, commercial astuteness.
To achieve a successful extension to the Olympic Dam Mine in Australia, Arup's sustainability specialists carried out an environmental impact study alongside the firm's experts in transport, IT, security, health and safety and project management.