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A regenerative community is one that actively improves the health and well-being of people and the environment by restoring and strengthening interdependent systems. Regenerative communities go beyond sustainability by aiming to give back more than they take, creating positive outcomes that allow people, places, and ecosystems to thrive.

Sustainable Material Selection begins with understanding a client's goals and values. Those priorities shape the design and help determine which materials are the right fit for their project.

As a signatory and early adopter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Materials Pledge, our firm is involved in a growing movement of industry leaders committed to transforming the building materials industry.

In 2006, the 2030 Challenge from Architecture 2030 was launched to drive climate responsibility within the architecture industry.

Happy Earth Day! We’re excited to share that Neumann Monson has completed our first-ever Carbon Footprint Report. Over the past couple of months, our team has been gathering data and running calculations, and we’re ready to share what we’ve learned from our 2025 carbon footprint process.

Neumann Monson Architects is proud to announce that three of our design projects have won 2026 Green Good Design Sustainability Awards, an accomplishment that further highlights our commitment to excellent sustainable design.

We are pleased to announce that our Iowa City Studio renovation is now Living Building Challenge® Core certified through Living Future. This certification required a design that prioritized ecological impact, wellness, and equity, and the final construction passed rigorous audits to prove real-world performance.

No matter where you are on your sustainability journey—whether you’ve recently finished a sustainable building or are just beginning to think about it—there are always ways to make a difference. Climate change impacts everyone, and figuring out what to do next can be challenging. No matter what, every step counts, big or small.

As the electricity demand continues to rise—driven by data centers, AI, and electric vehicles—clean energy infrastructure is becoming an increasingly profitable investment. For property owners and developers, this shift presents an opportunity to integrate revenue-generating systems directly into building projects. From site planning strategies to building systems integration, architecture plays a key role in unlocking these opportunities.

The building industry has a carbon problem. According to the 2024–2025 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction by UNEP / GlobalABC, the building and construction sector accounts for about 34% of global CO₂ emissions and roughly 32% of energy use. These numbers can feel like a daunting challenge, but challenges can be opportunities for innovation.