How vulnerable are commercial and institutional real estate buildings to cyberattacks? (Learn more about Wolf’s cybersecurity advice.)
Innovation has different meanings based on context of use. For ESD, innovation is defined by how it improves our client’s mission or society as a whole. We believe innovation is the result of process as much as it is about the integration of engineering and technology through a consultative manner.
Throughout the years, ESD has developed innovative design solutions to improve energy efficiency, reduce lifetime costs, make people more comfortable, improve productivity, increase system reliability, and improve air quality. Some examples include:
The first high-rise in Chicago to incorporate high-voltage risers — reducing construction costs while providing electricity crucial to the business.
Protecting a library’s rare book collection through humidity, lighting, and fire suppression design.
Energy efficiency through one of the first direct digital control temperature control systems for a large-scale, mixed-use high-rise.
Air quality, comfort, and system reliability for a large-scale hospital through full-building HEPA filtration, flexible thermal zone control, and a redundant on-site power plant.
Energy efficiency and reliability for a business district through the first large-scale district cooling system.
Comfort, productivity, and flexibility for a large-scale, Class A office building through air column design, underfloor air design, and a web-enabled building automation system.
Energy efficiency and sustainability strategies leading to lower operating and maintenance costs and comfort of tenants in transitional housing
Give us a problem and we’ll find a solution. That’s how the company was founded and that’s how it continues to this day.
The innovation committee works to improve collaboration and create a culture that encourages innovation. The group develops initiatives to promote engineering design/technical excellence, project delivery/presentation and services offering.
Designed as a way to share ideas across the company, ESDi held its first Innovation Fest in 2019. While the pandemic caused a brief hiatus for the annual event, Innovation Fest 2022 was back in force with cross-disciplinary teams exploring the theme centered around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) – an initiative highlighting ESD’s commitment to building long-term value for our people, clients, partners, and society. The fest featured three discussion sessions running concurrently, each focusing on one of the three pillars of ESG. Attendees joined both in-person and virtually.
We have a plan. We have a goal. What’s the smartest and most efficient way to get there? We’ll design it. Tech Chats are intended to be concise and engaging presentations on a specific topic, followed by an open discussion. Anyone can signup to give a tech chat. Topics over the past year include “How Manufacturers Lie About Acoustics Ratings,” “Micro-Climate Mechanical Design Strategies,” “Creativity in Solar,” and “From Dumb Box to an Artificial Intelligence IOT – The Evolution of Video Surveillance.”
ESDi sponsors the Innovation of the Month (IOTM) award, a contest to encourage creativity and innovation in our business-related activities. The concept is simple: Share an innovative idea and win a prize!
Several years ago, we established an internal group to promote and grow innovation with our people. ESD Innovation (ESDi) includes a rotating team of members working to encourage each other to push for new ideas and “aha” moments that only come with cooperation and collaboration.
Creativity, insight, partnership. Better spaces to work, to live, and to plan for the future. See how our ideas become reality.
Interested in learning more? Check out these related news items.
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ESD is well-represented at this week’s Chicago Build 2022, with four presenters and two ambassadors focused on promoting women and diversity in the building industry. (Learn more about the Chicago Build Expo.)
Described as the engineering, computer science, and information technology job fair of the year, “The Career Networking Experience – Fall 2022” kicks off in Chicago later this month. (Learn more about the Job Fair.)