Luke Lombardi

Associate at Buro Happold

Speaker

Luke Lombardi, a former structural engineer, now focuses on embodied carbon and material reuse as an Associate sustainability consultant based out of Buro Happold’s San Diego office.

At Buro Happold, Luke helps teams integrate life cycle assessment into design to set targets, meet client goals, and support certification and code compliance. He draws on his structural background to guide efficient system selection, collaborates with contractors and suppliers on low-carbon procurement, and prioritizes reuse and adaptation over demolition.

His work in embodied carbon has expanded into the circular economy, including contributions to SPARC in New York City and projects focused on existing-building audits and material reuse. He has also supported California’s CALGreen updates and developed training resources for AIA, SEAOC, and the University of California system to help practitioners implement low-carbon strategies.

At a broader scale, Luke advocates for incorporating materials into climate policy and led a circular economy roadmap for San Diego County, identifying strategies to improve resource use, affordability, and resilience. He’s also been active in SE 2050 and CLF Los Angeles, helping build momentum for industry-wide decarbonization.

His goal is a more sustainable building industry, one that centers low-carbon, non-toxic materials while delivering better outcomes for communities and the climate.