May 28, 2025
GFT Innovation Challenge Brings Together Fresh Ideas and Efficiencies to Tackle Infrastructure Challenges
Announcing 2025 Innovation Award Winners
GFT’s annual Innovation Challenge is a way for employees to address the most pressing challenges in our industry and our society with ideas that will help solve a particular problem, offer a new service or product, and potentially have a long-term impact on GFT, our clients, and the communities we serve.
Although this year’s Innovation Summit was the first GFT-branded event, the Innovation Challenge is a long-standing program, supported and sponsored by an Innovation Committee, that seeks to address complex issues affecting infrastructure and buildings, like climate change and natural disasters. It also seeks new ways to use technology to gain efficiencies in the work we provide clients with daily.
“Innovation is about pushing boundaries and asking, ‘what if,’ creating solutions that truly make a difference,” said Emani Majors, Innovation Committee Chair. “My goal is to make innovation feel actionable, not abstract.”
2025 Innovation Challenge Winner
Scenario-Based Earthquake Risk Mapping
Created by: Dina Hunt
Additional Participants: Melanie Walling, Lawrence Kirchner, Ken Kerr, Rachel Wooden, Arne Nervik, Walter Kutschke
This winning concept addresses a major challenge facing infrastructure owners: how to predict and prepare for the impacts of earthquakes across complex networks. The team developed a suite of “pre-earthquake planning maps” that simulate various seismic scenarios and their effects on roads, bridges, pipelines, and power lines. These maps help infrastructure owners identify at-risk assets, prioritize investments, and coordinate emergency responses. By creating a clear, scenario-based view of seismic risk, this innovation empowers smarter decisions and builds more resilient communities.
Client Impact Innovation Award
Rapid Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Infrastructure
Created by: Ryan D. McClure
Additional participants: Kit Wong, Ister Morales, Ryan McClure, Gary Kimball, Aaron Moore, Steve Youschak, Darryl Moser, Randy Schmidt, David Lee, Jeff Reeder, Mitch Lambeth, Kevin Chafin, Jamie Hamm
This award honors innovations already implemented and that have delivered measurable results for clients. This year’s winner created a fast, cost-effective methodology for assessing how climate change may affect critical infrastructure. Using newly available climate projection data and simplified modeling tools, the team has completed over 25 rapid assessments around the world, helping clients mitigate risks from flooding, extreme heat, and other hazards.
Emerging Innovator Award
AI-Enhanced Architecture Compliance and Scheduling
Winner: Anusna Roy
New this year, the Emerging Innovator Award spotlights early-career professionals already making waves. Anusna Roy stood out for proposing an AI-powered tool that automates architecture compliance checks, with the first focus iteration being LEED Compliance. This smart plug-in identifies code and supports efficient design, promoting accurate forecasting for LEED Accreditation.
Join Our Team
Are you interested in pushing boundaries to shape the built environment of the future? Discover our career opportunities, and let’s work together to drive innovation in the AEC industry.
Media Contact
Jill Black
Chief Marketing Communications Officer
Jill Black is a strategic, results-driven marketing and communications leader with over 20 years of experience. She has driven two major rebrands and merger and acquisition communications, spanning brand storytelling, digital strategy, thought leadership, and conference engagement to strengthen GFT's reputation and impact.
Jill Black
Chief Marketing Communications Officer
Jill Black is a strategic, results-driven marketing and communications leader with over 20 years of experience. She has driven two major rebrands and merger and acquisition communications, spanning brand storytelling, digital strategy, thought leadership, and conference engagement to strengthen GFT's reputation and impact.
Jill Black
Chief Marketing Communications Officer
Jill Black is a strategic, results-driven marketing and communications leader with over 20 years of experience. She has driven two major rebrands and merger and acquisition communications, spanning brand storytelling, digital strategy, thought leadership, and conference engagement to strengthen GFT's reputation and impact.
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