Sustainable Construction in Action – Guest Lecture: Michael Harder, Mortenson Construction
Goertzen Hall
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About the event
Join us for a closer look at how Mortenson is driving innovation and sustainability in construction. We’ll explore bold approaches to renewable energy and cutting-edge building practices that reduce environmental impact. You’ll hear candid insights on wins, challenges, and the contractor’s role in bridging the gap between design and construction, paired with real stories from projects that put these ideas into action.
A proud WSU Construction Management alum, Michael Harder currently serves as the Vice President and General Manager of Mortenson’s Seattle office. Under his leadership, the team has worked on some of the region’s most significant projects: the Climate Pledge Arena (the world’s first Zero Carbon arena), WWU Kaiser Borsari Hall, and the Providence Swedish First Hill Transformation Project. Michael continues to lead the team toward a more sustainable future, with a strong focus on prefabrication, modular construction, mass timber, and embodied carbon reduction. Michael holds an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University and a BS in Construction Management from Washington State University, bringing 40 years of industry experience as a LEED Accredited Professional and Design-Build Institute of America Associate.
Note: This presentation is part of our lecture series on “Planetarity.“
“Planetarity” is a concept that emerges from critical theory, postcolonial studies, and environmental humanities. It is often contrasted with “globalization.” The term was notably developed by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak in her book Death of a Discipline (2003), where she argues for a mode of thinking that moves beyond the economic and political frameworks of globalization and instead engages with the planet as a complex, interconnected entity that exceeds human control.