From vision to reality: How ‘sustainability’ is accomplished in projects

Abstract This research investigates how the social and material features of project deliverables influence the way sustainability is carried out. It highlights how the processes through which actors implement sustainability are mediated by the specific type of project deliverable and specifically by the sociomaterial dimensions of the deliverable in question. The argument is made that sustainability is not a predefined design attribute but an emergent sociomaterial accomplishment. The empirical case leading to these results is an in‐depth ethnographic case of a construction project. Project settings are ideal places to investigate these issues as they provide a structured and systematic approach to the implementation of complex and multidimensional endeavours. The main contribution of this research lies in the exploration of how the pursuit of sustainability is strongly shaped by the evolving forms of sociomateriality throughout the project lifecycle. We make two main contributions. First, we show how the interrelation between social dynamics and material artefacts—plans, tools, technologies and the building itself—channels actors into specific forms of engagement and decision‐making. Second, by doing this, we demonstrate the dynamic nature of sustainability implementation by exploring the set of negotiations unfolding in sustainability implementation.