This increase in private funding has kept the sense of urgency and momentum that the rebuilding set in motion, but has reduced the regulatory hurdles. Also, there is a great deal of focus towards a more resilient community, which can be seen in the Unified New Orleans Plan and the citywide master plan.

GlobeSt.com: Is the role of an engineering company in the construction process different now than it was, say, 10 years ago?

Tank: When someone asks me what engineers do, I use the analogy of the human body. Our structural engineers design the bones of the building and our mechanical, electrical, plumbing engineers design a building's systems such as the lungs, heart and neurosystems.

Ten years ago, building system types and technology options were completely different. As technology demands increase in sophistication, it's important for us to understand a user's needs and their staff's capabilities to operate the building. We also need to understand the building owner's goals for energy efficiency.

Efficiency is everything. Users want flexibility, and they want to make their space efficient without losing its character. What people are seeing is that engineering and design firms that specialize in sustainable design can help a user save money in the long run while increasing the quality of the building occupant's experience.