Purpose – The Netherlands is one of the frontrunners in green concrete with innovative pilot projects and institutional settings (e.g. concrete agreement). However, mainstreaming green concrete needs to further overcome economic, institutional, technical and social barriers. Especially, demand-side organizations can play a critical role by setting environmental standards and project prioritization. In this regard, this study aims to understand how demand-side organizations can stimulate green concrete adoption in the construction sector by using the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework. Design/methodology/approach – The MLP framework was chosen to understand the dynamics between socio-technical elements that shape the transition. This research uses a qualitative research approach by interviewing 12 key experts in the Dutch concrete industry based on their expertise and experience. Interviewees were identified based on the snowballing technique. Subsequent thematic analysis reveals strategies for accelerating green concrete adoption. Findings – Key findings emphasize the need to promote diverse cement types tailored to specific applications, accelerate the development of alternative supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), create aggregate demand for near-mature innovations and provide large-scale testing for radical innovations. Practical implications – This research provides construction stakeholders with a framework for identifying leverage points where policy alignment and market demand can jointly drive innovation diffusion. Social implications – This study highlights the necessity of integrating incremental and radical innovations to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. Originality/value – This study contributes to the construction management field by translating transition theory into operational insights for project-based organizations and demand-side actors.

Infrastructure projects undergo multiple changes throughout their lifecycle, adapting to new mobilities, technologies and environments. We build on the System of Systems (SoS) theoretical concept to understand the implications of such infrastructure transformations, specifically when projects move from a single purpose to hosting multiple functions. Using multiple case studies in Europe, we investigate which functions will likely be added to the original infrastructure and the rationale for adding these functions. Therefore, we expand upon the theoretical concepts of circularity, resilience, and social sustainability, wherein multifunctional infrastructure adapts, renews, and complements existing infrastructure.

This paper aims to explain how the governance model changes in smart cities by using South Korea's experience as a case study. South Korean smart city development is divided into three phases according to the national master plan and maturity of smart cities. Phase 1 took place from 2008 to 2013, phase 2 extended from 2014 to 2018, and phase 3 began in 2019 and will last into 2023. The cases under consideration are three representative smart cities: Seoul, Songdo, and Sejong. The analysis traces how the governance model of each city changes throughout the three phases. According to stakeholders’ roles and relationships, the governance model is categorized into four types (corporate, market, multilevel, and network governance). The governance model in all three cities showed little change. In Seoul and Songdo, market governance was dominant, while in Sejong, multilevel governance was. However, in phase 3, the institutional setting is changing to facilitate network governance in all three cities. The government guided the collaboration, giving more opportunities for private, academic, and civil actors to engage.