C.Scale, a building performance data platform, announced that it has acquired the Tally life cycle assessment tool from Building Transparency, marking a strategic move to unify early-stage carbon modeling with detailed material-level analysis across the building design process.
The acquisition is designed to bridge longstanding gaps between conceptual carbon modeling and BIM-integrated life cycle assessment. By integrating Tally with C.Scale’s platform and the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3), design teams will gain a continuous workflow spanning from initial concept through construction. This integration enables improved tracking of embodied carbon, alignment between design intent and material outcomes, and more actionable insights for selecting low-carbon materials.
Fragmentation across design phases has historically made it difficult for teams to maintain consistency in carbon targets and evaluate how evolving material decisions impact overall project goals. The combined platform addresses this challenge by linking early modeling directly with detailed assessments, helping teams maintain visibility and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
Following the acquisition, C.Scale plans to develop and launch Tally 2.0 with support from KieranTimberlake and in coordination with Building Transparency. The new version will modernize the original tool while maintaining integration with EC3, enabling seamless data exchange, including exporting material quantities from Revit and synchronizing updates in real time.
At the same time, Building Transparency will focus on advancing EC3 2.0, expanding its global dataset, improving data quality, and supporting evolving regulatory and procurement requirements. The organization will continue to serve as a neutral steward of open-access environmental product data.
The acquisition reflects broader momentum in the adoption of life cycle assessment across the construction industry. More than 1,400 architecture firms have committed to carbon-neutral design through the AIA 2030 Commitment, while major building owners increasingly require embodied carbon analysis for Scope 3 emissions reporting. Additionally, over 100 U.S. policies now reference supply chain emissions in project requirements.
In 2025 alone, enterprise partners modeled more than 200 million square feet of construction using C.Scale’s platform, underscoring the growing demand for integrated carbon analysis tools.
C.Scale, a public benefit corporation founded by Jack Rusk and Brad Jacobson, aims to provide end-to-end material intelligence for low-carbon building design and procurement. The company originated within the architecture firm EHDD before spinning out in 2024 and is headquartered in San Francisco.
KEY QUOTES:
“Tally 1.0 set the standard for BIM-integrated LCA, but it’s in need of an upgrade to better support users today. We’re bringing it into the present and integrating it with C.Scale so designers, contractors, and owners can trace carbon impact from concept through construction and benchmark performance across their entire portfolios.”
Jack Rusk, CEO And Co-Founder Of C.Scale
“The Tally transition allows us to put full momentum behind the EC3 tool and the open, LCA-driven data ecosystem the industry needs. Commercial tools and nonprofit data infrastructure aligned and evolving in parallel: this is the model that will enable climate action into the next decade.”
Alison Kinn Bennett, Executive Director Of Building Transparency
“LCA is fundamental to how we reduce climate impacts on our projects. Pairing Tally’s data-rich rigor with C.Scale’s early-stage modeling enables end-to-end continuity in whole-life carbon assessment.”
Jesce Walz, Senior Research Lead At Perkins&Will
“C.Scale taking on Tally 2.0 strengthens data continuity from early design through construction and puts credible, trackable carbon analysis within reach for more teams and more projects.”
Marty Brennan, Principal At ZGF
