Our Design Philosophy
Our role as architects and designers is to imagine a better world—and then help our clients build it. We focus on the foundational values of Health, Climate, and Equity to guide our architectural design, with human thriving as the ultimate outcome of our work. Imbued with empathy, craft, and a dedication to beauty, our work resonates as a unique celebration of place—giving way to environments that are as inspired as they are impactful.
Health
It is well-established that buildings can heal, restore, and mitigate disease. We address human health by delivering superior indoor air quality and by thoughtfully selecting construction materials that keep toxins out of the air we breathe, the surfaces we touch, and the communities that produce them. The spaces that result from this effort are truly nurturing, leading to increased mental acuity and less transmission of airborne pathogens. With adequate oxygen, abundant daylight, targeted acoustics, and an inspirational setting, a healthy environment can unlock human potential.
Climate
In addition to our decades-long effort at carbon reduction, architectural design must now also address growing climate uncertainty. We optimistically embrace this challenge as an opportunity to design better buildings. We address thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and resilience with the tried-and-true elements of great architecture that have been serving building occupants for millennia. Passive design, reliance on daylight, regional and renewable materials, and the targeted application of technology result in buildings that address the challenges of the 21st century.
Equity
We take intentional steps to expand the benefits of design. Acknowledging the inequities in our built environment, we are committed to changing this narrative—starting with ourselves and our design process—to advocate for equitable design outcomes centered on people and their lived experiences. We seek to create a spatially just built environment in which the design and construction process actively elevates underrepresented voices, builds lasting connections, and empowers communities for success now and into the future.
We are committed to:
- Measurably superior indoor air quality
- A building industry free of specific known toxins
We are committed to:
- A researched, achievable path to net zero carbon
- Design that anticipates and mitigates future risk
We are committed to:
- An inclusive design process that promotes diversity and respects lived experiences
- An expanded approach to design that embraces community partnerships to ensure better outcomes