Archinect - News

Foster + Partners tops out Shenzhen skyscraper inspired by rock formations and paper folding

2024-04-15T13:50:00-04:00

The Foster + Partners-designed China Merchants Bank Headquarters in Shenzhen has topped out. The office tower forms part of a wider mixed-use development, which, when completed, will form a “new city quarter” in Shenzhen.

Image credit: zhangchao via Foster + Partners

Externally, the tower is clad in glass and stainless steel, the result of an “iterative modeling process to minimize the energy consumption of active systems by carefully balancing solar shading, daylight and thermal loads,” according to the team. The tower’s north facade is inspired by rock formations in China with stacked bays varying in height, while the south-facing facade is inspired by the geometries of traditional paper folding.

Image credit: zhangchao via Foster + Partners

“The new tower is a unique addition to Shenzhen’s urban fabric and will be an enduring symbol of China Merchants Bank,” Foster + Partners Head of Studio Grant Brooker said about the scheme. “The building’s wide curved windows offer spectacular v...

Skanska and BIG complete curving terracotta-colored tower in Houston

2024-02-21T11:43:00-05:00

A team led by Skanska and Bjarke Ingels Group has completed a major new office tower in Houston, Texas. Named 1550 on the Green, the 28-story tower is part of a three-block master plan by Skanska, designed by BIG, with interiors by Michael Hsu.

Image credit: Skanska USA Commercial Development, Inc.

The 375,000-square-foot tower is primarily devoted to office accommodation, with ground floor space dedicated to hospitality. Other amenities in the scheme, per the project’s official website, include a 7,000-square-foot fitness center and a 9,400-square-foot tenant-exclusive rooftop event space.

Image credit: Skanska USA Commercial Development, Inc.

Externally, the tower adopts a multi-tiered, curved structure overlooking Discovery Green park. “Vines that will eventually creep along the terracotta-colored tower are meant to help the building blend into the surrounding park,” the Houston Chronicle writes about the tower. “The building's curve allows even tenants on lower levels to view Disc...

Rocco Design Architects' new Shenzhen tower features a seven-level internal courtyard

2023-08-04T11:29:00-04:00

Rocco Design Architects has released photographs of their newly-completed Essence Financial Securities tower in Shenzhen. The 635-foot-tall high-rise combines two separate headquarters offices, financial trading halls, and commercial office space in a self-described “vertical neighborhood.”

Image credit: Rocco Design Architects

The building's exterior design elevates the main body of the tower, creating a pedestrian passage that connects the entrance plaza to the wider Futian district. At the base of the tower, a volume clad with green walls is topped by a public roof deck that extends into a public plaza, while above, pedestrian sky bridges link the tower to nearby buildings.

Image credit: Rocco Design Architects

Image credit: Zhang Chao Studio

Inside, the tower’s defining elements are a series of triple- and septuple-height internal courtyards. Located within the three stacks of floors at the upper heights of the tower, the courtyards sit in voids...

President Biden lays out workplace heat safety plan to protect workers

2023-07-31T17:06:00-04:00

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced plans to increase protections for workers facing extreme heat, as temperatures across the U.S. soar and large swaths of the country face heat advisories.

The President’s announcement comes as close to 40% of the U.S. population faces heat advisories, according to the National Weather Service. The country currently has no federal standards on workplace heat safety, and there has been no timeline for the finalization of one. As reported by HR Dive, heat has become the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.

Previously on Archinect: Lack of heat standards for construction workers increases safety risks as temperatures reach record-breaking levels

Biden directed the U.S. Department of Labor to issue hazard alerts notifying employers and employees about ways to stay protected from extreme heat. The Department will also increase its inspections of at-risk workplaces such as farms and construction sites and heighten its enforcement of heat safety violations. The Biden administration aims to invest $7 million to develop more accurate weather predictions and $152 million to improve drinking water infrastructure in California, C...

Gensler survey reveals the ways Gen Z workers are being drawn back to the office

2023-06-23T18:03:00-04:00

Remote work is second nature for Generation Z, many of whom graduated college and started careers during the pandemic. And yet, many are now transitioning to in-person work as they look for more workplace connections, learning opportunities and socialization with coworkers. That means figuring out what kind of workspace environment will keep Gen Z workers interested, is becoming a higher priority.

According to the 2023 Global Workplace Survey Comparison by Gensler, there has been a sudden split, spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the workplace preferences for Gen Z workers compared to older generations.

To start, the findings reveal that Gen Z workers place more value on learning and socializing at work, along with flexibility. Essentially this means that younger workers value having a variety of experiences in the workplace. These experiences include having both private and collaborative spaces, made possible by open, changeable layouts, access to more amenities, and having more in-person, social interactions.

The survey has found that younger workers are being drawn towards offices and away from remote work due to the accessibility of leadership and continued education that could help drive career growth. Some companies looking to adapt to meet these evo...

These are the ‘Best Firms to Work For’ in 2022, according to new AEC industry survey

2022-08-08T12:50:00-04:00

The Zweig Group consultancy has returned with its annual list of 'Best Firms to Work For' in the AEC industry.

Recognized companies were selected based on their “workplace practices, employee benefits, [and] employee retention rates,” among other factors. Zweig says their employees' survey accounted for 80% of the rankings.

Three firms were added to last year's list of 11. The winning firms in the Architecture category are as follows:

The winners will be honored during the 2022 Elevate AEC Conference & Awards Gala in Las Vegas from September 14–16. This year’s full list of winners in each category can be found here.

How BIM is Enabling Architects to Forge Better Career Paths in 2022

2022-05-24T12:00:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by Oneistox

As was once the case with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology, so is now the case with Building Information Modelling (BIM) — a paradigm shift is underway. The AEC industry worldwide is witnessing a markable shift in the way projects are handled and delivered. The hard fact of the matter is that in order to stay relevant to the industry and maintain their value as professionals, architects will have to imperatively adopt BIM and digital workflows.

With digitization sweeping over, there has been an emergence of not only new ways of building but also new ways of thinking, imagining, and conceiving architectural design. As a result, more and more AEC firms are embracing digital practices, with a large majority of them also agreeing that they are nowhere close to exhausting their digital potential. This means that AEC firms worldwide are looking to build a future-forward and techno-efficient workforce that is well equipped to contribute to thei...

Three tips for overcoming procrastination during the creative process

2022-05-19T11:53:00-04:00

As creative professionals, architects are prone to procrastination. In his acclaimed book The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield breaks down the many reasons why procrastination is a prevalent part in the creative process. “Procrastination is the most common manifestation of [creative resistance] because it’s the easiest to rationalize,” Pressfield wrote. “We don’t tell ourselves, 'I’m never going to write my symphony.' Instead we say, 'I’m going to write my symphony; I’m just going to start tomorrow.'”

For some experts on the topic, procrastination in the creative process is a necessary evil. One such expert is Alice Boyes, a former clinical psychologist and author of the book Stress-Free Productivity. On a recent episode of the Harvard Business Review IdeaCast, Boyes explains that “lots of forms of problem solving benefit from an incubation period where you take a pause between when you hear the problem and when you start working on it.”

Related on Archinect: In school, somet...

10 fresh workplace designs we enjoyed this week

2022-05-07T12:00:00-04:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Working Spaces.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!

↑ First Tech Federal Credit Union Corporate Office in Hillsboro, OR by Hacker Architects; Photo: Jeremy Bittermann

↑ Minneapolis Public Service Building in Minneapolis, MN by Henning Larsen; Photo: Corey Gaffer

↑ Livesport - Dynamic Office in Prague, Czech Republic by Studio Reaktor

↑ Supercell San Francisco in San Francisco, CA by Firm 151; Photo: Jeremy Bitterman

↑ 98point6 in Seattle, WA by Best Practice Architecture

↑ Banco Mercantil in Panama City, Panama by Mallol Arquitectos; Photo: Fernando Alda

↑ Gutshof in Güldenhof, Germany by Heim Balp Architekten; Photo: Francesca Ióvene

↑ Rights & Brands in Stockholm,...

LEGO Group's new campus officially opens at headquarters in Billund, Denmark

2022-04-12T14:33:00-04:00

Following five years of construction and planning, the LEGO Group is celebrating the official opening of the new corporate campus at its headquarters in Billund, Denmark. Designed by C.F. Møller Architects, LEGO Campus spans 54,000 square meters (581,000 square feet) and accommodates approximately 2,000 employees.

Offering a playful, inclusive, and collaborative environment, the campus was designed to reflect the company's values of “Imagination, Fun, Creativity, Caring, Learning, and Quality”. A core element of the campus concept is flexibility, which is embodied through “People House,” a concept developed in close collaboration with employees that calls for spaces that allow all employees to network and play during and after working hours.

The “People House” features facilities including a state-of-the-art fitness studio, creative workshop space, a LEGO homestay for visiting employees, a movie theater, an outside park and activity zone, a kitchen for communal cooking, and a heal...

Zweig Group announces list of best firms to work for in 2021

2021-08-20T17:39:00-04:00

AEC management consulting firm Zweig Group recently announced the winners of its 2021 Best Firms To Work For Awards. The program is one of six hosted by the company that together focus on architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firm achievement.

The Best Firms To Work For Awards recognizes excellent workplaces at AEC firms, evaluating them on culture, workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, professional development, and other qualities, from both management and staff perspectives. Awards were given in multiple categories based on firm size and discipline.

"This is more than a contest, it is a powerful look at what the employee experience looks like in today’s AEC firm," said Zweig Group CEO Chad Clinehens. "Firms can use this ranking and the data it yields as a powerful tool in the recruitment and retention of staff, which is the number one challenge for many AEC firms." He added: "The 2021 winners have a lot to be proud of, and ...

Thomas Heatherwick on the future of the workplace

2020-12-18T13:03:00-05:00

For a designer who’s developing office space around the world, Thomas Heatherwick doesn’t seem too fazed by how the pandemic might affect the future of the workplace. [...] Mr. Heatherwick said the shift to working from home was well under way even before coronavirus hit.

Heatherwick Studio has recently been collaborating on major office and mixed-use developments in Silicon Valley, including the Google Charleston East HQ with BIG and the Downtown West San Jose plan with KPF, Grimshaw, SHoP, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, and SITELAB urban studio.

For a tour of Thomas Heatherwick's London office and our conversation with him, revisit the Archinect Sessions episode, Problem-solving with Thomas Heatherwick.

10 new workspace designs we liked this week

2020-11-06T18:12:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Working Spaces.

Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!

↑ Studio a29 Office in Rijeka, Croatia by Studio a29; Photo: Koridor 27

↑ Hoke House in Portland, OR by Skylab Architecture (the firm was also featured in Archinect's Studio Snapshots series)

↑ biro+ studio in Bari, Italy by biro+

↑ Clinton Hill Brownstone in Brooklyn, NY by MKCA // Michael K Chen Architecture

↑ Elysium HQ in New York, NY by FLOAT STUDIO; Photo: Aaron Thompson

↑ MG2 Seattle Headquarters in Seattle, WA by MG2

↑ Salesforce Tower Office Space in San Francisco, CA by Feldman Architecture; Photo: Paul Dyer

↑ Moose Toys in El Segundo, CA by Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects; Photo: Paul Vu

↑ Russian...

The Inevitable Balancing Act of the Post-Pandemic Workplace

2020-10-02T08:18:00-04:00

The commercial design industry—real estate professionals, architects, interior designers and furniture manufacturers alike—is optimistic that boredom, discomfort and a craving for workplace culture will soon drive the U.S. workforce back to their physical offices so things can get “back to normal”.

The reality is likely far more complex, as employees leverage technology to become increasingly productive with remote work and exhibit a reluctance to go back to the way things were before. Employers are now grappling with how to re-build trust in real estate assets, how to support the 30-40% of workers expected to work from home a majority of the time, and their responsibilities and costs associated with either scenario.

Will real estate firms soon be helping their clients right-size their footprints for a reduced onsite workforce? What will be the new normal for corporate culture? Will design firms soon be hired to help retrofit employees’ home offices so they feel part of that corpo...

Designing for neurodiversity in the workplace

2020-08-05T15:10:00-04:00

A new report from global architecture firm HOK highlights a growing awareness regarding "neurodiversity" in the workforce and offers design strategies for creating workplaces that cater to and facilitate the spatial needs of neurodiverse individuals.

According to the report, "'Neurodiversity' refers to the natural range of variation in human neurocognition. It’s an umbrella term for people who aren’t neurotypical, and includes such conditions as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia (a neurologically based physical disorder) and Tourette syndrome, among others. Approximately 15-20 percent of people are 'neurodivergent.'"

The firm's report argues that adapting workplaces to the the needs of neurodiverse communities not only helps individuals thrive in the workplace, but that "accommodating the different wiring of neurodiverse people can provide a huge competitive advantage" for businesses due to the fact that, according ...

Filmmaker Gary Hustwit is streaming his collection of design documentaries for free

2020-03-22T15:16:00-04:00

During the global COVID-19 crisis, while most of us are housebound, filmmaker Gary Hustwit is releasing his collection of full-length documentaries online, for free. It appears that they will be released sequentially, starting with his first doc Helvetica, until March 24th, with the rest of his titles following.

"Helvetica" is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives.

"Objectified" is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them.

"Urbanized" is a feature-length documentary about the design of cities, which looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers.

"Workplace" was a project for the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale abo...

This YouTuber outlines what it's like to work at an architecture firm

2020-02-10T12:00:00-05:00

In What is it Like to Work At An Architecture Firm? YouTuber "Mooch" of Pigeonhead Architecture outlines what it's like to work as an architect. Using animated illustrations, Mooch covers all of the typical phases of a project: Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation, and Construction Administration.

This is followed by an overview of the various types of firms and how firm size can influence work flow. Looking at small, medium, and large firms, Mooch articulates that practices often fall into three categories: "efficiency based" firms that work on projects like parking garages, retail stores, and warehouses; "experience-type" firms who design schools, museums, or hospitals; and "expertise-type" firms like Zaha Hadid Architects, BIG, and Gehry Partners.

Check out the video below:

10 new workspace designs for your Friday inspiration

2020-01-03T19:40:00-05:00

In case you haven't checked out Archinect's Pinterest boards in a while, we have compiled ten recently pinned images from outstanding projects on various Archinect Firm and People profiles.

(Tip: use the handy FOLLOW feature to easily keep up-to-date with all your favorite Archinect profiles!)

Today's top images (in no particular order) are from the board Working Spaces.

↑ Shake Shack Headquarters in New York, NY by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

↑ Ray-Mont Logistics in Montreal, Canada by Lemay; Photo: Adrien Williams

↑ Multidisciplinary Design Office in Barcelona, Spain by ROMAN IZQUIERDO BOULDSTRIDGE; Photo: Adria Goula

↑ RigUp Office in Austin, TX by MF Architecture; Photo: Hua Liu and Rachel Deng, Charles Davis Smith

↑ Huckletree West London in London, UK by Studio RHE

↑ Presidio VC Offices in San Francisco, CA by Feldman Architecture; Photo: Paul Dyer

↑ Camp Fenix in Stockholm, Sweden by Anders Berensson Architects

↑ John A. Martin & Associates Workplace in Los Angeles, CA...

Don't be a spoon-fed professional

2019-11-07T18:36:00-05:00

In our professional growth, learning new skills and gaining new knowledge are foundational to our progress. Mentors guide our trajectory, and our experiences sharpen our competency. However, we can't always rely on the received information presented to us by other people. Instead, in many cases, we will need to proactively put forth our own effort to gain the knowledge required to elevate ourselves to a higher level.

I remember in my second year of professional work I expressed to my project manager that I wanted to start drawing wall details. I had been picking up a lot of redlines for wall details on a project that had multiple buildings and the team was going to start on a new building. Instead of doing redlines I wanted to be a part of creating the wall details for the DD package we were working on for this new structure.

"Okay, now you're doing wall details," he told me, "but keep in mind, it's probably going to take you a lot longer than the work you've been comfortable with. ...

Revisiting the 4-day work week in architecture

2019-11-05T15:25:00-05:00

With many corporations introducing alternative work weeks, some have begun to explore the idea of a 4-day work week in architecture. In a previous post titled, Can the 4-Day Workweek Become a Thing? many Archinectors jumped in to contribute their thoughts regarding the subject. whistler said:

"I have been running an office for 25 years and we have done a 4 day ( 10 hr days ) work week for 20 years. We work on residential / commercial and industrial projects and have no problem managing the projects. It's more about managing the clients that is the issue, once they are aware they have no issue generally going along with the flow of who is in the office and who is not in. Of course I am in everyday but hopefully look to check out a bit more often as I edge closer to retirement."

Just yesterday, OneLostArchitect, posted in the discussion forum concerning the topic, referencing an article at The Conversation that explores John McDonnell's announcement that the British Labour Party wo...

First photos of the newly opened LEGO Campus in Billund, Denmark

2019-10-28T15:36:00-04:00

Nearly two years after opening its Bjarke Ingels-designed LEGO House to much media fanfare, the LEGO Group now inaugurated the first phase of a new corporate campus at its headquarters in Billund, Denmark.

While the buildings and the campus concept, planned by Danish firm C.F. Møller Architects, have also been inspired by the basic brick nature of the toy giant's core product, the references here are far more subtle compared to the public-oriented, bricks-in-your-face LEGO House. Think fun serious workplace.

Courtesy of LEGO Group

"In the same way you build with LEGO bricks, we took elements our people love and brought them all together to create something unique," explains the company's Senior Workplace Anthropologist, Anneke Beerkens, the search for the ideal LEGO workplace.

"For example, employees told us that they wanted the freedom to choose an environment that suited them best for whatever they were working on, but also liked to stay close to teammates. ...

In the workplace, when you don't know, say so

2019-09-30T16:40:00-04:00

Have you ever been in a meeting where a certain topic or term is brought up that everyone understands but you? The urge to try and play along might build up, pretending you know what everyone else does. You may even make it through the meeting unscathed, having avoided being asked anything regarding the subject. A near miss, you think; that was a close one.

What's the fear here though? Of being found out? That the discovery of you becoming the intellectual minority on this one topic will in some way diminish your status? Why so? There is a quote I love from Bruce Lee that says, "A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." Having the courage to say, "I don't know," is an invaluable asset that will propel you to heights those too full of ego only hope to reach.

Your personal growth is your own, unattached from the thoughts and opinions of others. If someone thinks you are some kind of fool for asking a "silly question" then that's on th...

Hiring for "cultural fit" isn't always a good thing

2019-09-24T18:42:00-04:00

For most growing firms the search for new talent is both exciting and frustrating. Who do you pick? And how do you accurately and sufficiently measure their potential? Undoubtedly, there are many approaches, one of which is seeking for the right cultural fit. That's become a loaded term nowadays, but culture is also one of the top factors in recruiting top talent.

For the employee, a good culture might mean free food, ping-pong, and nap rooms, but there's much more to it. Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger shares something crucial that Patty McCord, the former chief talent officer at Netflix and now, HR consultant said.

From Archinect's Lexicon, a "Serendipity Machine" is a space (often workplace) that has been designed to maximize chance encounters towards beneficial, ideally innovative, results

It's not vacation

In remembering a recent executive who "kept employees happy by serving up the latest craft beers," McCord responded with, "Well that sounds like a fun vacation. I'd ...

Can filler words like "uh" and "um" be useful?

2019-08-26T19:30:00-04:00

One thing most of us can't avoid in architecture is having to verbally communicate our creative ideas to another person, that may be a client, a coworker, or even a contractor. Whoever it may be, communication is a powerful tool we must all hone in our careers. We've all heard since our youth that we should not say things like "um, uh, like, etc." too much when speak. We learn that it reduces our credibility and authority, and, according to research, this is true.

"Used sparingly, there's nothing wrong with filler words. When you use them excessively, however, they can detract from your confidence and credibility," writes Harvard University Communications Professor Allison Shapira. In a recent piece for the Harvard Business Review, Shapira illustrates some areas where she feels these common filler words can be useful and offers some alternatives to help strengthen the implementation of them.

"To be diplomatic." Sometimes we need to use less assertive language when speaking to those...

How should a leader delegate to their team?

2019-08-20T10:00:00-04:00

Architecture's collaborative nature means that leaders, more than ever, need to understand how to guide their teams. We've all had that supervisor or project manager who asks us to do something, only to leave us feeling confused and unsure of what needs to be accomplished. When we finish the task, we discover that we had it all wrong and have to redo hours of careful work. Or perhaps, if we switch roles, we remember those moments where we've asked someone below us to complete something. When we return, we discover the work is nowhere near what we were looking for.

In both cases, it's often the one doing the delegating who needs to refine their approach. The person who received the direction has typically done their best to follow the instructions they were given. Delegation, like most other things in professional work, is a skill that we can improve. Leadership coach, Deborah Grayson Riegel has identified eight practices of leaders who delegate successfully:

They pick the right pers...

How can you deal with working with someone you don't like?

2019-08-16T16:30:00-04:00

In an industry dependent on working with others, it is inevitable that we will come in contact with people we don't like. It might be a contractor, a consultant, or even one of our colleagues in the office. Whatever the case, working with someone we don't like can make work difficult. How do we deal with this? Bregman Partners CEO, Peter Bregman has some ideas.

Bregman says that we can't just "grin and bear it," like we might be tempted to do. "According to research, the more people like you, the easier, more productive, and more profitable, your life will be. Which means that someone you don’t get along with—even if you grin and bear it—poses a risk," he writes.

Instead, according to Bregman, we need to really look at the reason that we don't like someone. Perhaps, they're selfish or dismissive or mean. Ultimately, they tend to have some character traits that bother us. And so, after we identify this, we are supposed to look at ourselves and see if we can detect elements of these ...

How to Combat Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace

2019-08-16T13:00:00-04:00

As we progress in our careers in architecture, we can sometimes come to a crossroads where we feel like we're pretending. Maybe it's that first time on a construction site by yourself, and the fear of looking foolish or not knowing what to say begins to creep up. Perhaps, you've just completed your ARE Exams and are now officially "an architect," but owning that identity seems strange, almost like you're acting. And even then, there are those who finally make it into a leadership role, as a design principal or partner of a firm, and, in the beginning, the status feels uneasy.

Designer, Megan Crabtree recounts this feeling from her early career. "[I] spent the first few years of my professional life trying to be a good pretender, trying to ignore this voice in my head that takes over and says I don’t belong," she writes. Looking back at her younger self, she offers some pointers for those struggling with "imposter syndrome:"

Never Stop Asking For Feedback. Megan remembers how she us...

Doing creative work when we are obsessed with checking our phones

2019-08-07T21:00:00-04:00

According to author Brian Solis, digital distractions are taking a significant toll on businesses, with 36-percent of Millennials and Gen Z workers reporting to spend two hours or more each workday "looking at their phones for personal activities." And while distractions can negatively influence creativity, they can also help propel forward the creative process.

"...leaky attention may underlie both costs and benefits of creative cognition; noise and other environmental stimuli can serve as distractors for creative people, and lead them to make errors on some tasks. At the same time, leaky attention may help people integrate ideas that are outside the focus of attention into their current information processing, leading to creative thinking,” Solis quotes from a research study on the topic.

He contends is that we should "embrace the desire to check notifications, read various media, or even watch videos." That scheduling short breaks where we allow ourselves to indulge in these imp...

Is the AIA doing enough to address sexual harassment in architecture?

2019-08-06T14:05:00-04:00

Post-Meier, the AIA has centered its efforts to stop sexual harassment by affirming good behavior in the profession. It’s using positive reinforcement to address sexual harassment and discrimination by saying the best work emerges from firms that embody equitable practices, and using that as the foundation of its strategy to incentivize better behavior.

Curbed's Diana Budds takes a deep dive into the efforts being undertaken within the architecture community to eradicate sexual harassment in the workplace in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

According to the report, although the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has worked to update its Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the organization has largely avoided taking punitive measures in their efforts to reform the profession's workplace culture. The report brings into question the effectiveness of AIA's current role in addressing delicate and difficult issues like workplace harassment, and whether architectural workers might be better served through the existence of a more official "secondary avenues" for reporting harassment, abuse, and other ethics issues.

The reactive approach, according to Gabrielle Bullock, director of global diversity at Perkins and Will and a member of the AIA’s Equity in Architecture commission, is to be expected. Bullock told Curbed, “The AIA is g...

The key to peak performance lies in three different types of fitness — physical fitness is only one of them

2019-08-01T18:49:00-04:00

As architects operate in a profession so demanding mentally, the need for peak performance in the workplace can become a relevant and much-needed desire. How does one capitalize on the intellectual challenges faced on a difficult design problem, construction site, or management setback? Author and leadership development leader, Tim Tobin says that the answer lies in "thinking about fitness in new ways."

According to Tobin, there are three types of fitness: mental fitness, social fitness, and physical fitness.

Mental fitness includes seven practices that range from getting a good night's rest to having adequate "play time." It is grounded in activities that promote mental health and increase sources of energy that help us achieve focus in clarity in our cognitive pursuits and ambitions.

Social fitness "refers to how we interact with others across situations." It is our ability to communicate what's important to us amid "situational pressure" and ultimately creates fruitful collabora...