Brooklyn-based SO – IL has announced that it has attained B Corp certification. SO – IL is one of 69 B Corporation architecture firms certified across the U.S., and 167 worldwide, recognizing businesses that balance financial success with positive social and environmental impact.

“We are proud to be one of them allowing for company structures built around transparency, accountability, and inclusion,” SO – IL said when announcing the news. “We will continuously strive to do better and use business as a force for the good.”

The B Corp certification is conferred by the nonprofit B Lab, which assesses companies based on standards of transparency, accountability, and performance. The B Corp framework encourages organizations to prioritize the welfare of all stakeholders, including employees, the community, and the environment, rather than solely focusing on maximizing profits for shareholders.

“As leaders in the movement for economic systems change, B Corps reap remarkable benefits,” said B Lab on why they believe organizations should strive for certification. “They build trust with consumers, communities, and suppliers; attract and retain employees; and draw mission-aligned investors. As they are required to undergo the verification process every three years in order to recertify, B Corps are by definition also focused on continuous improvement, leading to their long-term resiliency.”

News of SO – IL’s certification comes months after the firm was awarded the commission for the Williams College Museum of Art. Also in 2022, the firm was among 34 practices selected for the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize Outstanding Projects.