Image: BuildingGreen
By Jason Hainline, AIA
I’ve long been envious of the sustainable design leaders peer network that’s available to those in larger firms. If you are feeling alone driving sustainability in a small firm, I invite you to join us in our own peer network.
As sustainable design has matured over the past two decades, mid-sized and large firms began staffing a position dedicated to supporting that effort. But often people hired or promoted into that position had to write their own job description—there was no clear playbook for the role.
The A+D Sustainable Design Leaders began in 2008 in response to that challenge.
Over the past decade, Sustainable Design Leaders from firms across the country have gathered for Summits, collaborated online, and shared their passions, frustrations, and initiatives in face-paced show-and-tell sessions. It’s a rewarding but often challenging job, and there is nothing like finding out you’re not alone in your struggles to give you renewed energy and enthusiasm for making it all feel worthwhile.
Small firms (those with fewer than 50 people on staff) are less likely to have a dedicated sustainable design leader, but they certainly have staff who are passionate about sustainability. And we face many of the same challenges in our work with colleagues, clients, and peers. Envious of this network that’s available to those in larger firms, we’re now forming our own version and planning a Summit for the week of AIA Conference in June. BuildingGreen, the consultancy that hosts and facilitates the network for larger firms, is helping us make this happen. Interested? Learn more here.