DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

EwingCole’s SAP aligns our design processes and accountability strategies with our mission. To achieve that alignment and ensure involvement of employees across the firm, a development timeline of one year was established.

Process And Engagement

In the fall of 2021, a steering committee of four people was formed to guide the development of the SAP, with one executive member serving as liaison to the firm leadership team.

In January 2022, the steering committee surveyed our firm of over 400 individuals to provide a forum for staff across disciplines, office locations, and roles to share their experiences, ideas, and aspirations. The survey results provided insight into our responsibility and impact, design processes and risk perception, and our commitments and consistency. Three aspirations were also elevated as clear priorities across all roles and office locations through the survey:

Net Zero Energy Performance

Net Zero Energy projects play a fundamental role in EwingCole’s sustainability success story. Net Zero Energy goals encourage us to continue prioritizing dramatic reductions in building energy use and incorporating renewable energy solutions.

Deep Connection to Place and Local Resources

With a diverse portfolio of projects spread out across the United States, a deep understanding of local communities and their natural resources drives our design process. It provides the clarity we need to develop projects that are inherent to their place and benefit both people and nature.

Regenerative Design, defined as the inter-weaving of justice, climate, biodiversity, and human dignity

This aspiration showcases an awareness of how crucial integrated solutions truly are. Regenerative design is about creating a net positive impact on natural systems, a positive impact that is catalytic and spreads beyond the bounds of any one building. It inspires growth, wellness, and life not just within a building, but within its broader community.

The framework for our SAP is defined in response to these aspirations, along with the desire for clear accountability pathways, and the opportunity to improve process and outcomes in an integrated way. As such, our four firmwide sustainability commitments are key pillars of the SAP. These commitments are: AIA 2030 Commitment, AIA Materials Pledge, SE 2050 Commitment, and MEP 2040 Commitment, and each has been evaluated through the same set of lenses to clarify and streamline our workflow for maximum positive impact.

Lenses

– Design Process & Project Approach: How can we improve our work flow and process to address our sustainability commitments?

– Education: How can we share information across the firm to improve outcomes?

– Tracking & Reporting: How do we track, manage, and access data collected?

– Culture: How do we embed a sustainability mindset across our projects and operations?

– Outreach & Advocacy: How do we work with peers across multiple industries to scale our impact?

With aspirations and a framework of commitments established, we formed Content Working Groups to develop the core content and approach to each commitment. These groups brought together our sustainability team, Thrive@EC participants and key stakeholders to detail out the targets, timelines, and accountability strategies for each of our sustainability commitments and organize them by the lenses noted previously. Suggestions and insights from the sustainability survey data informed this work, as well as knowledge of current processes, market specifics, and organizational structure.

The plans presented in the following chapters gather a first wave of energy and effort towards thoughtful, rapid improvement. Our SAP provides a clear framework with annual goals assigned to each commitment, accountability strategies to attain those goals, and leadership growth to guide our efforts. This mission document will be updated every two years through our newly assigned leadership for each commitment, and in partnership with Thrive@EC.