2. What is CSR + DEI at HLW?
5. HLW's three pillars of CSR
7. Diversity, Equity + Inclusion
11. JUST Label at HLW
15. Meet BEYOND
19. AIA 2030 Commitment
21. AIA Healthy Materials Pledge
23. Embodied Carbon
0. Embodied Carbon
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at HLW enhances our culture. It increases representation for all, establishes a welcoming environment, and encourages and supports the fair treatment of everyone. It is a system of checks and balances that ensures we are living and breathing our culture.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulating, "right thing to do" management concept that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. To engage in CSR means that, in the ordinary course of business, a company operates in ways that enhance society and the environment.
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Supporting this endeavor are our three pillars of CSR: equity, environment, and philanthropy. For each pillar, HLW created internal initiative groups consisting of staff members from all teams and levels of experience. These groups work to create goals and action items for both HLW’s internal teams and external interest groups.
goal is to be a force for positive change in the communities we serve.
Equity at HLW revolves around promoting fairness and justice for all individuals. We are dedicated to fostering inclusivity and diversity in every interaction, whether with our team, communities, or projects.
Our equity team focuses on boosting partnerships with Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). We meet MWBE requirements and are working to allocate 20% of global consultant work to certified MWBEs by 2025.
Other Equity Pillar initiatives include integrating bias training in onboarding, ensuring fairness in job descriptions, partnering with programs for diverse student internships, and launching an intra-office mentorship program.
HLW leverages our design and architectural skills to make a positive difference in the world. By contributing our expertise, time, knowledge, and resources, we aim to enhance the lives of others.
Annually, we select a philanthropic initiative to back as a global firm. We collaborate with local organisations to support this cause. In 2022, our focus is on assisting nonprofits providing mental health services to marginalised communities. Additionally, we remain committed to long-standing initiatives, such as our 20-year involvement in CANstruction—an industry charity raising funds for local food banks. Furthermore, we extended support to the Ukrainian war effort by organising a bake sale that raised over $500 for humanitarian and medical aid.
The environment team, in collaboration with HLW's environmental consultancy, BEYOND, focuses on designing for climate change, resilience, human health, comfort, and wellness. Specifically, this translates into eco-conscious initiatives like: the elimination of three classes of chemicals from HLW's material and furnishing specifications (PFAs, antimicrobials, flame retardants); increased participation in sustainability education events (e.g., workshops, conferences, volunteering); participation in a third-party rating system that will allow HLW to reduce office emissions each year and/or purchase carbon offsets, and a goal to report more than 90 percent of our projects for AIA 2030, with an overall goal of 90 percent carbon reductions in projects by 2026.
We recognise that a positive work culture is one that prioritises the well-being of our teams, offers support at all levels within the organization, and has policies in place that encourage respect, trust, empathy, and support.
HLW believes in the fair and just treatment of all peoples—regardless of race, age, gender identity, physical ability, religion, or sexual orientation.
HLW believes in cultivating a people-first work environment and culture of social responsibility, reinforcing its organisational foundation from which bold, innovative ideas can emerge. To further support the firm's global commitment to and long-term investment in DEI work, HLW brought on board a dedicated DEI director, Anjali Mathai, to create and implement best practices.
Mathai is a licensed social worker and brings nearly two decades of dynamic experience in organisational design, development, and change management to the firm. She places a special emphasis on communication transparency and authenticity to her work.
Currently, HLW boasts a multidisciplinary workforce comprising more than 50 percent women and minorities (43 percent of our staff are male). BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) account for 37 percent of our firm.
HLW is also a registered member of the National Organisation of Minority Architects (NOMA).
To further enhance our DEI work, HLW created a 12-month “theme based” global calendar noting the US and UK observed holidays and industry celebrations. The goal of the calendar is to be as inclusive and respectful as possible in our acknowledgment and celebrations of diversity.
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The JUST program is owned and operated by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). A leading global think tank, ILFI is dedicated to creating a future that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative through design.
“Need to Know” Policies Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Equal Employment Opportunity; Disabilities and Reasonable Accommodation; Religious Accommodation; Pregnancy Accommodation; Lactation Accommodation; Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Prevention; and HIPAA
In 2022, HLW earned the International Living Future Institute's JUST Label. A voluntary program with rigorous assessments, JUST provides a transparency rubric for organizations to publicly disclose the ethics of their operations, including ratings of employee benefits, purchasing and supply chain impacts, and financial investments.
The policies and programs that HLW currently includes in the Employee Handbook, as they relate to JUST are as follows:
Safety, Health, and Wellness Hybrid Workplace Policy; Voluntary Participation in Recreational Activities; A Violence-Free Workplace; Smoke-Free Workplace; Drug-Free Workplace; and Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Corporate Social Responsibility Equity Pillar, Environmental Pillar, Philanthropy Pillar; Charitable Giving and Volunteerism Framework; and Super Groups- Boost, Balance, Evolve, and Exchange
Absence Policies HLW Holidays and Celebrations; Paid Time Off and HLW Days; Family and Medical Leave; Leaves of Absence Due to Disability and/or Parental Reasons; Worker’s Compensation; and Religious Observances
Benefits and Perks Benefits Program; New Employee Referral Bonus; Summer Fridays; and Cell Phone Stipends
Professional Development and Mentorship
Performance and Talent Management; Mentorship Program; HLW University; Professional Licensing/Certification/ Accreditation; Tuition Assistance Policy; and External Conferences
BEYOND specialises in sustainable, resilient, and wellness-focused design solutions for the built environment. With every project, we maximise value for clients, repair ecology, decarbonise, and improve occupant health and wellness. To clients we say: Go BEYOND with us.
We rely on our deep knowledge and extensive experience to deliver thoughtful, dynamic, and sustainable projects, and we pride ourselves on our collaborative approach. With over 50 million square feet of certified sustainable space, our team are well-versed in sustainable rating systems and works to successfully deliver high-performance projects in every climate-zone. BEYOND also leads HLW’s efforts to have all projects achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Our Expertise Includes
• Sustainability + Wellness certifications
• Decarbonization
• ESG Consulting
• Biophilic design
• Energy Modelling
• Custom Sustainability Framework
HPE CEC + London - LEED Platinum
SKA Gold
Julius Baer + BREEAM Very Good
Jupiter Asset Management + SKA Gold
Kingfisher + 75% Carbon Reduction
Munich Re + SKA Silver
Ninety One + BREEAM Excellent
Pernod Ricard London + Fitwel Three Stars
Oak Hill Advisors + LEED Gold
Morgan Stanley 11th Fl + LEED Gold + Fitwel Two Stars
Everest Re + LEED Silver
One New York Plaza + LEED Certified + LEED Silver + Fitwel
KKR New York + LEED Gold + Fitwel
UBS WeWork + LEED Gold
Schrodinger New York + Fitwel Two Stars + LEED Gold + WELL H-S
LEED Gold
LEED Silver
Round Hill Music + LEED Certified
HLW NY Office + LEED Gold + WELL H-S
HLW London, LA, and NJ Offices + WELL H-S
HLW is committed to the Architecture 2030 Challenge of achieving ambitious energy reduction targets and being carbon neutral by 2030.
At HLW, we continually challenge ourselves to advance the pursuit of sustainability and holistic design. HLW strives to provide our clients with the healthiest, most productive, and most environmentally responsible spaces possible.
We have developed our Sustainability Action Plan as a framework to create innovative and sustainable solutions that meet our client’s business goals, while providing a workplace beneficial to employees and protective of our planet.
Some main initiatives of achieving carbon neutrality include:
• Embed sustainable design thinking and analysis into all projects in every office.
• Develop a methodology to communicate sustainability performance data.
• Ensure that sustainable design permeates into the communities in which we serve.
• Develop internal training to improve sustainability literacy.
• Develop a baseline for internal sustainability and set targets for annual improvements.
Architectural choices matter. The Architecture + Design Healthy Materials Pledge reflects this by promoting thoughtful material selection. With a focus on social health, equity, ecosystems, climate, and circularity, HLW embraces a transformative approach. By aligning with this pledge, materials are rigorously vetted through HPD/EDP assessments, while embodied carbon metrics guide our choices.
We pledge to support human health by preferring materials and products that support and foster life throughout their life cycles.
We pledge to support social health & equity by preferring materials and products from manufacturers that secure human rights in their own operations and in their supply chains.
We pledge to support ecosystem health by preferring materials and products that support and regenerate the natural air, water, and biological cycles of life through thoughtful supply chain man a gement and restorative company practices.
We pledge to support climate health by preferring materials and products that reduce carbon emissions and ultimately sequester more carbon than emitted.
We pledge to support a circular economy by reusing and improving buildings, and by designing for resiliency, adaptability, disassembly, and reuse, aspiring to a zerowaste goal for global construction activities.
In architecture, embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a building's entire lifecycle, from material extraction to construction and beyond. Unlike operational carbon, which comes from day-to-day energy use, embodied carbon considers a structure's environmental impact from its very beginning.
Averaged 38% embodied carbon reduction for each project.
Saved 2,043,878 kg of CO2
The equivalent to driving the entire UK coastline 678 times!
BEYOND helps clients ensure that their buildings and spaces are environmentally conscious from conception.
The decarbonisation of the built environment is an essential step in slowing down the impacts of climate change. We believe that Embodied Carbon assessment data leads to ongoing improvement in the selection of building materials. The BEYOND team analyses data to make quantitative comparisons based on environmental impacts. Together, we can create places that connect, engage, and inspire while supporting your sustainability goals.
