Environmental Stewardship
Social Responsibility
Ethical Governance
JANUARY 2025
Our Commitment
In our commitment to the Southeast, LS3P creates architecture that enriches community through a culture of design excellence, expertise, innovation, and collaborative engagement.
This vision encompasses our guiding principles.
At our core, LS3P is a design firm, dedicated to contributing our best to our projects, our clients, and each other with integrity and passion. We are deeply committed to the communities we serve, and we engage people in the process of architecture to create outstanding places to live, work, and play.
Our practice is rooted in the core values that define our culture:
Excellence is a beginning point.
Integrity is at the core of our decision making and actions.
Empowerment with accountability makes better decisions.
Collaboration leverages the best in everyone.
Balance gives us fuel to do our best.
Stewardship ensures a future.
Caring for each other is what holds us together.
We are also united around our mission to ENGAGE our clients and communities, to DESIGN meaningful places, with proven results that TRANSFORM.
These are not just words; it is our shared understanding and commitment of these foundational tenets which define who we are, what we do, and how we do it. Each LS3P team member is a critical representative of our firm, and each is empowered to implement our vision, values, and mission, each day.
Excellence is a beginning point.
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
We are dedicated to design excellence in service to architecture that enriches communities. Design excellence is rooted in listening, augmented by collaboration, driven by problem solving, and steeped in innovation; we believe that design matters, and that good design can serve as a catalyst for positive change.
LS3P’s Design Strategy Leader is focused on elevating firmwide design excellence and mentoring team members in design leadership. This pivotal position spans all offices and practice areas and works closely with other groups related to design excellence. LS3P’s Alchemy Knowledge Team is dedicated to nurturing a culture of inspiration around design, while the Design Resource Group provides firmwide design support across 12 offices.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is integral to design excellence. LS3P’s Sustainability Leader spearheads firmwide efforts to implement high-performance design in all projects. We understand that the scale of our work in the Southeasts positions us to enact meaningful change in our built environment, and it is our responsibility to integrate best practices for environmental stewardship into our design process. As a signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment, we are working towards net zero emissions for our buildings by 2030; we have also signed the AIA Materials Pledge to design with materials that are healthier for both planet and people. We have conducted major cross-disciplinary educational efforts firmwide as well as with our vendors and consultants as we progress towards ambitious goals.
The firm strives to incorporate best practices for sustainable design regardless of certification, but also provides expertise and guidance in many third-party rating systems such as LEED, WELL, Green Globes, Energy Star, and Fitwel. LS3P’s dedicated sustainability team offers on-call assistance with projects firmwide. The firm has also made significant investments in the time and tools to assist with high performance design as well as tracking metrics for continuous improvement. Recent investments include a focus on technology integration for project reporting, analysis, and optimization. To date, the firm has delivered more than 19 million SF of sustainable construction.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
In a fast-changing world, delivering excellence depends upon a constant evolution of our knowledge. To that end, LS3P is committed to providing ongoing learning opportunities to help our team members sharpen their skills, explore new technologies, and deliver up-to-the-minute design strategies for our clients and communities. We provide a professional development allowance for all employees, support for professional licensure requirements such as the ARE and NCIDQ exams, and an internal Absorb learning platform accessible to all team members.
LS3P also has five Knowledge Teams focused on building and disseminating expertise across key areas: Ignite for innovation, Alchemy for design, Integrate for sustainability, Image for interiors, and Advance for quality. These teams meet monthly to collaborate on knowledge sharing and process improvement. Five Practice Advancement Centers provide support for LS3P’s largest practice areas: workplace, higher education, K-12, healthcare, and multifamily designs. Members meet regularly to engage with emerging topics and provide support and mentorship.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Research and innovation are integral to the practice of design. Curiosity, iteration, and experimentation lead to a deeper understanding of the forces that shape our work; when we engage with the complexity of the world around us, designers are better prepared to deliver transformative solutions.
Sometimes excellence is about problem solving, and other times it’s about problem seeking. We don’t necessarily know what opportunities we’re going to uncover until we ask questions, listen deeply, and start to recognize patterns in what we’re learning. Research allows us to better understand what’s happening in the world around us, while innovation encourages us to shape a better future for our communities.
We believe that an investment in research and innovation sharpens our skills, fuels our passions, and enables us to serve our stakeholders more effectively. LS3P’s Innovation Leader and Practice Research Strategist work together to build culture around knowledge and process advancement. Work to date has included task forces on key industry topics, internal presentations, beta tests of new tools and processes, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to create metrics and disseminate findings.
QUALITY
LS3P’s Risk Management Leader fosters a culture of continuous improvement, enhancing efficiency through the firm’s instruments of service. Our Quality Leader works to achieve the highest levels of accuracy in technical documentation while integrating best practices observed in field work. The firm’s Advance Knowledge Team is likewise dedicated to technical excellence in translating design ideas into threedimensional buildings, and collaborates on firmwide technology integration efforts such as continuous improvement of design details in REVIT + Unifi with the digital practice team.
Integrity is at the core of our decision making and actions.
ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
In making decisions for our clients, our projects, and our firm, we hold ourselves to the high ethical standards of our values/vision/mission and the AIA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
As a federal contractor, we also conduct quarterly compliance training on all relevant standards and requirements for ethical conduct.
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
We are committed to, and deeply embedded in, our Southeastern communities as a core part of our firm’s identity. Our definition of integrity includes service, leadership, and authentic engagement with our communities.
Within the AEC industry, LS3P is committed to industry thought leadership and participation through the AIA, the Large Firm Round Table, the Design Futures Council, and other groups at the local, state, and national level driving engagement and conversation.
Katherine Peele FAIA, LEED AP Board Chair | Chief Practice Officer
Chief Practice Officer Katherine Peele provides keen oversight of design excellence and quality, growth of practice expertise, and innovation across LS3P’s 12 offices. In her over 30 years with the firm, she has managed over $1 billion worth of construction, with projects ranging from educational to workplace and community focuses.
Marc Marchant AIA, LEED
AP Board Member | Chief Executive Officer
As CEO, Marc Marchant focuses on advancing LS3P’s vision and strategic initiatives, building relationships, and cultivating a culture of collaborative engagement. During more than two decades with LS3P, Marc’s leadership skills have been instrumental to his roles as Studio Leader, Healthcare Practice Leader, and Office Leader, and he joined LS3P’s Board of Directors in 2014.
George E. Temple, IV AIA, LEED AP
Board
Member
| President | Chief Operations Officer
George Temple serves as LS3P’s President and Chief Operations Officer. With a unique background in architecture, technology and military service, George brings significant expertise in innovative problemsolving to the firm’s 12 offices and over 500 employees. He serves on the LS3P Board of Directors and Executive Committee. In his over 25 years with the firm, he has held multiple leadership positions including Director of Technology Operations, Office Leader, EVP Business and Corporate Secretary for the Board.
Christopher L. Boney AIA, LEED AP
Board Member | Chief Relationships Officer
As Chief Relationships Officer, Chris leads firmwide business development and community engagement. He was raised in a family of architects who believe in giving back and is active in both the state and local business communities. When not leading a design effort, he has led numerous nonprofit boards as well as chairing the Wilmington Planning Commission.
Jeffrey C. Floyd AIA, LEED AP
Board Member | Principal | Senior Officer
An LS3P Board Member, Jeffrey C. Floyd is Vice President and Senior Officer of LS3P. With over 40 years of experience, he is the most prolific designer of office buildings for investment and corporate headquarters as well as operations centers in the Carolinas. Jeff’s leadership style is proactive, hands-on, supportive, and mentoring.
Lisa K. Pinyan IIDA, ASID, LEED AP
Board Member | SAV Office Leader
Principal Lisa Pinyan brings over 30 years of diverse deign experience. Beyond her professional commitments, her community engagement is extensive She currently serves as a board member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire as well as America’s Second Harvest of the Coastal Empire.
Mary Beth Sims Branham AIA
Board Member | K-12 Practice Leader
Principal Mary Beth Sims Branham provides leadership and quality oversight across LS3P’s K-12 Practice. In her 40 years of experience, Mary Beth has been highlight involved in leadership roles in her profession and community throughout her career, Mary Beth served as the 2004 President of AIA South Carolina.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors, chaired by Chief Practice Officer Katherine Peele, guides the direction of the firm, sets policies, and provides governance based on our vision and values. Executive Committee and C-Suite
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & C-SUITE
LS3P’s Executive Committee (or Ex Com) is Chief Executive Officer Marc Marchant, Chief Practice Officer Katherine Peele, President George Temple, and Chief Relationships Officer Chris Boney. This team is responsible for the firm’s day-to-day operations.
Additional members at the C-Suite level include Chief Marketing Officer Katie Robinson, Chief People Officer Jennifer Smith, and Chief Financial Officer | Treasurer Doug Snyder.
Empowerment with accountability makes better decisions.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Our success depends on fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team; our firm and our work are stronger when we bring as many perspectives as possible to the table. Empowering our employees with the skills, knowledge, and judgment they need to make good decisions begins in the earliest stages of career development.
LS3P has a robust intern program which welcomes students both in the summer and year-round. We have also supported many National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Fellows engaging in research projects and career exploration. Recognizing that the career pipeline begins long before the college years, we are active participants in the ACE mentor program which allows high school students to explore careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Many offices are also involved with special events through groups such as the Boys’ and Girls’ Club to engage younger students in discussions about career opportunities.
For emerging professionals (and team members at all levels), we invest in career development through support for licensure exams, a yearly professional development allowance, mentorship opportunities, and a variety of ongoing continuing education programs.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
We are committed to fostering an environment where every team member can thrive. Our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) team leads ongoing firmwide initiative for education and awareness, including the firm’s D + I Strategic Plan developed in 2020. This strategic plan is fully integrated with LS3P’s firmwide strategic plan. The JEDI team has engaged a DE & I consultant for deeper conversations and strategy development. The firm has also created Employee Resource Groups including the Network of Women and Diseña, which host regular events and promote awareness of issues impacting our employees.
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
LS3P actively seeks collaboration with diverse partners. We conduct continuous outreach to minority firms and vendors, both during the bidding process and as part of our general practice, to build relationships for future work together. In our daily operations, we are also committed to supporting minority-owned businesses such as restaurants/caterers and other providers of goods and services.
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
The firm’s dedicated People Team includes three recruiters, who maintain a regular presence at college and university job fairs (including at K-12 events as part of the process of building a pipeline).
Collaboration leverages the best in everyone.
ONE FIRM
LS3P’s “one firm” approach allows us to create cross-office, cross-disciplinary teams to tackle each design as appropriate. Our heavy investment in technology allows us to work together seamlessly from any location. While we enjoy being together in person, we are also excited to leverage talent from across our four states and twelve offices to assemble the right set of skills and knowledge for each project.
Collaboration across our practice areas, knowledge teams, offices, and departments is frequent and productive; strategic cross-disciplinary groups meet regularly to seek opportunities for creative overlaps.
STRONG HISTORY OF SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS
LS3P’s flexibility has allowed us to develop highly successful collaborations with firms of all sizes. We are proud to have served as Design Architects on many projects working with local firms to combine our expertise with on-the-ground knowledge and relationships; we are also proud to have served as Architect of Record on many projects where we provided our strong local expertise to national and international firms working on large projects. Our willingness to partner, and our ability to work seamlessly with firms of all sizes, allows us to tailor our approach to meet the needs of each opportunity.
Our business model also allows us to partner strategically with the right consultant team for each project. Rather than using in-house engineers, we find that our successful and collegial relationships with our engineering partners make us more nimble and help us to build a wider network of strategic partnerships.
Balance gives us fuel to do our best.
OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE
Our people are our most important resource, and our policies and benefits are designed to support balance. This includes physical, mental, and financial health through benefits such as:
• A variety of health insurance plans so employees can select the one that works best for their needs
• Dental, vision, FSA, and HSA plans
• Short- and long-term disability plans
• Optional supplemental health plans
• Free, confidential Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) access
• Retirement savings plan (401K) with educational tools and retirement planning assistance options
• Profit sharing
• Paid year-end holiday time through annual “Week of Gratitude”
• Paid sick and vacation leave
• Employee Resource Groups
• Flexible working hours: shared core business hours, with flexibility to accommodate balance
• Professional development allowance
• Core work hours for collaboration with flexibility across the work week to accommodate a variety of needs
• Team building, enrichment, and community engagement opportunities
• A safe, welcoming, and inclusive workplace
Beyond tangible benefits- it’s important to us that employees have a sense of purpose, opportunities for personal and professional growth, opportunities to engage with the community and the industry.
Stewardship ensures a future.
Careful stewardship of our resources has enabled the firm to weather over 60 years of changing market conditions, expand strategically to better serve our Southeastern communities, and invest in our employees.
TRANSPARENCY
We strive for transparency with our financial goals and share our net service revenue goals and progress firmwide at every monthly staff meeting.
COMPENSATION
We recently conducted a comprehensive firmwide compensation review which included surveys, analysis of data across the AEC industry, and a deep dive into our local markets to understand and align compensation packages accordingly. Focus group sessions encouraged open dialogue and ongoing feedback.
TECHNOLOGY
Our knowledge infrastructure allows us to communicate, collaborate, and produce the work that we do on behalf or our clients and communities. In an era of increasing cyber threats, the security of our infrastructure is tantamount to the security of our business. We have engaged with all of our partners including vendors, consultants, and clients to create “One Secure Collaborative Network,” recognizing that a cyber attack on one of us can quickly become a cyber attack on all of us. We conduct monthly mandatory data security training for all employees, and engage regularly with our collaborators to maintain a robust shared network with mutual support and safeguards for data security. LS3P’s AI Steering Committee is developing policies around the ethical use of emerging tools to provide innovative, responsive design solutions.
Caring for each other is what holds us together.
INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE
LS3P’s strength lies in our people. Our team is founded upon a diverse, energetic collection of talented individuals who value excellence, collaboration, and innovation. We believe that every voice matters, and our values translate directly into a culture of active engagement and a collegial atmosphere.
We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer; we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, non binary gender designations, age, national origin, disability or handicap, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including but not limited to, lactation, genetic information, status as a member or veteran of the uniformed services, citizenship status, or any other characteristic or category protected by federal, state or local law. We do not discriminate based on gender in compensation or benefits for women and men who work in the same establishment and perform jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility and which are performed under similar conditions.
Each of our individual offices celebrates its own unique traditions and events; however, we embrace a “one firm” attitude which unifies us through a spirt of collaboration and shared values.
PHYSICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of workplace safety, including on job sites where we provide all necessary PPE and training for best safety practices. Our policies support psychological safety as well as physical safety; we do not tolerate harassment or discrimination in the workplace, and our policies are strictly enforced.
COMMUNITY GIVING
We are deeply embedded in the communities in which we live and work, and being active participants in our communities, including through time and philanthropic investment, is part of our ethos. We donate up to 1% of our design hours to pro bono efforts through our “Design In-Kind” program, and we frequently participate in fundraisers and events for community and nonprofit organizations in the communities in which we live and serve. We actively encourage volunteerism and leadership, and our team members support a broad spectrum of community organizations across our 12 offices.
HUMAN RIGHTS
As AIA Materials Pledge signatories, we recognize that the materials we specify in our buildings have impacts all along the supply chain. We have pledged to implement materials policies which support human rights at every stage of the process, as well as human and environmental health.