Carleton College Science Renovation and Addition Evelyn M. Anderson Hall / Northfield, Minnesota
/Prologue
Philosophy Statements
Letter From the Board
Letter From the Director of Building Sciences Design for Impact
/01
Reduce Our Environmental Impact Operational Energy Embodied Carbon
Waste Reduction & Resource Restoration
Resiliency
Green Building Certification
Case Study: National Park Service Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center Rehabilitation
/02
Improve Our Communities Healthy & Equitable Materials Design for Well-being
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Case Study: Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin Campus
/03
Lead With Integrated Design Pursuing Exceptional Design Exchange
Research & Innovation
Case Study: Seattle University The Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation
As designers, architects, engineers, and planners, we have a tremendous impact on the world around us. It’s our responsibility to Think What’s Possible with every design.
St. Elizabeths East Gateway Pavilion / Washington, DC
At Page, we promise design that makes lives better. This vision requires an integrated strategy, and our intentions require rigor.
New York University John A. Paulson Center / New York, New York
As a 125-plus-year-old firm and one of the first large firms to sign the AIA 2030 Commitment, we design high-performing, healthy, and resilient projects that reduce the impact on our environment through regenerative thinking, processes, and solutions.
By intentionally nurturing diversity and inclusion, we advance the cities, places, and spaces that shape society. We promote a culture of respect and belonging in our offices and on every project.
Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Miller Family Campus / Salt Lake City, Utah
And we champion designled thinking, putting people first and embracing bold approaches that lead to big ideas and an even bigger impact on meaningful work in important spaces.
Sul Ross University Museum of the Big Bend Expansion / Alpine, Texas
At Page, we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility. Our commitment to creating lasting, positive change is woven into every project, every decision, and every partnership we forge. We believe in full transparency—not just in reporting our achievements but in openly evaluating our progress to ensure we are continually aligning our work with our values.
As game-changers and difference-makers, we combine curiosity with capability to push solutions from Good to Exceptional. This guiding vision is more than a goal—it’s a mindset that propels us forward. Moving from Good to Exceptional is a continuous journey, one with no endpoint, where every step serves as both progress and motivation to do more.
We know our firm is at its strongest when environmental and social responsibility are at the core of everything we do. We constantly evolve to reduce our environmental impact and improve our communities through design-led thinking so that each project exceeds expectations.
With more than 1,400 employees across 20 offices, our collective impact is vast. Together, we help our clients Think What’s Possible—exploring bold ideas that push boundaries and deliver meaningful results.
It’s with this spirit of accountability and progress that we proudly present our third Design for Impact report. This report highlights our ongoing commitments and successes and serves as a road map for the work still ahead. We share it as a celebration of our achievements, a reflection of our journey, and a challenge to ourselves to keep striving for greater impact alongside our clients and communities.
Sincerely,
Catherine J. Britt Thomas C. McCarthy
R. Sylvie
Jonathan
Arturo Chavez Mattia J. Flabiano III
One Step at a Time
Last year, I climbed Mt. Rainier. Well, “climbed” might not do it justice. It was a grueling 28-hour, 9,000-foot ascent, crossing deep crevasses in the dead of night with only a headlamp and a rope connecting me to my climbing buddy. We were just 800 feet shy of the summit when a snowstorm turned us back. When the clouds cleared, and the sun rose, I looked back and felt an overwhelming sense of awe at how far we’d come. Had I understood the full scale of what I would experience when I stood at the beginning, I’m not sure I would have attempted it at all.
Working in climate change and sustainability feels much the same. The challenge is steep, and the need to move faster adds importance to every step. But like that mountain, we move forward not by rushing to the top all at once, but by taking one step, and then another, and then another.
At Page, we’ve been making progress for more than 125 years. We’ve seen the world evolve and know we must continue evolving with it. Over the last few years, developing our Design for Impact framework for our projects and organization has represented a significant step in our ongoing reinvention. It’s our way of tackling environmental and social responsibility through our work and how we work.
This report is the story of us: a firm that understands the power of resilience, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of progress. The steps we’ve taken to build the Design Exchange and Research & Innovation groups you’ll read about are the next in a much larger journey. We care deeply about the places we shape and the communities we serve, and this effort knits together our commitment to environmental and social responsibility into everything we do.
As you dive into this report, I hope you see not just the wins we’ve celebrated but the long road ahead—and the power of the next step we’re ready to take. Progress won’t happen overnight, but it will happen with each of us contributing to a more sustainable and equitable world, one step at a time.
Onwards, together,
Director of Building Sciences
Design for Impact
We design for impact by creating high-performing, healthy, and resilient projects for our communities.
Design for Impact
At Page, we understand our work’s tremendous impact on the built environment and communities where we work, live, and play. We also recognize that every climate has a different set of challenges, every site has a unique fingerprint, and every project has its own story. Our Design for Impact (DFI) approach to sustainability and impact is grounded in these stories and individual responses to place, not a one-size-fits-all checklist.
We begin with the end in mind and start each project by asking, “What impact story do you want to tell at the end of this project?” Together, we review organizational objectives and client priorities, define clear guiding principles and performance goals that become key drivers in early design concepts, and guide integrative solutions.
Our DFI framework also helps organize our internal efforts. Each impact area has its own coLAB within Page to share knowledge and advance strategies across our markets, practices, and operations.
Design for Impact Process:
deliver highperformance, lowcarbon operations?
manage and reuse water responsibly?
advance design knowledge and innovation?
Conduct a design charrette to define key impact opportunities, set goals, and define success metrics.
Develop the DFI statement and goals with the owner to include in the Owner’s Project Requirements.
Develop a DFI action plan with integration strategies, barriers to overcome, and ways of tracking progress and measuring impact. Identify a DFI project champion.
Summarize the design strategies used to meet goals in the Basis of Design.
engage and connect communities inclusively?
support mental, social, and physical health?
prepare for future challenges effectively?
Integrate and coordinate strategies to help advance DFI goals.
Review project strategies regularly as part of the design coordination and include them in design documents.
use healthy, sustainable, ethically sourced materials?
integrate and restore the local environment?
Refine the DFI statement at the end of both the design and construction process to reflect the project strategies employed and relevant metrics for achieving goals.
Reduce Our Environmental Impact
We design high-performing, resilient projects that reduce the impact on our environment through regenerative thinking, processes, and solutions.
In this section:
Operational Energy
Embodied Carbon
Waste Reduction & Resource Restoration
Resiliency
Green Building Certification
Case Study: National Park Service Antietam
National Battlefield Visitor Center Rehabilitation
U.S. Department of State New Embassy Campus
Pristina / Pristina, Republic of Kosovo
Operational Energy
In 2009, we signed the AIA 2030 Commitment to pursue carbon neutrality in our work by 2030. We’ve established leadership in sustainability, actively improved our operations, and reported our annual progress.
Building production and operations emit 33% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, making them the single biggest carbon emitter by sector. Emissions are expected to double by 2050, and while American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards, aggressive code changes, and clean-energy grid sourcing are all in motion, they need to be ramped up to address the carbon emissions associated with the operations of our buildings.
In 2009, we proudly embraced the AIA 2030 Commitment as early adopters. As committed signatories, our pledge revolves around reducing energy consumption and transitioning to decarbonized energy sources across all our projects. Our ultimate objective is to design projects that are entirely carbon-neutral by 2030. To gauge our progress, we rely on the Predicted Energy Use Intensity (pEUI) for each project, measured in kBTU/SF. Our reference point is anchored in the 2003
Commercial Building Energy Consumption report, which provides the average pEUI data for 47 different building types.
Achieving Net Zero: Page’s Milestones and Future Outlook
Net-zero with support of lower carbon electrical grid
We signed the 2030 Commitment In 2009, we pledged to pursue carbon neutrality in our work by 2030. We established leadership in sustainability, actively improved our operations, and reported our annual progress.
100% reporting of all projects In 2019, we committed to submitting 100% of eligible projects.
Implement targeted strategies From 2024 to 2030, we plan to improve our performance by continuing to report 100% of eligible buildings, setting EUI targets for every project, and increasing the percentage of projects with energy modeling.
100% of eligible projects reported
176M
SF reported (cumulative) to AIA 2030 since signing commitment in 2009
70% of projects reported in design in 2023 were energy modeled
Non-Modeled
We’re maintaining our commitment and improving our projects’ energy performance by:
§ Continuing to report 100% of our eligible buildings.
§ Setting 2030 EUI targets for every project.
§ Targeting at least 15% better than code on all projects.
§ Targeting 30% better ratings on all projects seeking certification.
§ Increasing our percentage of projects with energy modeling to 90%.
§ Advocating for on-site renewable and solarready buildings.
§ Conducting incentive and triple bottom line analyses for all projects seeking certification.
Embodied Carbon
Measuring carbon emissions associated with material selection is critical to reducing our environmental impact.
Buildings, their materials, and the energy they consume account for about 39% of global carbon emissions, with 11% attributed to major construction materials like cement, steel, aluminum, and glass. Reducing embodied carbon in these materials is essential to mitigating climate change.
According to the latest models by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the current decade is a crucial time for action.
Core Principles for Reducing Our Embodied Carbon
Wherever possible, reuse, renovate, and reposition existing buildings. Extending the life of structures can save 50-95% of embodied carbon emissions compared to new construction, especially if foundations and frames are preserved.
Focus on carbon reduction for structure and envelope materials. Heavier materials like concrete and steel make up about 80% of a building’s carbon footprint, offering the greatest potential for savings. Our engineers and Building Sciences team assess structural systems for their embodied carbon impact, and we work with contractors committed to reuse. Architects must also maximize structural efficiencies and specify materials with high recycled content.
As mechanical systems become more efficient, embodied carbon accounts for an increasingly larger portion of a building’s carbon footprint over the typical 60 year lifespan. These are day-one impacts, critical to reduce during this decade of climate action. So, how do we address embodied carbon?
Design to minimize waste. Interiors are typically updated every ten years, which generates significant embodied carbon. Selecting products with high recycled content is a good place for interior designers to start making a positive impact. Opting for products with take-back programs can extend material lifespans, support responsible manufacturing, and contribute to a circular economy.
Track the embodied carbon in our building materials. Just as nutrition labels revolutionized how we view food, building material transparency enables more informed decisions.
To advance our efforts, we commit to:
§ Deliver firmwide education on embodied carbon and strategies staff can implement in everyday work.
§ Create an embodied carbon toolkit with resources and tutorials to help teams navigate embodied carbon issues on their projects.
§ Establish reasonable maximum Global Warming Potential (GWP) constraints for specific highcarbon-impact materials.
Architects must:
§ Request Environmental Product Declarations from manufacturers, especially for high-carbon materials like concrete, glass, and insulation.
§ Use tools like One Click LCA, Tally, EC3, Athena, and Kaleidoscope to conduct design model-based life cycle and material carbon analyses.
§ Refer to resources such as the material pyramid and AIA’s Large Firm Round Table’s Countdown on Carbon guide.
§ Engage with Carbon Leadership Forum Regional Hubs to connect with professionals reducing carbon impacts.
§ Work with structural engineering partners to identify best practices for reducing embodied carbon in structural elements.
§ Continue to conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyses for environmental impact on projects seeking green building certification.
§ Set LCA goals for the firm, collaborating with market sectors to identify achievable, measurable embodied carbon reduction targets.
Washington, DC
Capital City Public Charter School
The Makerspace project repurposes a 19,000-square-foot, two-story abandoned warehouse in downtown Washington, DC. Approximately 65% of the existing structure will remain, including three of the four exterior walls composed of CMU and brick, the majority of the concrete foundation, and the second-level concrete floor slab. This approach dramatically reduces concrete production and embodied carbon while contributing to the character of the building. The Makerspace will allow students to lean into their creativity through sewing, building, and science projects. What better setting than a building that exemplifies ingenuity and environmental responsibility to create a new and vibrant space out of an underutilized resource?
Austin, Texas
321 West
6th Street
Valuable collaborations with engineering partners can lower embodied carbon impact on any project. Designed in partnership with Handel Architects, 321 West 6th Street is a 55-story mixed-use, new-build tower in downtown Austin. Situated near Republic Square, the city’s downtown park and transit hub, 321 boasts seven floors of workspace and 369 rental units, married by an outdoor residential amenity deck and a shared fitness center. The tower’s structure, led and championed by our structural partners at Magnusson Klemencic Associates, is the first in the world to be designed and permitted with performance-based wind design (PBWD). The PBWD process optimized its concrete structure based on wind load analysis, reducing reinforcing steel by over 450 tons. This resulted in a 3% reduction in embodied carbon emissions, with no negative impact on user experience.
Waste Reduction & Resource Restoration
We aim to reduce our impact on natural resources where possible and support regenerative processes. We target at least 30% potable water use reduction and 75% diversion of construction waste on every project.
As water resources become scarcer and consumption continues to rise, it’s essential to prioritize water reduction strategies in building design. Whether in residential, hospitality, corporate, or commercial structures, we focus on reducing water use and maximizing reuse.
For all our green building certification projects, we commit to a 30% reduction in indoor potable water and a 50% reduction in outdoor water use. In industrial manufacturing, these reductions are critical to our clients and the communities they serve. Working with
clients and design partners, we focus on reduction strategies and reuse opportunities, maximizing water cycles while maintaining the highest quality clean room standards.
In our recently completed LEED Gold semiconductor facility for Texas Instruments, the team achieved a 43% reduction in potable water use compared to standard manufacturing practices, saving 750 million gallons annually.
Presidio Trust Doyle Drive / San Francisco, California
Total annual waste by type for Page
While reducing our organization’s operational waste is essential, our most significant impact on waste streams comes through the buildings we design. We include construction waste management in our specifications and prioritize waste tracking to minimize material waste during construction, helping to reduce embodied carbon. Any waste generated is recycled whenever possible.
Landfill Diversion
In designing our new Austin office, we prioritized reuse and waste reduction. Working with a consultant, we employed charitable donations and recycling to keep furniture and equipment out of landfills while benefiting the local community. The construction waste was 100% diverted from the landfill, with 90% recycled and 10% donated to four local community organizations.
Page Office Space / Austin, Texas
Resiliency
We research, plan, design, and advocate for a stronger, more agile future so our communities can navigate today’s complexities and uncertainties.
Resiliency isn’t about bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward.
With today’s volatile climate and environmental challenges, resilience is often considered a proactive defense. By integrating principles such as robustness, redundancy, flexibility, sustainable materials, and resource efficiency, we create durable, adaptable, and environmentally responsible structures. Through green planning and design practices, we work to reduce risks across economic, environmental, and personal
health and safety spectrums. But resilience also extends beyond individual structures; it uplifts entire communities, offering a backbone of adaptability, the fuel for innovation, and the glue that binds us together. Essentially, resilience is a holistic strategy that not only protects against threats but also fosters social cohesion and enables growth in the face of adversity. We set the groundwork for a more sustainable and equitable future by prioritizing resilience in our design and planning.
To focus our attention, we commit to:
§ Review climate threats or future disaster events (natural or humanmade) to determine the service life of the building and assess how each project can respond with designs that protect and enable rapid recovery.
§ Embrace community knowledge to understand social, economic, and environmental hazard impacts and create resilient design solutions.
§ Design for passive survivability during service disruptions and determine alternate power sources.
§ Plan for flexibility and adaptivity by designing for technological changes, disassembly, or decommissioning.
Our approach focuses on programming, climate, and community. By championing resilience across these interconnected areas, we safeguard lives and livelihoods and help people thrive amid uncertainty.
Programming
Through meticulous planning and thoughtful design, we ensure that our structures serve as mission-critical assets capable of sustaining vital operations under pressure.
A confidential electric utility client engaged Page to design a new 180,000-square-foot Regional Operations Center. The facility was engineered to maintain uninterrupted power delivery during natural and manufactured crises, including unpredictable “Black Swan” events like an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) from a nuclear strike or terrorist attack, while eliminating single points of failure in mission-critical systems. Page’s design process included a “threat matrix” that uncovered versatile solutions to address multiple vulnerabilities. For instance, structural reinforcements that provide resilience against flooding and EF-3 tornadoes also double as barriers against vehicular and ballistic attacks.
Community
We strive to integrate our projects seamlessly within their communities, fostering spaces that enrich daily lives and serve as lifelines during emergencies, providing safe havens and vital resources when disaster strikes.
Raised out of the floodplain, the Alief Neighborhood Center is a model for resilient design in a post-Hurricane Harvey environment— a respite for those seeking shelter, a disaster response center in times of need, and a long-awaited nucleus for the Alief area.
Climate
We employ innovative techniques to tackle challenges like seismic activity, flooding, and coastal changes, and we respond rapidly to mitigate the unexpected.
Page supported The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center with master planning and significant work associated with the flood recovery projects following Tropical Storm Allison. Approximately 250,000 square feet of facilities were impacted. Page and our team of consultants responded swiftly to this crisis, working tirelessly to restore and reopen the hospital in just six weeks.
Houston Methodist Hospital Texas Medical Center / Houston, Texas
City of Houston Alief Neighborhood Center / Houston, Texas
Confidential Electric Utility Client Regional Operations Center / Confidential Location
Green Building Certification
Accredited Professionals (as of September 2024)
LEED AP and LEED Green Associates
26 WELL APs, 5 Fitwel, and 1 SITES AP
Certified Commissioning Professionals
Projects / Certified and In-Progress (as of September 2024)
active certification projects totaling 17.4M square feet
11
Guiding Principles projects
40
countries with LEED-certified or in-progress projects
12.1M
certified or in-progress project square feet by Austin Energy Green Building
5
Net Zero Ready projects
56%
of our LEED-certified projects by area are Gold or Platinum
90
Energy Star projects
4
SITES certifications
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Page Office Certifications
Atlanta
LEED Gold Certified*
Energy Star*
WELL Health-Safety Rated*
Austin
Austin Energy Green Building
4 Star*
Fitwel 1 Star*
LEED Platinum*
WELL Certification*+
Boston Energy Star*
WELL Certification*
Dallas
LEED Silver Certified
Denver
BOMA 360 Certified*
Energy Star*
GREBS 5 Star Rating*
LEED EBOM Gold Certified*
UL Indoor Air Verified*
WELL Health-Safety Rated*
WELL Certification*+
Houston Energy Star*
LEED EBOM Gold Certified*
WELL Health Safety Rated*
Phoenix Energy Star*
Richmond
LEED Certified+
Washington, DC Energy Star*
WELL Platinum Certification+
* certification for base building + in progress
As designers and planners of the built environment, we significantly impact the world around us and take this responsibility seriously. Our focus has shifted beyond doing more with less, toward restoring and improving the sites, neighborhoods, and cities where we work. This intention requires rigor, and our strategy for implementing this vision sets us apart.
We consistently deliver LEED certifications that surpass our clients’ expectations.
We’re proud to have designed over 43.7M square feet of LEED-certified projects in 40 countries, 56% of which are LEED Platinum or Gold Certified. We’re leaders in Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB), one of the predecessors to LEED. And our portfolio has more AEGB-certified square footage than any other design firm.
Page’s Boston office design prioitizes biophilia, access to daylight, and views. The central work cafe is the focus of the space, providing the foundation for office culture and connection.
National Park Service Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center Rehabilitation
The Visitor Center at Antietam National Battlefield, built in 1962 as part of the National Park Service’s Mission 66 program, enhances visitor access and education at one of the most well-preserved battlefields in the U.S. Welcoming 350,000 visitors annually, the 9,000-square-foot facility includes a main lobby / Ranger contact station, a 100-seat auditorium, an observation room with panoramic battlefield views, exhibit space, a bookstore, and staff offices.
This project marks the first comprehensive rehabilitation in nearly 60 years, focused on designing a high-performing, resilient facility with minimal environmental impact. Upgrades include completely replacing all building systems, improving accessibility, and upgrading flat roofs to meet energy code requirements. On-site renewable energy studies led to installing photovoltaic arrays, transforming the center into a net zero-energy facility. New HVAC systems enhance comfort, efficiency, and environmental performance, reflecting our commitment to regenerative thinking and sustainable solutions.
Accessibility improvements were a priority, especially addressing the steep walkways from the parking area to the building. They were upgraded to meet current codes, and an elevator was carefully integrated to ensure accessible access between the lobby, exhibits, and observation room, enhancing the visitor experience for all.
With over 350,000 visitors annually, the center is crucial in educating and orienting the public at this historic site. The rehabilitation preserved key elements, including the main lobby, auditorium, observation room, and exhibit spaces, ensuring that the center continues to serve as a vital hub for learning and engagement.
While the original 1960s design aimed to respond to environmental conditions, it no longer met modern standards. The rehabilitation improved the building’s envelope and incorporated energy-efficient systems tailored to the local climate, ensuring the facility can now withstand the site’s varied weather conditions.
Comprehensive lighting and HVAC upgrades significantly reduced energy consumption. Solar power was selected after considering both solar and geothermal energy options, achieving a net zeroenergy building. The estimated energy savings compared to ASHRAE 90.1-2007 standards are 42.3%.
Improve Our Communities
By intentionally nurturing equity, diversity, and inclusion, we advance the cities, places, and spaces that shape society, making lives better for everyone. We promote a culture of respect and belonging in our offices and on every project.
In this section: Healthy & Equitable Materials Design for Well-being Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Workforce
Workplace
Marketplace Case Study: Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin Campus
Healthy & Equitable Materials
As signatories of the AIA Materials Pledge and the Design for Freedom movement, we’re committed to supporting responsible material selection.
Our design-led approach to projects elevates the aesthetic and functional needs of occupants while treating every design decision and material choice as an opportunity to protect the environment and promote health. We encourage our teams to view thoughtful material selection as their responsibility, not just an option.
We strive to specify materials sourced and manufactured with minimal environmental
impact. We prioritize low-emission, non-toxic options that create living, working, and healing spaces that promote safety and well-being. Sustainable materials often come from renewable sources or are recycled, reducing strain on natural resources and minimizing waste. By using these materials, we help preserve ecosystems, reduce carbon footprints, and combat climate change.
Participating firms in the Materials Pledge
§ Human health by preferring products that support and foster life throughout their life cycles and seek to eliminate the use of hazardous substances.
§ Social health and equity by preferring products from manufacturers that secure human rights in their own operations and supply chains, positively impacting their workers and the communities where they operate.
§ Ecosystem health by preferring products that support and regenerate the natural air, water, and biological cycles of life through thoughtful supply chain management and restorative company practices.
We also recognize that material procurement intersects with labor rights and fair trade. By choosing suppliers who uphold ethical labor practices, we support fair wages, safe working conditions, and humane treatment of workers, ensuring that the benefits of construction and development are more equitably shared.
commit to supporting:
§ Climate health by preferring products that reduce carbon emissions and ultimately sequester more carbon than emitted.
§ A circular economy by reusing and improving buildings and by designing for resiliency, adaptability, disassembly, and reuse, aspiring to a zero-waste goal for global construction activities.
We advocate for and implement these principles, creating spaces that nurture the environment, safeguard health, and uphold fairness. We see every project as an opportunity to make a positive impact, aligning physical spaces with our core values.
Materials coLAB
Focused on foundational education and future advancement, our Materials coLAB promotes healthier materials with fewer toxins, lower emissions, and longer lifespans through product transparency. Our journey to less harmful materials and products has advanced our impact with leading manufacturers, local fabricators, contractors, and clients.
Using our firmwide intranet, the Materials coLAB sponsors bi-weekly “Material Mondays,” sharing our AEC industry partners’ latest products and technologies.
We’ve also enhanced tools for our project teams to establish better goals for material selection, focusing on improving material health, environmental responsibility, and social impact. Guides help vet materials, document the selection process, and support construction.
With our growing materials resources, we continually promote market transformation toward a more resilient and sustainable future with all our projects. Each success builds momentum for the next
Design for Well–being
We’re committed to design for well–being by advocating for human health, regenerative environments, comfort, and equity in our work.
Significant determinants of health include physical and social environments, and addressing challenges in both is essential to achieving health equity. This creates a profound responsibility for those of us shaping the built environment to enhance the well-being of all who live, work, and play in the spaces we design.
We strive to create healthier places and push further by developing regenerative and restorative spaces that best support people. We’re doubling down on this commitment, helping clients define practical, actionable, and unique solutions tailored to their cultures, businesses, staff, and future goals.
Health Forward
Page has a profound legacy of well-beingfocused design rooted in our leadership in healthcare design. Recently, we hosted our Health Forward symposium, a collaborative convergence of industry leaders, clients, partners, and Page experts who Think What’s Possible for the future of healthcare. Together, we’re imagining bold design solutions in this evolving landscape and our role in advancing a “well-care” approach.
Learn more about Health Forward.
Well–being coLAB
Our Well–being coLAB has gained significant momentum with a robust speaking series covering topics that enhance our expertise and practices. These include
§ Biophilic Design + Mental Health
§ Trauma-Informed Design
§ Post-Occupancy Engagement
§ EDAC / Fitwel / WELL Wellness Rating Systems
§ Page Employee Assistance Program
§ Lighting Quality
§ Acoustics
§ Effective Communication
§ Work / Life Balance
§ Relaxation Coaching
Inclusive Design
The Well–being co-LAB emphasizes inclusive design, fostering a culture where the best ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. We go beyond accessibility requirements, embedding universal design and inclusive principles into our work. This approach means that our projects are not only functional but also equitable, making a lasting impact on the communities we serve.
Listen to our podcast: The Good Inclusive Room
To focus our attention, we commit to:
§ Refine 2025 Well-being coLAB goals, building on momentum from progress in 2024.
§ Clearly establish Inclusive Design Best Practices and training material.
§ Define Page’s Biophilic Best Practices and training material.
§ Support daylight training across the interiors and architecture practice areas.
§ Pilot a suppliers assessment on a project for Design for Freedom.
§ Continue working with HR and Page Community Groups to ensure offices, practices, and markets are knowlegeable about Page well-being benefits.
Project Size
280,000 Square Feet
Services Provided Architect of Record / Interior Design / Engineering / Sustainability Awards
2023 ULI Austin / Best Project Design Finalist
Austin, Texas
Austin Energy Headquarters
This project showcases the latest sustainability and energy efficiency strategies. The design team evaluated energy conservation options using digital models to maximize building efficiency. A whole building life cycle analysis reduced the structure’s depth and incorporated fly ash in the concrete, cutting cement use and offsetting carbon emissions for 15 years. The evaluation also enhanced thermal comfort, optimized HVAC systems, and prioritized raw and green building materials. Watersaving strategies, including connecting to municipal reclaimed water infrastructure, reduced reliance on potable water.
The design promotes health and resilience through features such as natural light, nature views, and daylight-responsive controls that reduce lighting power during the day. It provides easy access to outdoor spaces, fresh air monitoring for occupant comfort and healthy CO2 levels, and well-being-focused break areas. Indoor finishes were selected for low toxicity, regional sourcing, and recycled content. The design encourages sustainability and health by featuring a central, inviting stair to promote walking and interaction, along with a community learning space for wellness activities.
2022 Austin Green Awards
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work enables us to create spaces and workplaces that reflect and respond to the communities we impact.
In early 2024, Page assessed 20 office leaders through a comprehensive 360-degree review involving 18 leadership competencies. The highest-rated competency was for items measuring equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This demonstration of leadership buy-in signals that we are aligned with our core values and moving in the right direction. It also highlights the integral role EDI plays in our effort to improve lives—at Page, across our industry, and in our communities.
Our work environment and design process are rooted in understanding the needs, desires, and behaviors of the people we serve. Our EDI strategy centers on three key areas:
Page is committed to building equity, diversity, and inclusion into our business core. We acknowledge there are historically underrepresented groups in the AEC industry, and we are committed to changing this by creating greater visibility, opportunity, and growth for all within Page. We recognize that long historical trends will not change on their own. We are focused on being part of the solution and working to ensure our culture, leadership, and design process embrace a future where every voice is heard. EDI makes every aspect of our business better.
Nemours Foundation Orlando Children’s Hospital / Orlando, Florida
Workforce
We’re committed to broadening the talent pipeline within the AEC industry, and at Page, we believe a diverse workforce brings new perspectives that lead to better design solutions.
By casting a wide net for talent, we foster innovation and create designs that reflect our diverse communities.
Through initiatives like the Cristo Rey School internship program, we provide opportunities for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to gain industry experience. Our recruitment intentionally extends to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and schools with very diverse student bodies. We partner with the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA)’s Future Faces Fellowship, offering full-time, paid internships to aspiring architects from underrepresented backgrounds. We also attend NOMA’s HBCU Professional Development Program events and the annual conference.
As members of the AIA Large Firm Round Table, we are part of a commitment to double the percentage of Black licensed architects from 2% to 5% by 2030. At Page, we’ve already exceeded that goal. Including our Black graduate interns on track to become registered, our number of potential licensed architects totals approximately 7%, reflecting our dedication to real change.
Our focus on diversity includes actionable steps:
§ Collecting data on retention and culture to measure our progress.
§ Utilizing this data to shape efforts in areas where improvement is most needed to attract, retain, and grow our diverse workforce.
§ Increasing accountability with robust metrics to drive continuous improvement.
Ethnicity & Race
Page’s intentional recruiting has resulted in a workforce where 46% of new hires come from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. We are also focused on fostering an experience of inclusion and belonging to retain diverse employees. This has contributed to a steady increase in the overall representation of these groups across our firm, with a 2% year-over-year growth. When compared to industry peers, our workforce’s diversity is expanding at twice the rate of AIA members nationwide.
Ethnicity Distribution Firmwide
The 2023 AIA Membership Demographics is available online. At the time of publication, the NSPE had not released comparable data.
White Underrepresented racial and ethnic groups
New Hire % of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
The
number of Page employees belonging to underrepresented racial and ethnic groups has increased by 2% year over year.
Number of New Hires by Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic group
Women and non-binary individuals continue to be underrepresented in AEC, especially in leadership roles. At Page, we’ve made intentional strides to ensure women and caregivers have opportunities for advancement, providing flexible work arrangements and career development programs. In turn, more women are staying in the pipeline of promotable positions. Over the last decade, women in leadership roles (Associate Principal and above) have grown at twice the rate of our total leadership, a trend we’re proud to continue.
Over the last decade, women in leadership roles have grown at more than twice the rate of our total leadership.
Gender Distribution Firmwide
Gender Distribution by Title
Gender Distribution in Leadership Growth over past decade
Generation
Generational Distribution Firmwide
Generational diversity strengthens our thought leadership by combining deep industry knowledge with fresh perspectives and digital fluency. While many of our new hires are Gen X and Millennials, we’re excited to welcome more Gen Z employees, ensuring we remain at the forefront of innovation. Our firm’s gender distribution also shows significant evolution across generations, almost entirely reversing between Boomers and Gen Z. Male Female
Our new hires are currently about 80% Gen X and Millennial.
(1977-1994)
Generational Distribution of New Hires
Gender distribution almost entirely reverses between Boomers and Gen Z.
Workplace
Creating an inclusive and supportive workplace is key to fostering collaboration and innovation. We believe that when everyone is engaged and feels a sense of belonging, it drives collective success.
No matter how successful we are at developing and attracting highly qualified professionals, to retain top talent, employees need an environment that values their contributions and enables them to bring their whole selves to work.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Our ESOP structure reinforces inclusion at Page. Every employee is literally an owner of the company, giving each of us a personal stake in our shared success. This ownership culture motivates everyone to bring their best to the table, making our firm stronger and more cohesive.
Team Development
We depend on diverse perspectives to elevate our work. Led by Development and Inclusion Director Timothy Skaggs, our team has created EDI training modules for all employees, alongside communication and emotional intelligence training for senior leadership. Every Page Principal completes a 12-hour experiential course, with plans to extend this to associate principals. Additionally, we provide unconscious bias training for those interviewing potential employees to ensure our culture of inclusion is communicated throughout the hiring process.
Page Community Groups
Our firm actively promotes communitybuilding through identity-based Page Community Groups (PCGs). These groups foster support and connection, ensuring that all voices are championed across our design process:
§ Caretakers: Those caring for children, elders, and family
§ Emerging Professionals
§ Gender Identity
§ INCLUDE (Innovative Network of Creators for Leveling Up Design Environments): Design for Equity
§ National Origin: Individuals born or originating outside the U.S.
§ Page Pride: LGBTQ+
§ POCHE (People of Color Honoring Equity)
Celebrations of Heritage & Culture
As a firm, we honor the federally designated National Heritage Months to celebrate the diverse cultures within our workforce. Our PCGs have contributed to these celebrations by creating engaging podcasts, intranet posts, and social media pieces that highlight and honor these rich heritages.
§ February: Black History Month
§ March: Women’s History Month
§ May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
§ June: LGBTQ+ Pride Month
§ Sept / Oct: Hispanic Heritage Month
§ November: Native American Heritage Month
Our annual iFest (International Festival) is a cultural celebration showcasing our employees’ global traditions and heritage through food, attire, and artifacts, creating a vibrant atmosphere of inclusion.
Marketplace
We believe in the power of design to transform the communities we serve.
By engaging directly with those affected by our projects, we define success through their needs and aspirations, ensuring that resources are used to create equitable outcomes for people and the environment.
Page Foundation
The Page Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to advancing cities, spaces, and places that make up our communities through research, scholarships, and symposia. For over a decade, the Foundation has supported initiatives in architecture, building sciences, historic preservation, landscape architecture, and urban design— focusing on resilience, sustainability, and universal design.
Volunteering / Community Engagement
Our people invest their time and talents into causes that matter, with community involvement ranging from design competitions supporting local initiatives to service programs like Meals on Wheels and Hearts and Hammers. Page employees also serve on various non-profit boards and actively engage in fundraising efforts, reinforcing our commitment to giving back. Events like Conversations in the Garden bring leaders from multiple sectors together to discuss the social value of design, showcasing the critical role architecture plays in addressing pressing community challenges.
2,500+
volunteer hours served by Pagers at community events and projects in 2023 (estimated).
The Prism Wellness and Community Center
As part of Page’s commitment to supporting under-represented groups, we designed this prototype to explore the inclusive design process. Barriers such as violence, social exclusion, and discrimination have limited healthcare access for many in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer / Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. This model reflects Page’s dedication to breaking down these barriers, reducing stigma, and supporting healthcare access for all.
The Prism model endeavors to be an accepting, compassionate environment for everyone to come together collectively. The design features bold color and light, reflecting iconic rainbows for Pride. In the lobby, a history wall depicts culturally and socially significant movements. Fabrics and artwork from celebrated LGBTQIA+ artists reflect serenity, healing, and inclusivity.
The LGBTQIA+ community has significant concerns about privacy and safety. That’s why treatment and intake spaces are private and acoustically treated. Exam tables are turned away from doors. Visual privacy is prioritized in unisex restrooms and changing areas, with full-height stall walls, doors, and individual mirrors. Waiting areas vary in size, scale, and openness for choice. Reception is prominently displayed for observation and assistance, with visibility to public transportation, waiting, and parking areas outside. Behavioral health design considerations apply, such as avoiding dead-end hallways, orienting offices for staff egress, and access control.
Read more in Page’s white paper on providing inclusive healthcare to the LGBTQIA+ community
Listen to one of Prism’s designers explain the project’s inclusive design
As part of our commitment to improving our communities, we provide non-profit community partners with pro-bono and low-bono (significantly reduced fee) professional services. We often help clients leverage the impact of our work by providing consulting and design services that amplify their fundraising and outreach efforts. Our pro-bono and low-bono work benefits a variety of organization types focused on our communites.
Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB)
Our commitment extends to our project delivery teams. We prioritize including Minority, Women-Owned, Disadvantaged, and Veteran-Owned Businesses in our projects, helping our clients meet and exceed their HUB goals. By mentoring small and disadvantaged businesses, we foster their growth and ensure that our industry continues to evolve toward greater inclusion.
ULI Austin 2024 Impact Awards — Best Project Design
2024 Lean Construction Institute (LCI) — Design Award
2024 Associated General Contractors of America Austin Chapter — Outstanding Construction Award (over 150M)
2022 Precast Concrete Manufacturer’s Association — Best of Precast Concrete Award, Best Medical Facility
Austin, Texas
Texas Children’s Hospital North
Austin Campus
The new five-story, 52-bed, 365,000-square-foot hospital offers the 10th largest U.S. city equitable, advanced care closer to home. Designed to meet the community’s diverse needs, it provides comprehensive children’s and women’s health services, including neonatal, cardiac, and pediatric intensive care, operating rooms, epilepsy monitoring, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, a sleep center, and a high-risk fetal center. With an emergency center and on-site Texas Children’s Urgent Care location, the hospital’s central triage area and accessible wayfinding ensure quick, family-centered care from the moment patients arrive.
The adjacent 170,000-square-foot outpatient center connects families to routine and specialized services in a child-friendly
environment. Amenities such as isolation rooms, a pharmacy, café, and chapel ensure well-being and comfort throughout the patient journey.
Inspired by Central Texas, the hospital’s design incorporates natural materials and outdoor spaces that promote healing, while sustainable features enhance ecological stewardship. This holistic approach blends leading-edge care with inclusivity and well-being at every level.
Watch “Building a Sustainable Future at Texas Children’s Hospital”
MATERIALS
Materials and finishes were 41% responsibly sourced, including 8.5% from recycled content and 33% sourced from Texas. The project also saw 84% (4,058 tons) of construction waste diverted from landfills, emphasizing recycling and salvage.
ECOLOGY
The landscape design honors the Central Texas ecology by protecting as many existing live oak groves as possible and providing a pond and landscaping at the wetland-sensitive southern end of the site. The site boasts 43% protected and restored vegetation.
ENERGY
The project saw a 24% reduction in annual energy costs through electricity, a 63% reduction in natural gas, and a 34% reduction in peak energy.
The hospital committed to prioritizing the use of Austin-area produce suppliers for the food prepared for patients and in the cafeteria.
COMMUNITY
WATER
The project was able to achieve over 24% indoor water use savings. Additionally, permanent irrigation for the majority of the site will come directly from air conditioning condensate, resulting in 100% outdoor water use savings.
The site features 32% beneficial open space with walkable and bikeable paths connecting to the surrounding area.
WELL BEING
Lead With Integrated Design
As a community of designers, we champion design-led thinking, putting people first and embracing bold approaches that lead to big ideas and an even bigger impact on meaningful work in important spaces.
In this section: Pursuing Exceptional Design Exchange Research & Innovation Case Study: Seattle University The Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation
Pursuing Exceptional
We work together as a single firm in a shared pursuit of excellence.
Page One: From Good to Exceptional
At Page, every employee has the opportunity to become an owner. And we embrace a “one firm, one voice” approach supported by firmwide processes across all offices to improve project delivery. We elevate these concepts through an initiative called Page One.
Page One identifies opportunities for offices, practices, and other organizational elements to further collaborate across the firm in our shared pursuit of excellence. “From Good to Exceptional” reflects our continuous mission to evaluate and improve our actions on a journey with no defined endpoint. As we leverage Page One to improve our communities, reduce our environmental impact, and lead with integrated design, we create operational models for others in our industry to follow.
We developed measures to evaluate progress and provide rigor to our intentions. They’re based on our defined firm values, conversations with colleagues, and research into evolving best practices.
Foundation of Page One:
§ Commitment to transparency and nurturing trust.
These measures are organized into six categories, or pillars, that align with industry data gathering and recognition. By intentionally aligning our work with the pillars, we have clear, focused intentions and documentation of our progress:
Firm Strength
We operate as one firm, leveraging our capabilities, business acumen, ethical leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit to give us a competitive edge and provide financial stability.
Design
As a Community of Designers, we champion design-led thinking, putting people first and embracing bold approaches that lead to big ideas and an even bigger impact on meaningful work in important spaces.
Social Responsibility
By intentionally nurturing diversity and inclusion, we advance the cities, places, and spaces that shape society. We
§ Assessment of operational conditions.
§ Analysis of systems in and out of Page.
§ Evaluation of potential opportunities with a broad viewpoint.
promote a culture of respect and belonging in our offices and on every project.
Environmental Responsibility
We design high-performing, healthy, and resilient projects that reduce the impact on our environment through regenerative thinking, processes, and solutions.
Research and Tools
We’re dedicated to curiosity and discovery, actively exploring new ideas, developing proprietary tools, and raising awareness of industry trends and advancements.
Professional Practice Leadership
We support development and growth within our firm and industries through knowledge sharing and service on professional organization committees and boards.
§ Integration of feedback from outreach.
§ Conduct research and support innovation.
§ Support of a collaborative framework that embeds rigor.
Our interdisciplinary team is like no other.
We’re architects with a technical understanding of building systems and engineers who appreciate thoughtful design solutions. We’re creatives who develop financial models and planners who engage in facility operations. Our unique perspectives and backgrounds improve each of us, our firm, and our projects.
We draw from the diverse expertise of our employees in architecture, engineering, and specialty design services. Our commitment to creativity and collaboration offers our clients a complete project team approach that results in coordinated, welldesigned projects.
We craft each team for each project, intersecting disciplines, market sectors, and studios. Our team members are thoughtfully selected based on expertise, skills, and experience to create a unique set of design leaders ready to respond to each project’s needs.
Design Exchange
We’re a community of designers embedded into the creative process, collaborating to help Page pursue meaningful work and elevate design in all our projects.
Design Exchange is a nimble and strategic group of in-house, firm-wide design resources. As building scientists, visualizers, programmers, fabricators, and storytellers, they dig deep into design challenges by mixing traditional craft with advanced technology, pushing our practice and breaking new ground. As thinkers and doers, Design Exchange offers a wealth of hands-on expertise to nurture our next generation of artisans and develop client-centric solutions that make our firm and community healthier, wiser, safer, kinder, and more sustainable.
Exemplifying our design-led culture, Design Exchange comprises five teams: Building Sciences, Fabrication, Storytelling, Studio X, and Tech Lab.
Together, these teams contribute to developing new technologies and making discoveries that impact projects across the firm, supporting Page’s broader organizational effort to advance design and drive innovation.
Building Sciences is focused on creating higher-performing, healthier, more resilient buildings. Through our Design for Impact framework, they help facilitate a truly integrated process to pursue, provide exceptional building performance analysis to inform design processes, and guide teams with rigor through the green building certification process.
Fabrication
cultivates a studio maker culture centered around craft. They help inform the design process by prototyping, providing proof of concept, and testing materials in their 5,000-square-foot Fab Lab. They also offer physical models and mockups for internal teams, contractors, and clients on multiple scales.
Storytelling
sees through the lens of social, economic, and environmental impact and is our champion for The Human Connection. They support pursuit teams, conduct soft skills training, lead special projects, and offer content creation, branding, and messaging services.
Studio X
is a rotating design studio mentoring the next generation of design talent. They strategically assist teams on fast-paced projects. Their goal is to develop the strongest possible design response to complex project challenges and to Think What’s Possible for Buildings of the Future.
Tech Lab
is at the intersection of software and hardware. They take VR, AR, AI, and Computation Design to the next level, offering new ways to create, visualize, study, and — most importantly — experience projects.
Research & Innovation
We’re at the core of nurturing Page’s culture of innovation, enabling new ideas, and elevating our presence in the research and innovation ecosystem to drive impact in the built environment.
Research & Innovation is dedicated to advancing the science and engineering of the environments we shape. The group urges Page to work faster and smarter, challenging our design practice. It operates across the innovation spectrum, validating bold ideas, modeling complex interdisciplinary problems, and translating the latest advances into ingenious solutions and technologies.
Spanning diverse market sectors and practice areas, Research & Innovation is at the leading edge of what’s next, moving us forward by eliminating barriers, maintaining a vibrant research ecosystem of public and private partners and collaborators, and empowering cross-functional teams to push the frontiers of the built environment.
To advance our efforts, we commit to:
§ Seek collaborations and partnerships to co-invent and co-create future-ready designs.
§ Ensure that our entrepreneurial culture is a driving force that supports and accelerates business.
§ Enhance efficiency, quality, and innovation in our designs and solutions by continuously improving processes and methods, addressing societal challenges along the way.
Austin, Texas
Austin Independent School District Rosedale School
The new 103,000-square-foot Rosedale School is designed to serve students with diverse and significant special needs from across Austin ISD. This project reimagines inclusive learning by integrating human-centered design with leading-edge technology to create a more immersive and supportive educational environment.
Rosedale is more than a school—it’s a community hub that connects students, staff, and specialized care providers. The design includes adaptable spaces like sensory rooms, therapeutic gardens, and accessible playgrounds, fostering interaction and inclusivity through shared areas for connection, such as the “Living Room.”
Our work here is already driving systemic change. The benefits of its human-centered, universal design led the district to engage Page in developing these standards for all future bond projects, ensuring these principles benefit the entire district. As we innovate further, we are leveraging immersive technologies to tailor lighting, sound, and textures to meet the unique sensory needs of each student.
This project showcases how thoughtful design, supported by research and innovative partnerships, can create environments where every student thrives. Rosedale School stands as a model of inclusivity, setting a precedent for future educational facilities.
Albany,
New York
NY Creates ZEN (Zero
Energy Nanotechnology) Building
In 2015, our team designed the Zero Energy Nanotechnology (ZEN) Building at SUNY Polytechnic University, aiming for net-zero status through continuous monitoring and adaptation. The building, equipped with over 8,000 sensors, provided real-time data for energy models developed with the University of Albany and industry partners.
Today, we are recalibrating these sensors and energy models to craft a true “digital twin” of the ZEN Building. This virtual representation allows us to simulate and optimize scenarios, such as replacing failing systems without disrupting operations.
Our collaboration extends to facility management firms like GE iFix, FacilitiesConnex, and Seeq, with funding from NYSERDA. This support is crucial for our sustainability efforts, making the ZEN Building a prototype for future projects.
The digital twin serves as an educational platform for facility managers and industry partners, promoting sustainable building practices. Our research aims to transform building management through data-driven insights and collaboration, impacting advanced manufacturing and mission-critical operations.
The ZEN Building digital twin exemplifies how research and innovation can turn visions into reality—one sensor, one model, and one partnership at a time.
LEED
Project
275,000
Seattle, Washington
Seattle University The Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation
At Seattle University’s new Center for Science and Innovation (CSI), the fusion of disciplines starts with the building itself. Designed by Page’s collaborative team of architects, engineers, and planners, the facility integrates leading-edge learning environments with spaces that inspire discovery. Makerspaces at street level buzz with robotics and 3D printers, fostering creativity. Engineering students can exchange ideas, grab a coffee, and later meet with mentors from Amazon or Microsoft in high-tech huddle rooms.
Our integrated design shaped every floor—from corporate-style workspaces for computer science students to 21st-century
biology and chemistry labs, seamlessly connected by sliding glass doors. This cohesive design allows students and researchers to collaborate in real time, just as Page’s interdisciplinary approach unites our expertise to meet the client’s vision.
At the CSI, the result is more than just a state-of-the-art facility—it’s a dynamic environment shaped by Page’s culture of innovation and designed to foster connections between people and ideas.
The building features an all-electric, fossil fuel-free mechanical system, exhaust heat recovery to maximize heat pump efficiency, chilled beams, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and a rooftop photovoltaic array, which contributed to a building energy usage that is 64% below the AIA 2040 baseline goal.
The design carefully relocated landscape features to other locations on campus and incorporated original trees and boulders into the new design of the plaza that fronts a major campus thoroughfare.
The facility includes a makerspace that is open to the entire community. Also located at the street level are the Center for Community Engagement and KXSU, a student-run radio station, reinforcing the university’s commitment to connecting with the broader Seattle community.
Materials were selected for their high recycled content, low VOCs, and lower carbon footprint. Ease of maintenance and long-term durability were prioritized to maximize the investment over time. Access to daylight from the center was necessary to maintain the occupants’ connection to nature and contribute to their health and well-being.
