DEIA+ COMMITMENT

As a studio-based practice of 39 people, Snow Kreilich has been recognized for the diversity of backgrounds of its members. When Snow Kreilich received the 2018 AIA Architecture Firm Award, it was noted that over 50% of the staff identified as women and people of color. That number has since grown to 66%. Our studio culture benefits from the diversity and backgrounds of our studio members and the belief that everyone’s voice is critical to the overall design trajectory of the firm. Diversity matters, but alone it is not enough.

Snow Kreilich studio members worked collaboratively to develop the following DEIA+ framework that guides our practice.

BE INTENTIONALLY INCLUSIVE CITIZEN ARCHITECTS.

1. Better understand oneself and one’s biases.
2. Develop a studio culture where everyone feels valued & engaged.
   • Build our capacity to engage and to manage conflict more effectively.
   • Live the values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in our studio and
     projects through measurable outcomes.
3. Integrate equity and inclusion into our design process.
   • Invite difference in, value the differences, and use it as a resource.
   • Actively engage potential clients, consultant partners, and team members who bring
     diversity of thought, experience, and identity.
   • Seek climate justice by considering both the environmental and social impacts of our design decisions.
4. Advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our profession & communities.
   
   

To continually advance and measure our DEIA+ efforts, Snow Kreilich is a corporate member of the International Living Future Institute and holds a JUST 3.0 Label – a comprehensive program that documents and publicly demonstrates our commitment to creating a healthy, equitable workplace. Snow Kreilich achieved Level 4 ratings, the highest possible, in the Gender Diversity, Engagement, Pay Scale Equity, Well-Being, and Charitable Giving indicators. Physical Health + Safety, Community Connections, and Procurement are focus areas for our next JUST Label renewal in 2027.

To increase the studio’s cultural self-awareness and its capacity to bridge across differences, Snow Kreilich provides equity training for all studio members. This includes onboarding to internal DEIA+ efforts, requiring new hires to complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and related programming, annual studio-wide workshops such as Intercultural Conflict Styles, and ongoing engagement with DEIA+ topics, current events, and shared resources.

In addition to these efforts, Snow Kreilich supports community organizations and initiatives that align with our values. We contribute to immigrant support networks and the Minnesota Architectural Foundation’s Clarence Wigington Minority Architectural Scholarship, match studio member donations to aligned organizations, and offer paid time off for employees to volunteer their time and talents. We seek partnerships with BIPOC-owned firms and provide low-bono services to non-profit organizations that serve underrepresented communities.

Karen Lu, FAIA, NOMA, and Emilie Kopp, AIA, lead and actively oversee Snow Kreilich’s DEIA+ initiatives in collaboration with many other studio members who contribute to this important work.