KRA Statement & Commitment

Kuhn Riddle Architects

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Sustainability Statement

Updated January 2021

The global pandemic of 2020 brought to the surface many inequalities in our country and in our communities. Social equity, within our goals to create sustainable environments, holds a central place in our practice. Now more than ever is a moment for us to open our eyes, listen to the people of color in our lives, educate ourselves, and support change in whatever way we can.

As architects and designers of the built world, it is our responsibility to help create a more sustainable environment, and while we may focus mostly on the buildings and landscapes, it is only one small piece of the puzzle. We must also focus on the people we design for, and the people in our profession. Without a representation of the diversity in our country and communities, also in our profession, we will move very slowly towards solving not only climate crisis, but many other deficiencies in our built environment like affordable housing for everyone, quality schools for all children, and quality healthcare facilities in all communities. Until there is equity, liberty, and justice for all in this country, there will be civil unrest, and that impacts everyone, black or white, or any of the many identities we all have. We cannot expect perfection, but we can all do better.

In reflecting on how we at KRA can do better, we have committed to the following:

• In 2019, we started a scholarship for high school aged women and students of color, who are interested in architecture, to attend the Summer Design program at UMass Amherst. We are committed to this annual scholarship and we will continue to encourage our colleagues to contribute as well.
• We will continue to seek out educational opportunities for our staff which focus on developing skills that respectfully disrupt bias and discrimination, and promote social justice, equity and inclusion.
• We seek interns and staff with diverse cultural backgrounds, with the belief that diversity of experiences only adds to better designs and enriches our corporate culture. We will continue to actively seek women and minority interns and staff.
• We seek collaborators and consultants with diverse backgrounds, knowing that their perspectives will enhance the design process and ultimately the final design product. We will continue to seek out and build new professional relationships with companies owned by women, minorities, veterans and LGBTQ+ individuals.

We pledge to continue to evaluate our approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within our firm and within our partnerships, and challenge ourselves to do better every year. We are committed to being part of positive change within our profession and within our community.