Big Green: Finding a green firm?

[Charles Brown]

A former employee (architect) is looking to make a change in the DC area.
She asked me for references and firms to investigate. This got me thinking.

As the market has changed and many more clients are requesting greener
buildings, most design firms have some experience with green building and/or
LEED. Five years ago I would have questioned a firm¹s ³buy-in² to green if
there wasn¹t something green about all their work. Many fence-sitting firms
now appear to be firmly committed to greener practices, while others remain
on the fence - giving lip service when pushed by a client. My impression is
that near 100% of recent graduates want to work for a green firm, but most
are being held back by firm leadership.

My questions: 

As a potential employee how does one determine a firms¹ commitment to green
design?

What questions do you ask during an interview?

How do you judge a firm¹s commitment to leading the industry vs. one that
will be content with LEED Silver and point chasing?

Anecdotal example: A former partner once stated; ³I think of LEED as similar
to ADA. In ten years all firms will be doing green projects as standard
practice, just as it took several years for firms to really understand ADA.²
My argument was that if we are content with today¹s LEED levels in 10 years
then the world is in for a lot of hurt!

Thanks, Charles


Charles Brown, AIA LEED AP
Brown Architecture Inc.
324 So. Wilmington Street - Box 117
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
charles at brownarchitecture.net
919.803.3700

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