Contract Magazine - October 2017 - 24

A Call to Service for Our Communities
by Evelyn M. Lee, AIA

Evelyn M. Lee, AIA, writes
a regular column for Contract
on business practices in design
and professional development.
Based in San Francisco, Lee
is corporate managing director
for workplace strategy and
analytics at Savills Studley.
She holds graduate degrees
in architecture, public
administration, and business
administration. Currently
a member of the AIA national
board of directors, Lee
received an AIA Young
Architects Award in 2014.
Her website is evelynlee.com.
Visit contractdesign.com/
businesspractice to read all
of her columns for Contract.

I recently welcomed my second child into the
world, and during my maternity leave, I contemplated
the current state of our country and what the future
holds for our children. What types of contributions
can I make to my community? And, as design
professionals, what can individuals and firms do
to make a difference in their local communities?
In 2007, while serving as the first manager
of Public Architecture's 1+ program, I sought out
design firms that were willing to donate one percent
of their billable hours towards the public good.
Collectively, those pro bono hours have the potential
to amount to what would be the world's largest
design firm dedicated to serving local communities.
Along with my pitch, I often pointed out five benefits
that strategically implemented pro bono work
can provide to firms. The need for us, as a profession,
to stand in service to our communities is greater
now than ever, and those same five benefits
remain true today:
Creative opportunities
A pro bono project allows a firm to flex its creative
abilities and provide leadership opportunities
to its younger staff members. Often, these projects
are a departure from a firm's typical body of work,
and they can open doorways to new markets.
As an example, the firm Gould Evans collaborated
with Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri,
to launch STEAM Studio by both donating
to the program and designing its space. Gould
Evans employees also support workshops
for K-12 students.
Recruitment and retention
The next generation of leaders and recent
college graduates seek out firms that are actively
engaged in projects that are socially relevant
to their communities. Pro bono projects can draw
on the skills of everyone in a design firm, including
non-design staff, to effectively engage with
the community. The work also presents educational
scenarios for younger staff members who do
not have the chance to interact directly with
clients on a regular basis.

24

Local involvement and partnerships
The best way to strengthen ties and build
relationships in your community is to implement
positive change. Pro bono projects allow firms
to partner or collaborate with government agencies,
artists, suppliers, and even other designers.
An increase in local involvement and partnerships
opens doors to prospective clients who may not
otherwise have known about the firm. While working
at Jova Daniels Busby Architects, Roy Abernathy
(now senior managing director at Savills Studley),
worked with Hands On Atlanta to design its new
headquarters. Funders were so impressed by the
design and its efficiency that many of them more
than doubled their contributions.
Community relations
Pro bono projects have the potential to garner
interest from members of the local media and the
broader community who may not often engage with
design firms. Participating in these types of projects
sends signals about the values of a firm, which helps
to attract future employees and clients who are
interested in working with a company that supports
the public good. For example, Maurice Jennings
+ Walter Jennings Architects designed a playhouse
for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
of Northwest Arkansas that would receive public
attention as it was displayed in the local mall
and later auctioned.
Personal satisfaction
Working on pro bono projects invites designers
to use their unique skill sets to make measurable
differences in people's lives. Additionally, the scope
and time line of a pro bono project often offers more
immediate satisfaction than others that take years
to complete. I consider the pro bono projects that
I have been involved with to be among the most
impactful and memorable work in my career. Being
a part of a project that invests in your community
can provide you and your team with a deep sense
of personal satisfaction.
When looking into ways to contribute to
communities and society, why not do so by making
the most use of your design skills? Creating spaces
that help nonprofits to both run their organizations
more efficiently and to inspire potential funders
will be rewarding for the client. And you will benefit
as well, both personally and professionally. c

contractdesign.com 	

OCTOBER 2017

PHOTOGRAPHY: CARL BOWER

COLUMNIST
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Contract Magazine - October 2017

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