Equity in the built environment
Creating equitable communities is central to the architecture profession. Achieving this vision requires removing physical and abstract barriers and burdens as well as empowering people to gather, connect, and function to their highest potential. Use these resources to design equitable communities.
Equity-focused resources
AIA developed the following guides to assist architects and design professionals in creating and advocating for equitable communities and firm-wide equitable practices.
Design affects more than clients and current occupants. It also helps communities thrive socially, environmentally, and economically. Learn more about designing for equitable communities in the AIA Framework for Design Excellence—10 defining principles of design excellence in the 21st century.
How can architects contribute to just, equitable outcomes for all members of the communities they serve? Find out in this extensive resource, which includes tools, tactics, and strategies for creating equity in practice and in projects.
Explore the Architect’s Role in Creating Equitable Communities.
Inequity and inequality are among the urgent challenges that architects and designers are increasingly called upon to address. How can you leverage equitable development frameworks to create and promote healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities? This report analyzes five systems architects and design professionals can use to drive change and shares project examples and potential impacts.
Get resources and talking points on the financial opportunities and benefits of investing in equitable communities to help support architects and the communities they serve. Information is tailored to communities and firms and includes funding ideas such as grants, community land trusts, and micro-investing.
This supplement to the Guides for Equitable Practice helps designers convey the opportunities, benefits, and challenges of making justice a deliberate aim of the building process. It includes more hands-on interactive exercises, with worksheets and contextual timelines that can be used within project teams and with clients or partners. Beyond the supplement, the full guide offers best practices for fostering equitable, diverse, inclusive firm culture and work environments.
Human activity is warming our climate to dangerous levels, and carbon is the primary culprit. Since buildings are responsible for 40% of that carbon, architects must play a leading role in addressing and mitigating the damage caused by climate change. This campaign is a call to action.