Our Culture
Mission Statement
By empowering every voice, our ADVANTAGE is providing a consistent, responsive and resourceful design team that transforms our clients’ visions into inspired and cohesive ARCHITECTURE and interior design solutions.
Core Values
Teamwork
We believe in the strength of collaboration and surround ourselves with a powerhouse team of colleagues, consultants, clients, and industry partners. This fosters trust, support, and discovery in our projects and builds upon the value of each person’s individual strengths and contributions.
Dedication
With a genuine drive to exceed expectations, we deliver purposeful spaces and remain dedicated to our clients throughout the design and construction process. Our commitment goes beyond just putting our best foot forward; we ensure a familiar face from start to finish, listen to client needs, and creatively solve any problems that arise.
Resourceful
Understanding our teams’ strengths and continually growing together, we focus on bringing our whole selves to the table, utilizing everyone’s varied perspectives, knowledge and unique capabilities.
Adaptable
We embrace change, valuing diverse perspectives to discover alternate possibilities. Our team stays informed about industry, technology, and education advancements to creatively navigate challenges, find solutions, and work effectively with the project team.
Responsive
Our team fosters transparency, open communication, and inclusivity, relying on our talented and experienced staff to provide reliable resources and appropriate solutions. We value authentic and consistent communication, and acknowledging the importance of timely responses even when we don’t have immediate answers.
Team Building
Strong relationships and social cohesion are important for the physical and mental well-being of each individual and the team. We strive to improve our communication, transparency, and generating that sense of belonging through equitable and authentic interactions.
OUR ACTIVITES
- Annual Team Building Gatherings
- Office Potlucks
- Holiday Family Gatherings
- Office-wide Continuing Education
- Internal Weekly NEWSletter
- Annual Firm Vision Sessions
WHERE WE’VE BEEN – WHERE WE’RE GOING
Team Workshop Day
-2023
Community Engagement
There is a reason we choose to live and work in the regions we do and expanding our commitment to those regions through a variety of community engagement opportunities is extrememly important to us.
“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead
Buildings + Belonging
2023 Bringing Design Into Focus
OUR INVOLVEMENT
- Annual Bringing Design Into Focus Event
- AIA Minnesota and AIA Northern Minnesota Involvement
- Duluth and St. Paul Area Chamber Involvement
- Fuse Duluth
- Leadership Duluth
- Local Board Positions
GIVING BACK
Our entire team shares a passion of giving back whether as a team or individually supported goals. We provide specific time and resources for team members to engage in community efforts that feed their creativity, leadership, and mentorship abilities. We have been fortunate to give back in many unique ways and look forward to the continued growth of those efforts, one step at a time.
OUR CONTRIBUTION
- Working with Non-Profits
- Charitable Contributions
- Supporting Student Scholarships
- Supporting Local Fundraising
- Pro Bono Work
- Supporting Local Events
To learn more about the amazing work that Global Volunteers is doing with their Reaching Children’s Potential Program, click HERE to visit their website. It has been an honor to donate architectural services for this important work since it originated.
Global Volunteers – Tanzania
Reaching Children’s Potential Program
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
We at Architecture Advantage are dedicated to recognizing our strengths, growing our awareness of bias and its impact, and aligning the intent for a diverse and inclusive workplace with action. This continual journey is further enabled by empowering your voice, your perspective, your authenticity and candor. We value every individual as a whole as well as an integral member of our team.
“We are not here to be right. We are here to get it right”
– Brene Brown
OUR ACTION
We are listening and keeping engaged in our team’s well-being through the following initiatives:
- Quarterly Team Culture Change Initiative Sessions (variety of slide samples below)
- Mindsets
- The Lenses We Wear – Diversity, Privilege, and Bias
- Culture, Goals, and Resources
- Scenarios
- Participation in AIA Minnesota Equity Council and Community of Practice for Cultural Change
- Introduction of Individual Work Style Guides
- Utilization of Clifton Strengths Assessment, Tools, and Resources
- Pursuit of International Living Future Institute JUST Label
