A Commitment to People

Let’s talk about our core beliefs.

Let’s take the concept of optimism – as we’ve discussed previously – and imagine it as a lens. It’s a worldview, a filter through which every experience passes. It’s how we see ourselves and our communities, and how we approach architecture. Through it, our beliefs form a compass to guide us.

Our first core belief is our Commitment to People and their communities, and while the applications of this belief are manifold, we’ll focus on two: clients and our own internal people. Moving forward, this belief will continuously be reflected in our design process, as we authentically engage in a dialogue with those most impacted by the project. The crucial interaction and infusion of ideas resulting from this commitment will allow us to design spaces of maximum benefit and influence.

A local church recently came to us with a challenge: their current building and space weren’t representative of them. Inclusivity, transparency, and dynamism were all part of their identity, but their space communicated disconnection, separateness, and stagnation. Through a continuous dialogue with the church leaders, staff, and community members, we absorbed as much information as possible. Because before we could begin to think about a solution, and even as we moved through the process of testing possible solutions, we needed to understand how the space impacted the different types of people who experienced it.

This core belief also means BVH is committed to the people who work in our studios.

This is manifested in several ways. Setting aside funds specifically earmarked for employees’ continuing education and professional development is one way. Empowering staff to take time to invest in themselves is another. But the result is the same: cultivating a studio culture that values and encourages service, community engagement, and professional development.

Recently, Bryan Solko, AIA, completed Leadership Lincoln’s Fellows program and Project Coordinator Ryan Hier will be joining the organization this fall. Caroline Hinrichs, who leads our Client & Community Engagement initiatives, was recently accepted into Leadership Omaha’s training program. The firm also volunteers for the Special Olympics and participates in other group volunteer work. This belief benefits clients, too, as projects are staffed with skilled people who are bettering themselves while positively impacting the world around them.

Next week, we’ll examine another one of our core beliefs and how it impacts who we are as a firm.

 

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