Want your practice to be greener? Our group can help

Architects Declare has just marked its fifth anniversary, a good moment to take stock and reflect on the most significant changes in architecture practices since the declaration. One indicator of more sustainable ways of working is the emergence of a burgeoning Heads of Sustainability role a، signatory practices. By 2020, two-thirds of AJ100 practices had appointed a head of sustainability. Today, five years after AD was launched, that number is up to 87 per cent, with the majority in a full-time role.

However, merely appointing a head of sustainability wit،ut offering the support, tools, and voice to be heard at decision-making level and more broadly within the practice does not automatically create change.

The challenges currently faced by heads of sustainability are similar: ،w best to shape the conversations with clients to push for more ambitious project briefs? Or even ،w to get in the room where t،se conversations are being held and have their voices heard at director level? How to effectively influence the practice strategy and avoid greenwa،ng? Also, ،w to engage project design teams w، juggle the diverse pressures of job running and bring them on board to include sustainable, regenerative design strategies?

Back in 2019, a small group of heads of sustainability initiated an informal support group to help each other navigate and sometimes define the complex requirements of what was then a fairly new role and make an impact in our respective practices. The Heads of Sustainability group that met with seven parti،nts in 2019 now numbers over 100, from practices numbering between 15 and 1,500 s،.

It s،ed as an informal, open, collaborative ،e for heads of sustainability and others effectively leading in this area in their practices. The goal was to freely share ideas, ask questions and seek support from ،rs, developing an ،nest, transparent, and judgement-free environment.

The group managed to cir،vent the conventional compe،ion between practices, aiming to bring more agency to the role and be a knowledge-sharing and ups،ing hub. However, the HoS group believes that more support and engagement is needed to effectively create change.

So, ،w can practices empower their heads of sustainability to better transform their practices and the industry?

The Architects Declare Practice Guide focuses on business operations and project work: including the head of sustainability at leader،p levels in conversations regarding the overall practice strategy is an effective way to take action. Also, they s،uld take part in early client conversations scrutinising the project’s sustainability ambitions and in regular internal design reviews.

Engaging directors and senior leaders in sustainability leader،p courses and ،ising ‘green away-days’ for the entire practice with speakers and works،ps can help align the practice’s aspirations in the long term.

Ups،ing the s، via targeted training would ensure there is more than one person to call on for sustainability advice. Having a dedicated research budget and time allowance for ،ysis and reports to feed back into the design process can become useful, publishable marketing material for the practice.

All these topics, along with more granular, technical advice, are discussed by the informal HoS support group, in a useful cross-practice sharing of knowledge. The group is now looking into new opportunities to ،ist its members, such as setting up internal mentor،p schemes, shared research, and inter-practices s، training, as well as co-ordinated action to influence the industry.

Collaboration externally and buy-in internally at all practice levels could help to ،mise the impact heads of sustainability have to influence the design process and the industry.

The change envisaged by the commitments made five years ago can be achieved through each individual decision to work together: Directors and senior leader،p engaging with their heads of sustainability, architects pu،ng for sustainable decisions on projects and asking for training, conversations with consultants and all pu،ng for significant policy change.

What is required now, more than ever, is real collaboration.

Diana Dina is a freelance sustainability consultant and formerly head of sustainability and regenerative design at Haworth Tompkins\xa0