United by Design

Origin

United by Design (UBD) is PRAXIS3's employee resource group that serves as a liaison between staff and firm leadership. Born from the collective passion and initiative of employees, UBD is committed to creating a more connected and equitable workplace.

Through in-office initiatives, actions, and resources, United by Design works to establish a baseline for continuous progress, supported by regular pulse checks and a shared sense of accountability. The group’s impact even extends beyond the office, engaging with local schools and programs to support and diversify the future of the design profession.

Office Vibes

Wellness Room

Our Wellness Room is a dedicated space designed for comfort, privacy, and relaxation. It serves as a Mother's Room for nursing mothers, offering a mini fridge for breast milk storage, cabinets for pump supplies, and a sink with handwashing essentials. The room is also available for quiet restoration, personal calls, prayer, or meditation. An anonymous reservation system ensures privacy for those who need it.

Unisex Restroom

Using the restroom is a human need. In addition to the women's and men's rooms on our floor, we also have a genderless, single-occupant restroom for all to use.

Increased Diverse Hiring

Over the past few years, it's been incredible to witness the increasing diversity within our team as our office continues to grow. In the last five years, we’ve made significant strides in fostering a more inclusive hiring process, bringing in talented individuals from diverse genders, races, nationalities, and backgrounds.

Paid Parental Leave

We are committed to supporting our employees as they grow their families. Our paid parental leave policy provides 8 weeks of fully paid leave at 100% salary for both mothers and fathers, including adoption. Additionally, employees have the option to take 4 more weeks at 50% pay, ensuring flexibility and financial support during this important time.

Observed / Floating Holiday

At PRAXIS3, we recognize the importance of honoring diverse histories and personal traditions. Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., is observed as a paid holiday to reflect our support and awareness as a firm. In addition, our Floating Holiday policy provides employees with two days of paid time off to observe cultural, religious, or personal events of their choosing. This gives flexibility and sense of belonging for our employees, inside and outside of the office.

Self Expression

We celebrate individuality and want you to feel at ease expressing your true self at work. Whether through your style, ideas, or creativity, we encourage you to bring your whole self to the office. As an extension of self-expression, we do not have a formal dress code—wear what makes you feel confident, comfortable, and inspired while maintaining appropriate attire for a professional setting.

Mission

As an architecture firm, we recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our industry. We believe that PRAXIS3 can benefit greatly from embracing and promoting diversity in all its forms. We acknowledge that our success as a firm depends on creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and experiences.

Testimonials

Hear from firm leadership about diversity, equity, and inclusion at PRAXIS3.

"I am proud that PRAXIS3 exceeds the industry average for minority representation across our staff, which demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the profile of the profession. I am excited about what this means: we draw on a range of experience and perspective, which make us the most flexible and responsive designers. We want to transform communities with compelling design, accessible spaces, and inspiring interactions that resonate with any facet of the population. By leveraging our talented staff, we can achieve these results with any design challenge! I learn something new from my colleagues every day."

Sarah Butler

Principal

"United By Design helps us to be a better firm. We do better work when we embrace and leverage the diverse experiences and backgrounds of our colleagues. We make better decisions when we include a diversity of voices. And we’re able to attract and retain talented professionals when we reward good work equitably. It’s good for business and it’s good for design outcomes as well."

Brian Tanner

Principal

Participation with Purpose

We are committed to making our workplace more diverse, inclusive and welcoming while also making a meaningful impact beyond our office walls. We recognize the importance of not only improving our internal culture but also contributing to the broader design industry.

We actively work to inspire and support the next generation of diverse designers. One way we do this is by sponsoring programs like Project Pipeline, an imitative led by the National Organization of Minority Architect (NOMA). This initiative helps young students explore the world of design and architecture, showing them how they can use their creativity to shape their communities. We also encourage our team members to volunteer at these camps, mentoring and inspiring future designers.

Through these efforts, we're dedicated to building a more inclusive and representative future for the design industry - because great design should reflect all voices.

A large building with a white roof and a blue sign that says LC.

Let's Discuss Your Vision

Every great design begins with a conversation. At PRAXIS3, we're not just architects; we're storytellers, innovators, and visionaries. Reach out to us to discuss how we can bring your project to life with a blend of creativity, functionality, and sustainability.