RDLR Recognized as a 2023 Outstanding Diverse Organization
The Houston Business Journal has recognized 31 nonprofits and for-profit companies in the 2023 Diversity in Business Awards. The honorees were celebrated at HBJ's 2023 Diversity in Business Awards luncheon on March 30. These Outstanding Diverse Organization honorees, along with 36 individual honorees, were nominated and then chosen by the HBJ staff to be recognized for their efforts to promote equality and diversity in the workforce. From large corporations such as Verizon to startups like Ally Energy, these organizations are taking steps such as inclusive workspaces and community involvement.
Representatives of the Outstanding Diverse Organizations took a moment to respond to HBJ's questions about why diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are important to their organizations and to the business world in general. Read the RDLR’s answers below.
Why is diversity important and how does it impact your clients or business?
At RDLR Architects, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of who we are. These principles guide how we build our team and cultivate leaders, and are central to our mission and our impact on the communities we serve.
Diverse and inclusive teams have a positive impact on our services and help us serve our clients who come from varied backgrounds. We take a holistic approach to projects and understand that having varied perspectives helps generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing—and increasingly diverse—world. Through diversity, we better understand our client’s cultures, traditions and values.
How have your efforts to be more diverse and inclusive impacted your business or workplace?
RDLR Architects has created a corporate culture where difference is valued. We believe diversity drives innovation and enhances our design. Exposure to the language, values, art and design of multiple cultures improves our understanding of client needs, goals and values. Understanding and innovation result in unique designs that serve our clients and the greater community. We are sensitive to cultural differences and intuitively understand the importance of social gatherings. Our designs reflect the communities they serve.
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of incorporating diversity in your business?
One of the most rewarding aspects of incorporating diversity in our firm is that our projects reflect culturally sensitive design that promotes social justice due to our awareness of implicit cultural bias. An additional benefit to incorporating diversity is that we have one of the best office potlucks featuring foods from around the world.
Many of our staff have lived in multiple countries and speak multiple languages – some as many as four! From time to time there can be the challenge of language differences – as a result we have developed creative communication methods and use Google Translate when needed.
What accomplishments in the field of diversity and inclusion are you most proud of?
As an architecture firm, we are proud to exceed the AIA national diversity averages by fostering an inclusive workplace and promoting underrepresented groups in our field. AIA’s membership reflects steady growth in the number of women and underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups, though white men still make up the majority of AIA’s membership.
RDLR is committed to providing flexibility through remote work options and flex hours. The firm offers paid family leave for both mothers and fathers, and children are welcome at the office. The firm is proud to offer these benefits and flexibility to employees in order to help move the profession toward a better work/life balance.
Since the firm’s inception, the firm has been the recipient of over 40 design awards. RDLR strongly believes that our diversity has led to design excellence through the reflection of the communities they serve. Our firms’ multicultural experiences improve our understanding of client needs resulting in unique design solutions that serve our clients and the greater community.
RDLR participates in various community activities and industry associations promoting diversity. Associations include Women in Architecture (WIA) and Latinos in Architecture (LIA) through AIA Houston.
What can Houston business leaders do to support diversity in business?
Houstonians are proud of our city’s diversity: Languages, art and FOOD!
As business leaders we can:
Seek diversity in new hires, understand employee family needs, celebrate cultural/religious expression and provide accommodations at work for this, be an example to aspiring professionals and have FIFA games playing in the breakroom, especially during the World Cup!