Our Firm // Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Contact Us At TowerPinkster, curiosity is at our core. That’s why we believe bringing together people of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences creates an environment in which our designs genuinely reflect the communities where we live, work, learn, heal, and play. For more than 70 years, TowerPinkster has made significant contributions to our communities through our pledge to quality, sustainable, and equitable design. In 2020, we established the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to strengthen our commitment to DEI within our firm. Our DEI Mission Statement embodies our dedication and focuses on driving initiatives within three areas: People, Purpose, and Process. We strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture that empowers each person to be their genuine self. People We will celebrate our unique people and partners by developing a diverse workforce and cultivating a sense of belonging and understanding. Purpose We will empower the communities we serve through our time and resources to create more equitable outcomes. Process We will inspire passion, inclusion, and creativity into our daily practices by embracing diverse perspectives and equitable designs. Diversifying our Workforce Over the past decade, we’ve significantly increased gender diversity, with a 750% rise in registered women architects and professional engineers, including key leadership roles such as supervisors, managers, CFO, and Board members. Mentoring Future Employees To help shape young minds in our industry, we offer forms of mentorship such as our internship program, job shadowing, and our participation in MiCareerQuest. Attracting Diverse Talent We actively recruit diverse talent by participating in career fairs at various local and regional high schools, colleges, and universities. We have attended over 20 this year! Fair Work Practices We are committed to fair work standards and ensure no discrimination against employees or applicants based on any intersecting identities. 1% Pledge TowerPinkster proudly pledges 1% of our annual net revenue to support our communities and clients through time, expertise, and monetary donations, reflecting our core values of community strength and work-life balance. Community Volunteering TowerPinkster’s Community Volunteering Committee drives our commitment to civic engagement through year-round volunteer opportunities, eight hours of paid volunteer time for each employee, and an annual fall giving campaign, which in 2023 raised over $30,000 for families in crisis. Boosting Participation To further enhance our community impact, we aim to increase membership and participation amongst our staff in local organizations that emphasize DEI principles and focus on underrepresented groups. Broadening Perspectives At a project level, we continue to ask the question, “Who’s not in the room?” as we work to expand and broaden perspectives. We have evolved our design processes to include more conscious, hands-on engagement through food, music, arts, and other areas of cultural importance to drive a holistically inclusive design process. Incorporating this in our design process resulted in the development of Michigan’s first code-approved gender-neutral restroom solution for one of our K-12 clients.
