Culture

If we're going to help clients use design as a tool for institutional transformation, we'd better practice some of that ourselves. That calls for a culture that embraces change and growth.

We put learning and collaboration at the heart of our work, encouraging the exchange of ideas and constructive debate. That's how we designed our open studios: to promote team-based problem solving elbow-to-elbow.

There's a reason we say Shepley has a culture of inquiry. We complement project-based learning with formal and informal professional development, and put our money where our words are: a percentage of overhead each year goes to our 2% For Innovation competition, challenging colleagues to pursue concepts that advance our practice. It's how we've developed everything from project storytelling materials to proprietary planning software.

We're proud of the firm's remarkable portfolio - the work of generations of designers spanning more than 135 years. Now it's our turn. The way we see it, our history challenges us to demonstrate our own forward-looking design thinking.

Culture isn't just about us. We believe in professional and community partnership, with staff teaching at MIT, Boston Architectural College, and MassArt. We also support the ACE Mentor Program and Citizen Schools. We seek out pro bono opportunities locally and globally, from designing a healthcare facility in Haiti for Partners In Health to providing office space for Kid Risk in their global fight against polio.