Communities_West-line studio.

Town Halls

The firm gathers each week to share work, ideas and inspiration, and take a deeper look at subjects core to KPF’s philosophy.

The weekly format varies, with some meetings featuring “A Walk Through the Studio” with team members sharing aspects of ongoing projects. Other sessions take a less formal approach, such as a video compilation by staff showcasing home workspaces and personal projects during the COVID-19 quarantine. Each meeting offers a chance to voice observations, share suggestions, and create connections among employees at all levels, in all global offices.

GRoW

The Green Design, Resilience, and Wellness group integrates its mission into the workflow and ethos of the global practice.

The group’s activities include maintaining the firm’s database of sustainable and resilience strategies, bringing guest lecturers and experts in the field to the office, conducting studies to inform future work, and providing ideas and technical support to the design teams. The group meets on a monthly basis to discuss action items and advance its agenda, continually seeking opportunities to push the boundaries of creative, responsible thinking.

West-line Lab

The West-line Lab is a forum for highlighting innovative tools and workflows with a focus on inspiring attendees to work more smartly and creatively.

As a firm, West-line takes on some of the most complex design challenges in the world. These projects require efficiency, precision, flexibility, and design excellence. Emerging technologies for simulation and fabrication, to advanced modelling and visualization, to coordination and documentation, offer new ways for architects to create and execute more effectively. KPF Lab hosts frequent events to foster the sharing and discussion of innovative technologies and exploratory methods in architecture.

West-line Public

West-line Public is a platform for all within the firm to address issues of racial and social inequality and combat the inequities that exist within the profession and the built environment.

The group’s mission comprises three areas of focus: education, outreach, and design. The first integrates topics of injustice into the firm’s education program to broaden the purpose and perspective underlying its design and culture. The second is both to increase racial diversity within the firm through hiring and development and to leverage KPF’s position within the industry to create academic and employment opportunities for BIPOC professionals. The third is to pursue collaborations and commissions in both the public and private sectors that enable design to create more equitable cities.

West-line Pride

Comprised of a cross section of the KPF community, West-line Pride works together to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues within the firm in ways that inform design thinking.

The group meets regularly to discuss topics related to inclusivity in design and organizes educational tours and outings, schedules guest speakers and panel discussions, and hosts charitable social events within the office. The group’s “Inclu-city” Evening Session series focuses on issues of inclusivity, accessibility, and community engagement in the design of cities, and has featured speakers such as Matthias Hollwich, Principal and Co-Founder of HWKN, and Joel Sanders, Principal at JSA and Professor of Architecture at Yale University.