HUSarchitecture was excited to be one of the sponsors for the 2024 IGA Women in Green Building Leadership Luncheon. As a women-owned business with workforce development goals for non-architects, making space for more diverse voices in the building sector is important to our firm’s mission. The Luncheon’s theme, Fresh Perspectives, explored how, as a community, we can infuse new ideas, innovations, and technologies into our existing workflow to set the groundwork for a greener future.

The panelists discussed pitfalls of the current corporate attitudes toward sustainability. Right now, sustainability measures are a low priority for companies, being one of the first things cut when revenues fall. Big corporations that account for the greatest amount of greenhouse gas emissions are not held accountable by their boards for upholding decarbonizations measures. And minority communities who are disproportionately affected by climate change are often not included in the process for solving the climate crisis.

We hope to continue to prioritize partnerships with local organizations for community-driven problem solving, to push for corporate responsibility, and uplift the voices of women and marginalized populations in the industry to be advocates for sustainable solutions.

Panelist Karen Youngblood said, “For women, we just need to start showing up and being in the room at meetings. The more that you saturate yourself in this industry, you will begin to know and connect with people. You have to push past your fear.”

As a small firm committed to helping the building industry achieve net zero by 2030, we are no stranger to setting goals that scare us. But working to shift an industry that causes nearly 40% of overall greenhouse gas emissions can only be done through collaboration. It was beyond inspiring to be in a room with nearly two hundred other leaders in sustainability uplifting women’s voices in an industry that needs us all to work together.

Read more about the IGA’s takeaways and panelists here.

HUSarchitecture helps Sponsor the 2024 Women in Green Building Leadership Luncheon