New Haven, CT – Hoffmann Architects + Engineers announced it received a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Award from the American Institute of Architects Connecticut Chapter (AIA CT). The award recognizes an AIA CT member firm that has made a significant impact in increasing gender and racial diversity and supporting equity and inclusion, both within their organization and in the design and construction industry.
The award was presented at the AIA Connecticut Awards Gala on Dec. 7, 2023 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. Hoffmann was recognized alongside Amenta Emma Architects, CPG Architects, JCJ Architecture, and Pickard Chilton Architects.
On presenting the 2023 J.E.D.I. Award, Gina Calabro, executive director of AIA Connecticut, highlighted “the impressive advances Hoffmann Architects + Engineers have made in providing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment.” She noted that the award serves “to recognize the firms who have made the greatest strides in increasing gender and racial diversity in their practice and in the overall profession.”
“I want to recognize the leadership of AIA Connecticut and the J.E.D.I. Knowledge Community in inspiring so many architecture practices across the state to make a commitment to real and measurable change in the space of diversity and inclusion,” said Alison Hoffmann, communications manager and chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at Hoffmann, when accepting the award.
Some of Hoffmann’s initiatives in the space of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice include:
- Establishing the Hoffmann Diversity Advancement Scholarship, in collaboration with the Connecticut Architecture Foundation;
- Launching an employee Student Loan Repayment Benefit to support staff in paying down student debt;
- Mentoring K-12 students through leadership roles with the ACE Mentor Program and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA);
- Organizing volunteer days and donation drives with Habitat for Humanity, the United Way of Greater New Haven, Connecticut Foodshare, Loaves & Fishes, Martha’s Table, NY Common Pantry, JDRF, local public-school districts, and other community organizations;
- Hosting educational workshops for staff with DEI consultants, as well as the firm’s own Diversity and Inclusion Book and Film Club;
- Recruiting and hiring staff from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, experiences, and identities;
- Conducting surveys on company culture and developing strategies that address staff feedback;
- Maintaining a DEI blog for employees with events, media, volunteer opportunities, affinity groups, activism and outreach, and other resources; and
- Supporting employee advancement through professional development and conferences that promote social justice and equity.
Hoffmann’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee encompasses diverse employee voices, varied not only in race and gender, but also in age, experience, and job responsibilities. The committee, which has grown to include more than 25% of the staff, meets regularly to expand the firm’s programming and brainstorm new ways to create an inclusive company culture.
