Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Community

Jensen Architects

We are committed to integrating principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion into every aspect of our practice. Our efforts are rooted in an ethos that celebrates differences, encourages participation, and emphasizes continued education. Ultimately, by embracing these values, we can better design environments that holistically serve our community.

Diverse Perspectives

We believe our studio should reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. To start, we seek out architects and designers with different perspectives, backgrounds, and identities. To better engage with designers from underrepresented communities, we encourage referrals from our diverse community of collaborators. Throughout our practice, we prioritize creating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard, understood, and valued. By embracing these differences in experience, thought, and identity, we are better equipped to achieve designs that are inclusive and equitable for all.

5. omca_sr_JensenArchitects-OMCAWall-8-30-2012 145764 -771 copy

Continued Education

In our day-to-day practice, we make it a priority to educate all members of our studio on the impact of systemic injustice, socioeconomic disparities, and educational inequities that have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable communities. This education comes in many forms, including the sharing of resources on our internal website, casual all-staff discourse about current events, as well as more structured quarterly meetings, training, and community outreach. Recognizing the evolving cultural landscape, we continue to find better ways to improve our understanding of social justice issues and how they impact our studio and the communities we serve.

Culture of Mentorship

We aim to create a positive work experience that encourages a sense of belonging and empowerment. To this end, our practice emphasizes the professional development and training of all members of our studio. Our project team structure allows our designers and architects to experience every phase of the design and construction process and encourages a culture of mentorship. JENSEN also supports training seminars, licensing, LEED accreditation, and building systems research to enable team members at all levels to continually expand their breadth of knowledge and experience. By creating space for new ideas and individual growth, we are a stronger practice.

Shared Values

As architects, we understand the immense responsibility we have in shaping the public realm and creating socially and environmentally just communities. As we strive to act as catalysts for positive change, we prioritize working with diverse clients, consultants, and builders who share our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. By selecting projects, teams, and clients that align with our core values, we reaffirm our commitment to creating spaces that improve communities and serve people. Through our work, we hope to inspire others in the industry to join us in this mission to contribute to a more just and inclusive future.

Community Outreach

We place a high priority on listening to and learning from members of the communities where our projects are located. We often work with engagement specialists to gain a better understanding of how we can most effectively support each unique community. This focus on engagement, allows us to deliver projects that more authentically reflect and celebrate the communities they inhabit. Through our work on projects such as Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground in San Francisco’s Chinatown, India Basin Shoreline in the Bayview Neighborhood of San Francisco, and the Blue Lake TOMA Resilience Campus, we have a deep record of successful community-minded outreach efforts.

Full Universal Design

Inclusion is one of the primary goals of our design work. We strive to create spaces that bring people together, welcoming everyone regardless of age, size, ability, or orientation. While statutes such as the Americans with Disabilities Act begin to set such standards, we believe good design can and should go further. Full universal design encompasses a wide range of elements from the shape of a door handle to the incorporation of ramps instead of stairs, gender-neutral bathrooms, wheelchair access, clear graphic signage, and wayfinding that enhance accessibility beyond code. No matter the project, we design spaces that can be experienced and enjoyed by everyone.

Back to Articles

See our Work