SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN
Designing with Purpose:
Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future
Rooted in science, driven by care—sustainability guides everything we do.
I. Opening Reflections
At O Z Collaborative, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond just words; it is embedded in concrete practices that we are integrating into every aspect of our organization through dedicated efforts at both the organizational and project levels.
In light of the current administration’s aggressive rollback of climate action, environmental safeguards, and science-based governance, we as architects must take a clear and principled stand. The deliberate dismantling of environmental protections—along with the weakening of energy standards, the suppression of climate data, and the erosion of public trust in science—threatens not only ecosystems and communities, but the very future we are entrusted to help shape.
Architecture is never neutral. Every design decision is a statement of values—about what we choose to protect, who we choose to value, and what kind of future we believe is possible. At a time when political priorities through federal leadership are shifting away from the urgency of the climate crisis, our profession must respond with resolve. We must lead by example: designing for decarbonization, health, resilience, and equity.
The overt efforts to roll back environmental protections are happening in parallel with troubling assaults on gender equity, LGBTQ+ rights, liberal and humanitarian institutions, the free press and immigrant communities to name a few. These are not isolated policies; they are part of a broader agenda that devalues human dignity, silences science, and divides communities. As professionals committed to the health, safety, and welfare of all people, we cannot separate environmental justice from social justice.
In the face of this coordinated retreat from cultural and humanitarian responsibilities, we reaffirm our values. We stand for a built environment that supports climate action, fosters belonging, and prioritizes those historically excluded. We believe architects must not only design for change—we must demand it, advocate for it, and organize around it. Silence is not an option.
This is a time for courageous, public, and collective action. We are committed to leveraging our experiences and data insights to drive meaningful change within our firm and the broader community as we collectively work towards a more sustainable future.
II. Commitment + Goals
At O Z Collaborative, sustainability is central to our design philosophy and professional responsibility. We believe that those shaping the built environment have a vital role to play in addressing climate change. We are committed to advancing low-carbon, high-performance solutions that contribute to this global imperative. Through our design work and operations, we aim to create lasting, positive impacts on the environment and the communities we serve. For us, sustainability and design excellence are inseparable components of a forward-thinking practice.
The built environment contributes nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions and significantly impacts human health. As architects, we share a responsibility—with owners and stakeholders—to design and build for a more sustainable future.
This Sustainability Action Plan outlines steps we have already taken as well as new steps we’re taking to meet industry goals, including achieving net-zero emissions for all new construction and major renovations by 2030, including signing the Architecture & Design Materials Pledge.
As a proud signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment, O Z Collaborative integrates sustainable strategies into every project and guides clients towards high-performance solutions that reduce carbon impact and support long-term environmental resilience.
Our sustainability efforts also extend to our internal operations, where we continue to reduce our workplace environmental footprint through improved office practices and ongoing evaluation.
At O Z Collaborative, sustainability is more than a goal—it’s the lens through which we approach every decision and define success. We are building a culture where environmental responsibility is second nature, and every team member is empowered to lead with purpose.
III. Firm Goals
O Z Collaborative is committed to achieving net zero emissions on all new buildings and major renovations by 2030. We recognize the urgency of addressing the environmental challenges we face and are dedicated to seamlessly integrating sustainability principles into our work.
At O Z Collaborative, we prioritize fostering a culture of environmental consciousness and providing comprehensive staff education. This includes empowering employees to advocate for sustainable practices.
IIIa. Firm Culture
Keep all OZC Leadership and staff actively involved and invested in achieving firm sustainability goals
Foster a culture of environmental advocacy through mutual support and shared responsibility by encouraging participation in sustainability focused events, lectures and professional organizations
Maintain active participation and reporting under the AIA 2030 Commitment
Sign and participate in the Architecture & Design Materials Pledge
Continue to optimize office procedures to reduce energy consumption and minimize waste
IIIb. Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement
Engage stakeholders early in the design process
Host workshops and seminars to educate clients
Follow the AIA Framework for Design Excellence
Partner with industry peers to share best practices and advance
broader systemic change
IIIc. Empowering Employee Education and Development
We are committed to expanding our internal training programs to include hands-on workshops and real-world exercises that strengthen sustainable design practices and foster a culture of learning by doing. In parallel, we will broaden our community engagement efforts by extending our volunteer day initiative to include sustainability-focused activities that connect our team with local impact.
Promote office-wide sharing of sustainable knowledge and strategies being employed on individual projects by:
Lunch and Learns
Monthly Project Presentation
Expose staff to best practices, learning, and evaluation tools created by other firms and AIA
Support staff in expanding credentials for LEED, Passive House, etc. and help support continuing education efforts.
Train staff in the use of design-based energy modeling software.
IIId. Operations
Reduce the office CO2 emissions by buying clean energy through our provider
Install Solar PV’s on our roof
Advocate for biking to work by providing protected and covered bike storage
Track annual carbon footprint and aim to reduce energy use by 5% and water use by 2% annually – pull utilities annually to track data
Propose an annual volunteer day with a local charity to support our local community and environment
IV. Project Goals and Standards
O Z Collaborative is committed to a design approach that prioritizes people and the planet. Through updated design processes and project standards, we aim to create buildings that minimize environmental impact and promote a healthier future for communities.
We will integrate energy modeling into our standard design process and encourage the specification of healthier and lower-carbon materials during our material selection process.
Make it stand out.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
— Squarespace