Pros
Lots of good people. The CEO (and his upcoming replacement) is good.
Cons
This firm's leadership doesn't value lower rung people (anything below asst principal). They promise increasing diversity with little follow through – much of it being for business profits versus being just and moral. Some Principals are toxic to the point that they drive their best talent out (hospitality in Atlanta and DC, old guard in Mixed-Use and Office, Johnson Studio). These Principals have insecure and fragile egos. Anytime someone starts doing well they find a way to get rid of them. The pandemic was a convenient tool to get rid of the best people that didn’t just follow the leadership like sheep. There is way too much politics between Principals. It’s unbelievable how much they work against each other. The biggest studios have the worst relationships between Principals. They have never learned to put their rulers back in their pants. Management of new hires is just so bad. I’ve never seen a firm do this badly in getting a new hire set-up and up to speed. If you’re a woman you’re kind of screwed and won’t find much respect. Just to a look at the Principals page… their culture is plain to see. Design quality is mundane and boring. Most buildings feel like a copy, paste, repeat situation. Principals play it safe and don't want to be forward thinking or innovative at all.