Toxic Environment - Senior Architect WATG Employee Review

1.0
26 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good location Good benefits package

Cons

Toxic backstabbing environment Senior management and directrs have no built experience and feel constantly threatened by employees with more experience. The directors struggle to get work due to lack of experience and lack of interpersonal skills. Some directors can barely speak english and have less experience than new staff. Cannot trust anyone as there's a big backstabbing culture Design is basic, mostly copies of other architects as there is no design culture or legacy.

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WATG Response
3mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective. We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not reflect the collaborative and respectful environment we work hard to maintain. We take feedback seriously, especially when it reflects concerns about leadership, culture, and trust. We strive to build a collaborative and respectful environment where experience, talent, and diverse backgrounds are valued at every level. At our London office, we have a diverse, experienced leadership team, and we are committed to continuous development and improvement in both design excellence and our support for our people. While individual experiences can vary, we do not recognise the characterisation you describe. We regularly evaluate our practices and encourage open dialogue to ensure concerns are addressed constructively, actively working to strengthen transparency and teamwork. If you are open to it, we would welcome the opportunity to better understand your perspective. You indicate you are still employed. Please feel free to reach out to Sandra Whipp, Jo Phillips, or any member of our HR team directly to address your concerns confidentially. We remain focused on fostering a culture of trust and professionalism, where people can do their best work and grow their careers.

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5.0
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Positive environment with great coffee machine

Cons

A lot of projects with harsh deadlines

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WATG Response
1y
We appreciate your feedback and yes, the coffee machine in the LA office is indeed amazing ! :-) We work on exciting projects worldwide, which puts pressure on timelines and deadlines. With that said, the experience our team members get from these extraordinary projects and clients is second to none. This comes with high expectations and exciting professional development opportunities. Teams work seamlessly across regions to bring the best forward for all involved.
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great projects and great teams

Cons

honolulu senior management is weak compared to other WATG offices

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WATG Response
3mo
Thank you for your feedback. We always appreciate the various perspectives and opinions. Our Americas studio, which includes Honolulu, operates across six offices, creating opportunities to produce exceptional work as one cohesive region. We also collaborate on resources and projects across WATG globally, when appropriate. Given the size of our Honolulu office, we have integrated it with our California studios. This has enhanced our delivery, management, and collaboration efforts. As a result, experienced leadership from our California studios works closely with the Honolulu team to deliver great projects. A huge added benefit is that our teams learn and grow through these cross-office interactions and knowledge share.
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