Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission-Driven Design is about designing buildings beyond their property lines to address some of society’s most urgent challenges: the climate emergency, racial and ethnic injustice, chronic homelessness, educational crises, and the preservation of the embodied carbon and culture of existing buildings.
To successfully contend with these ecological and societal emergencies, the design values and practice of architecture must be rapidly transformed within the next decade. Architects must become creative agents of change, providing the vision and skill to lead our communities toward an equitable, climate-positive future for all.
Twenty years ago, San Francisco–based LMSa—winner of the 2017 National AIA Firm Award—rededicated its practice to focus on these urgent issues. Its mission-driven designs not only address the critical concerns of twenty-first century architecture, but also bring clients and users into the dialogue. LMSa’s award-winning works show the creative potential of building a practice with purpose.
In this book, LMSa shares its experience and insight as a call to action to the architecture profession. Through 15 case studies, data-driven essays, user testimonials, and thought-provoking questions, LMSa offers design strategies to architects who want to make an environmental and social impact. The features a foreword ("Taking Action into Practice") by Edward Mazria, FAIA, and an introduction ("From Constructed Reality to Practice with Purpose") by Robert McCarter.
"Practice with Purpose is a different type of book about architecture," notes William Leddy, FAIA, Principal, LMSa. "It's not a monograph or a coffee table book – it's a guide dedicated to architecture students, young designers, and practicing architects who want to work every day to build a just, climate-positive future for all."
"Our ethos at LMSa has always been based on creating equitable and sustainable spaces that model a resilient, hopeful future," notes Marsha Maytum, Principal Emeritus, LMSa. "This book is meant to accelerate the shift toward that practice model that is already taking place."
