The Landscape Quarterly Newsletter - Spring Equinox Issue

Spring Equinox Issue

Sustain@Little________________ 4 Project Highlight______________ 6 By the Numbers_______________ 8

HAPPY SPRING EQUINOX! We are excited to share with you another issue of The Landscape, our seasonal newsletter that comes to you on the Solstices and Equinoxes of each year. This latest issue consolidates information and updates from 3 ongoing firmwide initiatives: • Sustain@Little (the ‘why’ behind what we do) • Project Highlight (the ‘what’ we create together) • By the Numbers (the proof that we’re doing these things successfully) Please review this issue at your convenience, and look for the next issue to come out at the Summer Solstice (June).

For a chance to win a $50 giftcard, email your answer to the question below to Sustain@Little by March 31. (HINT: the answer is within this newsletter): What is the best way to optimize Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity goals?

SUSTAIN @LITTLE Value Optimization for a Regenerative Future by Jeff Roman

PROJECT REPORT CARD PROGRESS

I’ve never been a fan of the term “value engineering.” How can you engineer value? Plus, by using the term “engineering,” there’s seemingly added pressure on engineers to determine how to save cost when, in fact, engineers are always out to find the most efficient solution from the get-go. As I have immersed myself in the Integrative Design Process, I’ve found a term that has (thankfully) replaced value engineering – Continuous Value Optimization (CoVO). Now that’s a term I can get on board with it!

1700

1000

255

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ACTIVE PROJECTS

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To date, we have collected 255 project report cards.

Only 1,445 (and counting) to go!

Sustain@Little

PROJECT REPORT CARD

Have a question on how to fill out a Project Report Card? Check out this FAQ to learn where the tools are located, why the Report Cards are important and who to call for help.

Why are the Project Report Cards so important?

The Project Report Cards are vital to the measurement of Little’s progress directly associated with our focused areas of measurement (HEWS) and our work towards Regenerative Design. In addition, the data will be utilized for upholding our Climate Change Commitments (such as AIA 2030) and to generate a robust portfolio of case studies and data to WIN WORK!

Where are the Project Report Card tools?

The report cards are built into the Project Framework “Project Folder” Structure. S:\Toolbox\XXXXXXXXXX Project Folder\1 Project Management.

Isn’t there an electronic version of the Project Report Card?

Yes! The electronic project report card is available through a link on The Red Wall. Once your data collection is complete, simply enter the information through the electronic platform and submit.

When do I start a Project Report Card?

While it’s best to start at the beginning of a project and use it as a design tool to spark “can do” thinking, it’s never too early or too late to complete a project report card.

What projects are required to have a Project Report Card?

It’s important that every project has a report card so that Little captures all of the progress and project stories from each studio.

When should Project Report Cards be submitted?

• • •

At the end of each project phase, for projects with a design schedule that exceeds six (6) months.

Upon completion of Contract Documents.

Post Occupancy.

Are there wrong answers for the Report Card?

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Only one, not submitting them.

Who do I call to answer questions?

• • •

Tap on the shoulders of the Sustain@Little Ambassadors for each practice.

Submit your questions directly to sustain.little@littleonline.com.

Call Vickie Breemes or Jen Todd directly.

Let’s break down those words. Continuous – because great integration is a continuously dynamic iterative process. Value – not just meeting budget constraints but finding the best possible use of every dollar. Optimization – solving a problem from varied viewpoints of multiple participants and the expertise they represent. The CoVO approach not only optimizes the cost (value) but the decision making (value) without compromising performance. Certainly, a vast improvement over value engineering which is laser-focused on reducing cost that typically has a negative impact on performance.

The switch from VE to CoVO doesn’t come without a total change in the structure of the design process. The conventional design and construction process is very linear. It helps that we have architects, engineers, and other designers all under one roof to make it less linear, but it’s not integrative. An integrative process means that every issue and every team member be brought into the project at the earliest point so that we can follow a repeating cycle of research, analysis, and discussion that progressively refines the solution until it is optimized and synergized with other solutions.

Optimizing Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity goals can’t happen on projects without an integrated team constantly talking and challenging and tweaking. This approach will be a challenge, but if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. I’m excited that Little has all these perspectives with the proper mindset to make it happen. We know the design process makes or breaks a project, and when it comes to regenerative projects, an integrative process is imperative for success. The faster Little creates and implements our unique version of the integrative design process, the faster we will achieve our goal of designing for a regenerative future.

Don’t Forget to Cast Your Votes for Little’s Annual Sustainee Awards As mentioned in the Winter Solstice issue of The Landscape, we are looking forward to holding our 2nd Annual Sustainee Awards Ceremony on April 22, 2022 (Earth Day, of course). The Sustainee Awards honor outstanding sustainability achievement by individuals and teams. Who are the individuals helping to drive us toward a regenerative future? Which projects are best fulfilling our commitment to Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity? What team is best utilizing the project report card?

It’s YOUR chance to cast your vote(s). Please complete this form for each nomination. Voting is open now and will end on April 1.

Be on the lookout for additional reminders.

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Q1 - 2022

Everyone, Attached are the February 2022 financials. Our revenue was $5.7M and profit was 16% firmwide, bringing our YTD up to 15%! Utilization increased for February to 63%. Our multiplier was strong at 3.44 (target of 3.60). Overhead was healthy at 189% (target of 185%). We continue to increase our Negative Labor Variance in February with an additional $305k totaling $745k on the year – we need to go in the other direction.

Backlog has increased to over 7 months with a strong forecast through 2022. Office Performance was above target for Charlotte at 19% followed by Durham and Orlando at 17%! Newport Beach was close to our target at 13% and DC was profitable at 3%. Practice Performance was strongest for Retail at 21% followed by Workplace at 18%, Engineering at 17%, Land Development at 14%, Community at 12% and finally Healthcare at 12%. All offices and practices were profitable!

We are excited about 2022 with a strong forecast projected and enthusiasm for design and serving clients!

Thank you for all that you bring to Little!

Charles Todd, COO

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As we drive forward on our strategic path to Regenerative Design, our financial performance and profitability are more important than ever! Business profit is not a conflict, rather, it is critical to ensure investment in our strategic plan. Profit will fund the development of Regenerative Design through diversified services, thought leadership, technology, staff development, research, and business development that ultimately improves client performance.

Regenerative Design will be a source of profit, creating a cycle.

FEBRUARY 2022