2026 Annual Sustainability Report

BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY 2025 - 2026 ANNUAL REPORT

Welcome to our annual Beyond Sustainability Report. Little remains fully committed to transparency as we advance our journey toward a regenerative future. We invite you to explore the continued evolution of our sustainability journey and hope this report inspires meaningful collaboration toward a more regenerative future.

At Little, our work is driven by our core values: CARE, STRETCH, and SPARK. These values shape our approach to everything we do together.

CARE reflects our deep commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs and aspirations of our clients, communities, and the environment.

STRETCH fuels our dedication to innovation and exploring frontiers.

And SPARK embodies our passion for creative and transformative design.

These values are the bedrock of our organization, encouraging collaboration and driving regenerative outcomes in the built environment.

Truist Plaza, Charlotte, NC

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Designing for Resilience...................................................................................................5 A Global Imperative..............................................................................................................6

EXECUTING A FRAMEWORK Our Sustainability Philosophy.....................................................................................10 Pathway to a Regenerative Future............................................................................. 11 Why Measure........................................................................................................................12 HEWS in Action....................................................................................................................14 Elevating Client Performance through HEWS...................................................16

MEASURING OUR PROGRESS Carbon Neutrality by 2030..........................................................................................28 Improving our Internal Operations ......................................................................... 30 Improving our Outreach.................................................................................................32 Commitments that Spark Change...........................................................................34 AIA 2030 Commitment..................................................................................................36

BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY Making a Difference......................................................................................................... 40 Inspiring the Next Generation.....................................................................................42 Fostering Wellness and Inclusion from Within..................................................44

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE Timeline of Little's Progress Toward Regenerative Outcomes...............48 Insights and Perspectives.............................................................................................50 Resilience: Words from our CEO..............................................................................52 Glossary of Terms.............................................................................................................54

Photo Credit: John Walker, Partner & Senior Architect, Little

2Confidential BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Client, Charlotte, NC Y ANNUAL REPORT

INTRODUCTION

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4 SUSTAINABILIT ANNUAL REPORT PhotoBEYOND Credit: John Walker, Partner Y& Senior Architect, Little

WORDS FROM OUR PERFORMANCE & REGENERATION STUDIO

DESIGNING FOR RESILIENCE For the past four years, Little's Regen CoLab has worked alongside our project teams to expand how we think about sustainability, regeneration, and resilience.

the energy and water systems that support it, the food and ecological systems around it, and the communities in which it is embedded. Understanding those relationships helps us make decisions that fit the climate, culture, risks, and needs of each place.

Together, we've explored new ideas, tested new approaches, and helped integrate performance thinking into projects across the firm. More importantly, we've learned that the greatest impact doesn't come from one team or one discipline, but from bringing diverse perspectives together around a shared goal: designing projects that not only minimize harm, but create lasting positive impact.

As the challenges facing our clients continue to evolve, so must our approach. Climate resilience, health, energy, water, and social equity are deeply interconnected and should no longer be addressed separately or after key project decisions have already been made. Every project is part of a larger living system. It is connected to the health of the people who live, work, learn, and heal within it,

With this in mind, we have reconsidered the role of the Regen CoLab. Earlier this year, it evolved into Little's Performance & Regeneration Studio. More than a new name, it reflects our commitment to helping project teams ask better questions, evaluate opportunities earlier, and make informed decisions that improve long-term performance and resilience. We see our role as collaborators, working alongside our colleagues and clients to translate complex challenges into practical, measurable solutions that create long-term value.

This report reflects that evolution. It highlights the progress we've made, the lessons we're continuing to learn, and the opportunities ahead as we strengthen our ability to measure project performance more consistently across our work. We are hopeful about where we're headed and clear about the work ahead. Together, these efforts move us toward a more resilient, more regenerative future.

Every project is part of a larger living system...Understanding those relationships helps us make decisions that fit the climate, culture, risks, and needs of each place.

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A GLOBAL IMPERATIVE

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In last year’s report, we identified existential issues connected to climate change and used the term global imperative to describe this call for collective action. We offered a few simple steps to help relieve the weight of thinking “How can I, as an individual, make a dent in a global imperative?” Let's build upon that conversation.

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Resetting our Perspective

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A global imperative is a non-negotiable, shared responsibility for humanity to address critical, interconnected crises.

This definition has 3 key elements:

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Ø Non-negotiable. Failure to act will likely result in serious consequences. Ø Shared responsibility for humanity to act.

Sustainable change requires collective action and commitment from everyone. Ø Critical interconnected crises. The challenges we face are not isolated issues, but part of larger systemic problems that must be addressed holistically.

INTER CO

Although each element above is important, the final point stands out for what it does to reframe our perspective.

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Many of the environmental challenges we face today stem from treating the planet as a collection of separate parts rather than an interconnected system.

Air, water, soil, ecosystems, and communities are components that rely on each other. When one of these is affected, the impact ripples across them all.

We have built some amazing human (technological) systems that are not yet in sync with the natural systems that support life on our planet. As a result, we are experiencing increased resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and growing environmental pressures that affect us all. Let's consider some opportunities: Ø Current growth-driven economic markets often prioritize profit over our natural systems that support life. Emerging circular and regenerative approaches work to balance economic activity with the restoration and stewardship of shared resources, ensuring that collective needs are not sacrificed for short-term gain. Ø Continued resource extraction is draining ecosystems and pushing environmental systems toward critical thresholds. Addressing these challenges requires aligning science and technology with nature, while balancing individual freedoms with responsibility to the common good. Ø With the built environment responsible for more than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, the design and development industry (including Little) has a critical role in reducing waste, expanding renewable energy use, sequestering carbon, and creating developments that work in harmony with natural systems. This is why the AIA 2030 commitment (found on page 36) is critical.

The list goes on, and it can easily seem like these opportunities can’t be addressed by any single one of us; that the human systems we’ve built contributing to the situation are too institutionalized (fossilized even) to be changed or reinvented. But if you look around a bit, there are great examples of how that change can happen and it always starts with individuals who are willing to commit to change for the better; change that benefits their local community not just individuals.

Last year we suggested some of those first steps: Decide to Engage; Find One Thing to be Passionate About Changing; Alter Bad Habits. Making these choices every day can influence a neighbor or co-worker, create energy, and fuel determination to stay the course. This daily work, in small steps, chips away at the imposing nature of the global imperative while building the momentum and shared responsibility necessary to sustain the effort.

Although the past year has brought new challenges and setbacks, it has also brought exciting advancements in adaptive reuse, re/up-cycling, manufacturing processes, financial models, and renewable energy technologies. Together, these innovations provide hope that we can move toward a more balanced relationship with nature and away from indiscriminate use of the limited resources that support our existence.

It’s important to recognize that without reframing our perspective to focus on the larger, interconnected context, we can’t uncover the questions that address the relationships we need to be working on. Our work as designers and constructors of the built environment have played a key role in creating the problems, but it can play an equally vital role in how we correct our course.

Of course, no single project will solve the issues of climate change, but in aggregate, we can start our projects by going beyond the basics of "on time" and "under budget". Those are absolutely still important, but when we isolate a project from its context, we miss the opportunity to provide design solutions that are aligned with the patterns of life in that place. Tending to those interconnected relationships at the local level, then weaving those place-appropriate interventions together is how we heal the larger systems we’re all connected to and, together, address our global imperative.

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84 Roots BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Farm Campus, Orlando, FLY ANNUAL REPORT

EXECUTING A FRAMEWORK

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OUR SUSTAINABILITY PHILOSOPHY We work every day toward a goal of designing projects that not only do less harm, but ultimately do good — regenerative projects that achieve a successful balance between environmental, economic, and human factors.

In our work, we recognize that every client is at a different stage in their sustainability journey, so we meet them where they are, helping to set achievable goals. Our focus areas of measurement, the HEWS, remain foundational to our approach to deliver good design. Our commitment is to improve on these promises every project, every year and we regularly review performance thresholds and benchmark metrics for reduction that can incrementally stretch our clients’ and our own goals over time.

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PATHWAY TO A REGENERATIVE FUTURE

On every project, we focus on the following areas of measurement: HEALTH: We design environments that elevate the health and wellness of people who use them.

ENERGY: We use a smart, responsible design approach to reduce the energy demand of our projects and practice.

WATER: We design for the preservation and conservation of water.

SOCIAL EQUITY: We address universal design and social inequities through empathetic and intentional planning.

Photo Credit: Ashley Spinks, Design Lead, Little

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WHY MEASURE The Importance of Performance Goals.

Every project represents a significant investment of time, money, and resources. Naturally, clients and project teams want to maximize that investment, not just financially, but in ways that create longterm value. Setting clear, measurable performance goals at the start of a project helps ensure design and development decisions align with the outcomes that matter most.

At Little, we focus on our HEWS framework: Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity. These four areas help guide conversations around building performance and regeneration from the start.

The reason to set performance goals seems obvious enough – specific goals help guide the design process to a measurable, desired outcome. In addition, investing hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in a facility requires faith in the continuity of the business as well as in the general stability of the market economy. If either wobbles, the cost to pay off debt or maintain operations has direct impact on profitability. So, it makes sense to approach a project with intent to get the best potential performance out of it over time. There are myriad ways to accomplish that but leaving performance to chance isn’t a good one.

Cost should ideally be looked at as a Total Lifecycle Cost, which includes both initial costs (to deliver the project) and operational costs (over the life of the project). The design industry is good at the first part but generally pays less attention to the second part. The balance of the two can mean the difference between a high performing, sustainable (viable for the long term) building and one that becomes obsolete before its time.

Where do you start? Clients and design teams should begin any project process with a clear understanding of performance goals, setting realistic but ambitious targets that challenge the design team, contractor and even the occupants to deliver spaces that minimize the waste of resources and the negative impact on community and environment. Here are some examples of ways we use the HEWS to guide those design decisions.

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Health. Focusing on movement, hydration, material toxicity, and [thermal, visual and acoustic] comfort through design choices creates a healthy building that can reduce staff sick days, attract and retain talent, and

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improve productivity. There are benchmark resources for performance offered through LEED, WELL, Living Future, and our resource Material Transparency@Little certification tracks, including Red List and DECLARE labels.

These resources can help you address elements that impact health - such as daylighting, glare, air and water quality - while providing targets for performance, even if you don’t pursue formal certification.

Energy. Defining a clear Energy Use Intensity (EUI) target will drive operational project performance, reducing costs, use of resources, and operational carbon footprints. To help guide this process, there are databases (such as Energy Star) for benchmarking average performance for almost any project typology. Iterative energy modeling during design will inform integrative design choices for building systems (envelope and mechanical), site orientation and more. Lower your EUI enough, and add renewable energy to the equation, and a Net Zero facility is in reach, saving tens of thousands of dollars annually over the life of the building.

Water. Optimizing water use, reducing potable water demand and focusing on water quality can also reduce operating costs and improve occupant health. Greywater recycling and stormwater management can improve a project’s watershed and aquifer and ease the load on municipal water treatment. Testing, filtration and designing for legionella prevention safeguard occupant health.

Designing landscapes for drought tolerance and flood resilience can reduce insurance costs and minimize down time in weather emergency situations. Look to resources like WaterSense, the EPA’s Water Budget Tool, along with LEED, WELL and Living Future for the latest industry standards.

Social Equity. Many find this category challenging to quantify initially. The key is to start with simple measures and widen the consideration of how your project is impacting the greater context it lives in. Apply Universal Design principles, look for ways to link the project to local community needs (spend time learning what those needs are!) and research the local ecology to build healing connections instead of detrimental ones.

Engage the largest reasonable stakeholder group for your project and build relationships that foster mutual benefit and support.

The process isn’t meant to tack on additional costs. Rather, it should challenge the team to think deeply about the potential value of the project and integrally weave choices that elevate the outcomes in the above categories or others as determined by the project team’s visioning and research.

The final step is committing to measure those outcomes, learn from them, and make appropriate adjustments to that project and any subsequent ones. This sets your team on a path to continual improvement for both the quality of design and the quality of ongoing life in and around your project.

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HEWS IN ACTION

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From creating healthier environments and advancing equitable outcomes to improving energy performance, water stewardship, and long-term resilience, these examples demonstrate how the integration of Health, Energy, Water and Social Equity informs design decisions across every stage of a project.

DESIGNING FOR COMFORT

For a medical office building on an existing campus, the design team found themselves challenged by a constrained site orientation. With these elevated challenges, they conducted daylighting and glare analysis to better understand the health and comfort of the building occupants. As a result, shading devices and glare control were deployed to maximize patient comfort. The interior design concepts further supported this approach by thoughtfully considering how to optimize location and functionality of spaces with the site's orientation.

LEVERAGING DATA ANALYTICS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE

Little has implemented a pilot project to verify a client’s energy performance through submetering and monitoring of power usage. The software provides a full dashboard on the performance of the building’s power use broken down by electrical panel. Initially, the intent was to extract insight from the data to help determine strategies for improving overall performance. In a surprise twist, we found that for one of the panels, the heaviest usage was on Sunday, when the facility is closed. We are currently tracing this anomaly to determine the cause of the unusual increase and implement corrective action.

APPLYING SPECIAL CARE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

Working with a client to create learning environments for high school students with neurodivergent abilities, the design team facilitated discussions around a range of design considerations to support a safe and immersive experience. Topics included lighting color temperature, controllability, and circadian rhythms, as well as color palettes, materiality, and universal design principles. Through this process, the project team addressed multiple aspects of neurodivergence, resulting in tailored learning environments and a Life Skills classroom designed to help students navigate and become familiar with real-world conditions.

IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS TO MANAGE OPERATIONS

Besides evaluating LEED and WELL certifications for every office, Little is now implementing pilot programs within our geographic footprint to help learn firsthand about managing operations and performance. A digital twin has been created for Little's Charlotte office to track indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy submetering that monitors performance. Sensors installed provide the ability to use both static and dynamic inputs to overlay data streams that help generate insights on operations and infer outcomes to propose changes. The digital twin may lead to the ability to confirm that a proposed “fix” works virtually – before we spend money on any potential solution. This digital approach models the corrective action first, helping us fine tune ideas before applying in real life.

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IMPROVING PERFORMANCE THROUGH CONNECTIVITY

The first building on the 4Roots urban farm campus (see page 22 for additional details on the project) informed the planning and design of subsequent facilities. As events on the campus have grown in size and frequency, the team evaluated the capacity of the rainwater collection system used for flushing the building’s facilities. In planning for additional building program, it became beneficial to incorporate underground water storage and a connected network to better balance the supply and demand of captured rainwater.

Extending this approach to other utilities, the design team also helped the client explore opportunities to optimize energy use from photovoltaic arrays. A campusconnected system allows excess generated power to be shared between buildings before returning any surplus to the grid. This strategy supports more efficient capacity management and helps maintain operations for both water and power at or above Net Zero.

REMAINING FLEXIBLE IN DESIGN APPROACH

On an adaptive re-use project, building analysis and due diligence helped correct scope misalignment and ensure occupant health. With historical data on the existing building’s energy performance, the analysis prompted a deeper dive into the construction of the original building envelope to better understand how energy efficiency could be improved. Two discovered factors led to a revision of scope and design approach to achieve the client’s original goals. Selective demolition revealed substantial black mold as well as poorly executed detailing during original construction of the building. Committed to delivering a safe and healthy environment for its occupants, the owner and design team pivoted to a full gut of the building and reconstruction of the building envelope with an Armorwall product that provided the desired efficiency and the necessary adaptability to accommodate the existing building form.

Starting with the HEWS in mind often leads to opportunities to consider other facets of sustainability such as Resilience and Circularity. Here are two examples of extending the field of consideration:

KEEPING TEAM MEMBERS ENGAGED

Two of our Retail studios have instituted a collaboration tool and calendar for sustainability planning that encourages pointed conversations about sustainability and regeneration. This collaboration has had measureable impact on projects.

MAXIMIZING FORM AND PERFORMANCE

For a corporate office campus masterplan, the design team sought to understand the greatest risks presented by the local climate of the site that would affect resilience and business continuity for the development over time. They identified extreme heat, flooding, and wind as the primary risks to future development, and reviewed each design option through those lenses. The results had impact on building siting, orientation, and form in ways not originally anticipated, and helped set up the long-term development strategy for greater success and resilience.

In one example, providing an alternative specification section addressing construction waste management allowed the client to divert over 60 tons of asphalt (per project) from landfill to recycling centers. Executed over 60+ projects per year, this resulted in over 3,500 tons of asphalt being diverted and saved the client over $160,000 in construction costs.

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ELEVATING CLIENT PERFORMANCE THROUGH HEWS Every project presents unique opportunities and unique measures of success. The four projects featured here demonstrate how integrating Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity (HEWS) creates measurable value for clients while advancing toward a more regenerative future.

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(RE)MIXED-USE COMPETITION

TRUIST PLAZA & LOBBY RENOVATION

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4 ROOTS FARM CAMPUS

GARDNER SKELTON LAW FIRM

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1

Solar Radiation

(RE)MIXED-USE COMPETITION 369,500 sf, Orlando, FL

Reimagining existing spaces as high-performance, flexible destinations that energize our cities

Daylight Potential

Designed for Florida’s humid subtropical climate, this project embraces its environment as a driver of performance and experience.

Natural ventilation, solar harvesting, and mass timber construction work together to create a resilient, low-carbon building that is shaped by light, air, and climate.

Inspired by the lush landscape surrounding Lake Eola, the facade reflects the forms of bromeliads, palm fronds, and layered petals.

The building becomes an environmental instrument, filtering sunlight, casting shade, channeling breezes, and capturing water, all while elevating its urban presence.

The project reimagines an existing concrete podium as the foundation for a mass timber tower designed for long-term adaptability.

Nearly 150,000 square feet of retail space activates the street and energizes downtown Orlando. Above, residential units are designed to evolve into office space as market needs shift. At the top, a signature hotel destination supports the city’s global tourism economy and transit-oriented future, with the flexibility to transition to residential use.

Throughout the tower, a series of vertical plazas create shared spaces that encourage connection, offering places for people to connect with each other, the city, and the surrounding environment.

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Wind Analysis

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

PREFABRICATED UNITIZED APPROACH

Baseline Embodied Carbon

11,804,906

(Re)Mixed-use Competition

Prefabricated offsite and shipped locally, each unit stacks effortlessly on-site with precisionengineered cross-laminated Southern Yellow Pine shells. Factory-installed glazing, bathrooms, closets, and MEP systems make each unit plugand-play.

kg/CO₂e

9,804,690

Balcony nacelles host eight solar panels per unit, fully offsetting annual energy use while shading lower floors. Each nacelle also collects 1,600

Overall Daylight Analysis

Whole Building

(Re)Mixed-use

>50%

58.55%

Average Target

Achieved

Overall Glare/Heat Gain Analysis Whole Building

(Re)Mixed-use

<10%

9.92%

Average Target

Achieved

Spatial Daylight Autonomy is a measurement of the quality of light within a space. It is the percentage of floor area that receives at least 300 lux for 50% of the annual occupied hours on a horizontal work plane, 30 inches above the floor.

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800 Gallon Cistern

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3-Ply CLT Panels

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Balcony Nacelle

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(4) 440 Watt Solar Panels

5

Bird-Safe, HighPerformance Glazing

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Pre-Fab Bathroom & Closet

gallons of rainwater and HVAC condensation for sustainable water use.

Smart passive design with operable windows, enhanced envelopes, ceiling fans, and automated HVAC optimizes natural ventilation and minimizes energy demand. Installation is fast and spaceefficient as units lift directly from inbound trucks into place, cutting construction time.

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Annual Sunlight Exposure is a measurement of the quantity of light reflecting on a surface.

It’s the fraction of the horizontal work plane that exceeds the direct sunlight illuminance level for more than a certain number of hours per year. The illuminance level used is 1000 Lux or more for at least 250 occupied hours per year.

Unit Metrics

Energy Use Intensity (EUI)

Embodied Carbon Footprint:

67

3,485 kCO eq 2

kBtu/ft²/year

Baseline EUI*

Energy Use Intensity (EUI):

51 kBtu/ft /yr 2

Typical Hotel Room EUI: 130 kBtu/ft2/yr

(Re)Mixed-use Competition

6.4

kBtu/ft²/year

7

kBtu/ft²/year 2030 Target

Net Zero

*Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets are determined by analyzing historical energy data, building type, and climate conditions to establish a standardized measure of energy use per square foot per year (kBtu/ft²/year).

They are set using empirical surveys, building performance standards, and energy modeling.

Water Use Intensity (WUI):

137 gal/ft /yr 2

Typical Hotel Room WUI: 274 gal/ft2/yr

Energy Production:

14,400 kWh annually

Water Use Intensity (WUI)

53

97%

kBtu/ft²/year

Baseline EUI*

(Re)Mixed-use Competition

Walk Score ™

34

kBtu/ft²/year

31

kBtu/ft²/year 2030 Target

Net Zero

* Water Use Intensity (WUI) targets are determined through historical data analysis, industry benchmarking, and local climate evaluation. It's calculated by dividing the total water consumed by the building in one year by the total gross floor area of the building.

Walker's Paradise 100%

69% Transit Score ™

Rider's Paradise 100%

77% Bike Score ™

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Biker's Paradise 100%

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2 TRUIST PLAZA & LOBBY RENOVATION 25,000 sf, Charlotte, NC

A Civic Gateway Supporting Community Life and the City's 2040 Vision What began as a maintenance upgrade evolved into a comprehensive transformation of Truist Center's plaza and lobby, creating a destination that aligns with Charlotte's 2040 Vision Plan while supporting Truist's commitment to building better lives and communities. The renewed spaces welcome employees, visitors, and the public, strengthening the connection between the corporate campus and the city around it.

Developed in close collaboration with Charlotte Center City Partners, the plaza was envisioned as a welcoming gathering space — enhancing economic vitality, civic engagement, and placemaking. Tree-lined seating, movable planters, and interactive sculptures introduce nature into the urban environment and create opportunities for people to gather and connect.

Custom-designed elements, including integrated AV technology, event-ready infrastructure, and curated wayfinding allow the space to support everyday use to large public events.

Inside, the lobby creates a warm and inviting arrival experience through local artwork, clear circulation, and a thoughtful balance between security and openness.

By prioritizing sustainability, flexibility, and human-centric design, the project serves as a catalyst for urban vitality, reinforcing Truist’s mission. The plaza and lobby function more than entry points; they are dynamic, evolving spaces that strengthen Charlotte’s civic and corporate landscape.

The plaza and lobby now serve as a vibrant community hub, brought to life through integrated art, biophilic design, and adaptable infrastructure.

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PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

The landscape design mitigates the urban heat island effect with new tree canopies and native plantings, enhancing biodiversity while requiring no irrigation. Stormwater management is optimized through permeable surfaces and strategic planting, reducing runoff and supporting ecological health.

Lighting Power Density (LPD)

.62 W/ft²

Embodied carbon was minimized through the use of locally sourced materials such as regionally quarried granite*.

Before

*This material is naturally lower in embodied carbon because there is no required chemical manufacturing or high temperature firing.

95% Walk Score ™

Walker's Paradise 100%

78% Transit Score ™

Rider's Paradise 100%

53% Bike Score ™

Biker's Paradise 100%

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After

Curated public art by underrepresented local artists reflects cultural diversity and civic pride.

Change and flexibility are embedded in the plaza’s adaptable seating, movable planters, and event-ready infrastructure. Events such as "5th Street Live!" bring the redesigned plaza to life with live music, attracting up to 800 people on a typical Thursday night.

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3 4 ROOTS FARM CAMPUS 20 acres, Orlando, FL

A transformative community hub designed to address food insecurity, environmental degradation, and community inequity Anchored by a 7,700-square-foot mass timber education building, the 4 Roots campus demonstrates how sustainable design, ecological restoration, and community partnerships can come together to solve pressing societal challenges. As the first completed building on the 4 Roots campus, the education building serves as a model for regenerative design, integrating innovative building systems and holistic land-use strategies to restore the environment and empower local communities.

Thoughtfully integrated building systems, including electrochromatic glazing, natural daylighting, smart HVAC systems, acoustic paneling, and red-list free materials create a healthy, adaptable learning environment.

Flexible indoor-outdoor classrooms extend learning into the surrounding farm, supporting regenerative agriculture programs for nearby colleges and creating opportunities for community workshops.

The campus is now underway with an events center and continues to be a model for how architecture and landscape can repair ecological damage, empower communities, and foster resilience. It demonstrates that regenerative design is not just about sustainability—it’s about creating systems that thrive and uplift the people and places they serve.

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Education Building

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS (Education Building Measurements)

Baseline Embodied Carbon

354,449

Regenerative Urban Farms Campus

kg/CO₂e

303,556

Before Hurricane Helene

Designed with Florida's hurricane-prone climate in mind,

Overall Daylight Analysis

the 4Roots Education Center demonstrates how resilience can be designed into a project from the very beginning. Located within a floodplain, the building sits above the 100-year flood elevation and features a protective curb to shield the structural mass timber from potential floodwaters, safeguarding critical building components and ensuring long-term durability.

This resilience has already been tested. The site has flooded twice, most recently during Hurricane Helene. In both instances, the elevated building pad remained above the floodwaters, leaving the building undamaged and allowing building operations to continue. Limited impermeable surfaces, combined with a futurefocused site plan, allowed the floodwaters to recede within two days, minimizing disruption and allowing the campus to quickly return to serving the community.

Whole Building

(Re)Mixed-use

>50%

98.10%

Average Target

Achieved

Spatial Daylight Autonomy is a measurement of the quality of light within a space. It is the percentage of floor area that receives at least 300 lux for 50% of the annual occupied hours on a horizontal work plane, 30 inches above the floor.

Overall Glare/Heat Gain Analysis Whole Building

(Re)Mixed-use

<10%

13.61%

Average Target

Energy Use Intensity (EUI)

Annual Sunlight Exposure is a measurement of the quantity of light reflecting on a surface.

It’s the fraction of the horizontal work plane that exceeds the direct sunlight illuminance level for more than a certain number of hours per year. The illuminance level used is 1000 Lux or more for at least 250 occupied hours per year.

65

kBtu/ft²/year

Baseline EUI*

Immediately After Hurricane Helene

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kBtu/ft²/year

Regenerative Urban Farms Campus

*Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets are determined by analyzing historical energy data, building type, and climate conditions to establish a standardized measure of energy use per square foot per year (kBtu/ft²/year).

They are set using empirical surveys, building performance standards, and energy modeling.

Net Zero

Immediately After Hurricane Helene (Building Remained Fully Operational)

75%

27% Walk Score ™

Walker's Paradise 100%

Reduction in Potable Water Use

33% Transit Score ™

Rider's Paradise 100%

33% Two Days Later

Bike Score ™

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Biker's Paradise 100%

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4 GARDNER SKELTON LAW FIRM 20,000 sf, Charlotte, NC

A bold and expressive adaptive reuse project redefining the traditional law office Gardner Skelton’s workplace redefines the concept of a law office, positioning design as a tool for connection, wellness, and cultural expression. Set within Charlotte’s eclectic NoDa arts district, this adaptive reuse transforms a vacant 1960s industrial shell (once a chocolate factory, nightclub, church, and even a movie set) into a vibrant legal workplace that is as bold as the woman-owned firm it represents.

Designed around principles of adaptive reuse and human-centric design, the project honors the building’s industrial past while expressing inclusivity, creativity and connection. From preserved trusses and exposed brick to biophilic “urban garden” zones and pet-friendly features, every element reflects the firm’s culture and the surrounding community’s character.

The result is not a traditional office, but a holistic environment that serves as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization.

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Formerly 100% asphalt, the project introduces green space, sidewalks, and murals that invite interaction and authentic connection to the surrounding NoDa arts district. Reimagining an aging structure through the lens of adaptive reuse contributes to the environmental and economic vitality of the neighborhood while preserving the area’s architectural character and supporting sustainable growth.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS Baseline Embodied Carbon

464,912

Gardner Skelton Law Firm

kg/CO₂e

69,590

Before

51% Walk Score ™

Walker's Paradise 100%

55% Transit Score ™

Rider's Paradise 100%

46% Bike Score ™

After

Biker's Paradise 100%

Click here to measure the scores of your business or home.

Before

After

The project reduced impervious surfaces by 15%, introduced green space, and implemented landscape strategies with native plantings. A bubbling rock fountain doubles as a dog-friendly amenity while masking nearby traffic noise with soothing sound. By adaptively reusing the concrete shell, the design preserved embodied carbon while adding daylight and natural ventilation through new openings and roll-up garage doors.

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Adjacent to the Sugar Creek Light Rail Station, the building serves as both a destination and departure point - anchoring the northern end of a central urban corridor that links neighborhoods, people and possibilities.

E xecuting a Framework

25

MEASURING OUR PROGRESS

26 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

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Helen Monroe Preschool MEatASURING Greensboro OUR Day, PRGreensboro, OGRE SS NC 27

CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2030

In 2022, Little set a path to achieve Carbon Neutrality in our own operations by 2030.

2025 marked another year of progress in our emissions tracking.

Little’s Scope 3 emissions increased by an average of 30 percent compared to the previous two years, reflecting our focus on fully accounting for qualified indirect emissions as a design firm.

In alignment with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Protocol, widely known as GHG Scope 1,2, and 3 Emissions, we continue to work toward neutrality by quantifying full scopes of emissions and taking measurable steps.

Little's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions for 2025 Scope 1

Scope 2

Scope 3

DIRECT EMISSIONS

INDIRECT EMISSIONS

SUPPLY CHAIN EMISSIONS

Scope 1 is no longer applicable to Little.

The firm has no GHG Emissions aligned with Scope.

Little’s utility use for our office locations:

Little’s GHG Emissions generated from business travel, employee commuting, equipment, software, technology infrastructure, purchased goods, compost waste, lodging, and corporate professional services:

427 METRIC TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE

1418 METRIC TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE

1845

TOTAL CARBON EMISSIONS METRIC TONS IN 2025

28 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

4.1

AVERAGE METRIC TONS PER EMPLOYEE

vs

4-6

82%

OF EMISSIONS ARE GENERATED IN SCOPE 3

METRIC TONS PER EMPLOYEE IS INDUSTRY AVERAGE

Investing in Neutrality: Aligning Little's Values with Carbon Offsets

Reducing emissions remains our first priority.

Little invests in a diversified portfolio of verified carbon offset projects, including landfill gas capture, methane abatement, and sustainably managed forestry initiatives that deliver measurable climate benefits while supporting broader environmental and community outcomes.

These offsets are equivalent to:

To achieve carbon neutrality, we also invest in verified offsets to address the remaining emissions.

We select these offsets based on how they: Support Little’s Corporate Values

1629

ELECTRIC-POWERED PASSENGER VEHICLES DRIVEN FOR ONE YEAR

384

HOME’S ELECTRICITY USE FOR ONE YEAR

Have a Positive Impact on the Communities We Serve Are Third Party Verified Align with the University of Oxford’s "Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting” Align with Little's HEWS - Health, Energy, Water, and Social Equity

Little has work to do. We will continue to focus on opportunities for reduction toward our goal of neutrality.

Photo Credit: Ashley Spinks, Design Lead, Little

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ME ASURING OUR PR OGRE SS

29

IMPROVING OUR INTERNAL OPERATIONS Little’s Just Label: Advancing Transparency and Equity In last year’s Sustainability Report, we shared that Little had become a Just Organization, an important milestone in our commitment to transparency, equity, and our people-first culture. Since then, we have continued to build on that foundation, using the Just framework to better understand where we excel and where we have opportunities to grow. The following Q&A provides a deeper look at what it means to be a Just Organization and how we are preparing for our next step to renew under Just v3.0.

"The JUST label represents Little's commitment to transparency and accountability in how we operate as a socially responsible organization, demonstrating that our workplace policies align with the highest standards for human and environmental well-being."

Kate Bitterwolf-Hyde Little's CHRO

Q: What is the Just Label?

A: The Just Label is a transparency platform developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) that helps organizations measure and communicate their commitment to social justice and equity. It is important to note that Just is not a certification—rather, organizations become “Just Organizations” by publicly disclosing their performance across a set of social equity indicators. The framework provides a common language and flexible measurement system that can be applied across industries.

Q: When did Little become a Just Organization?

Q: How is Little preparing for Just v3.0?

A: Little achieved its Just Label in March 2025, joining a growing group of organizations committed to transparency and continuous improvement in social equity. The label is third-party verified and must be renewed every three years, with Little’s next renewal due prior to March 2027.

A: Little originally achieved its label under Just v2.0 and is actively preparing for renewal under v3.0. This next version places an even greater emphasis on measurable outcomes and continuous improvement. Our teams are key to advancing policies, tracking progress, and ensuring alignment with the updated indicators.

Q: Why did Little pursue the Just Label?

A: Little’s pursuit of the Just Label aligns closely with our people-centered culture and commitment to transparency.

The initial catalyst came through a partnership with a client. This opportunity reinforced our values and prompted us to formally engage with the Just framework.

Q: How does the Just framework work?

A: The current Just v3.0 framework is organized around 21 indicators across six categories: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Employee Health, Benefits, and Stewardship.

Organizations are evaluated on a performance scale of Committed, Good, Better, and Best. The framework is intentionally dynamic, evolving over time to reflect current realities, forward-thinking practices, and emerging opportunities.

30 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

Q: Where is Little performing well within the Just framework?

A: Little has demonstrated strong performance in areas such as Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity.

• Employee Engagement: We actively foster a culture where employees feel motivated and heard. We offer multiple platforms, such as leadership engagement, forums, and studio retreats, for employees to share ideas and feedback.

• Gender Pay Equity: We conduct annual pay equity audits by job title and are committed to addressing any unexplained disparities, reinforcing our dedication to fair and equitable compensation practices.

Photo Credit: Ashley Spinks, Design Lead, Little

Q: Where does Little see opportunities for improvement?

Q: Why is the Just Label important to Little?

A: Transparency is a core principle of the Just Label, and we recognize that, like all organizations, we have areas to improve.

• Stewardship & Animal Welfare: While we support humane and compassionate practices through design, purchasing, and volunteering, we are working to go beyond minimizing harm toward achieving a more holistic balance across environmental, economic, and human factors.

• Supply Chain Accountability: We have adopted the SA8000:2014 standard to strengthen social responsibility across our supply chain. Moving forward, we aim to deepen engagement with partners and improve sourcing practices— efforts that also support our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.

A: The Just Label reinforces our commitment to accountability, transparency, and continuous progress. It helps us identify both strengths and gaps, ensuring we are actively working toward meaningful improvements in social equity. By sharing this information openly, we build trust with our employees, clients, and communities.

The Little Waste Program seeks to educate, challenge, and inspire our employees, clients, and communities to​​​​​​​ achieve zero waste. Four of Little's six offices participate in this program.

5,801 lbs OF WASTE DIVERTED COMPANY-WIDE FROM THE LANDFILL IN 2025

Q: Where can I learn more about Little’s Just Label?

A: You can view Little’s active Just Label and learn more about the framework by visiting the International Living Future Institute’s Just platform: https://just. living-future.org/s/organizations/20organizations/little

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Little's DC office is now LEED Silver and WELL Gold Certified.

ME ASURING OUR PR OGRE SS

31

IMPROVING OUR OUTREACH We believe collaboration, curiosity, and innovative thinking are essential to crafting ideas that shape a better, more resilient future.

That’s why we actively seek opportunities to connect with clients, partners, and peers across industries.

In addition to participating in professional organizations and attending conferences, we host educational events within our offices— creating space for meaningful dialogue, shared learning, and the exchange of best practices. These interactions strengthen our collective knowledge and help drive sustainable, regenerative approaches to design.

The metrics that follow reflect the momentum of these efforts—from speaking engagements and sustainability awards to industry recognition and thought leadership—demonstrating our ongoing commitment to advancing a more resilient and responsible built environment.

Lee Ball, Executive Director of Catawba College's Center for the Environment, Vickie Breemes, and Abigail Adams presented at the Living Future 2025 Conference. The topic presented was "Regenerating Campus Spaces through Nature-Positive Design: A Story of the Catawba College Smokestack Project"

Industry Engagements

14

SUSTAINABILITYFOCUSED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

32 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

62

SUSTAINABILITYFOCUSED SOCIAL MEDIA AND INSIGHTS BLOG POSTS

18

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT AWARDS

Ashley Hall presented at the 2026 Spring ULI Resilience Summit. Ashley was joined by other integral team members to discuss the Truist Plaza and Lobby Renovation. The topic discussed was "Resilience-Driven Placemaking: How Infrastructure Challenges Can Spark Civic Impact, Grow ROI, and Foster Adaptability."

Philip Donovan and Lindsey Piant-Perez led a discussion at the International Greenbuild Conference. The topic presented was "Your Building Won't Float: A Hands-On Resilience Sprint for LEED v5 Flood Mitigation".

Scott Brideau was named a recipient of the Bernie L. Bates Foundation Privilege Award. Scott was recognized for his decades of civic leadership, including ULI’s Reuse & Redevelopment Council, Co‑chair of ULI DC’s Sustainability & Resilience Council, and 16 years supporting Arlington County, VA's long‑term sustainability efforts. Most recently, he was appointed as a Commissioner on Arlington County’s Climate Change, Energy, and Environment Commission (C2E2).

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ME ASURING OUR PR OGRE SS

33

COMMITMENTS THAT SPARK CHANGE Little continues to focus on elevating the number of carbon-neutral buildings we design. In alignment with our peers and in harmony with our shared vision, we acknowledge our professional responsibility, the pressing need for measurable change, and the challenges that are ahead.

AIA 2030 Challenge It has been 17 years since Little became a signatory of the AIA 2030 Commitment and this year marks 15 years of reporting our firm's progress.

The 2030 Commitment continues to serve as an important benchmark, helping us (and other firms) measure how far we've come while highlighting opportunities to improve. Our results reinforce the need to elevate the urgency, creativity, and transparency of sustainable design, with the goal of measuring and reporting the performance of every project.

Through the AIA 2030 Commitment, we continue working toward carbon-neutral buildings by reducing operational energy use and associated emissions. When the commitment began, the target was a 50% reduction from regional or country average baseline. In 2025, that target increased to 90%, a level of performance that requires rethinking traditional approaches to design. While this remains a significant challenge for both Little and the industry, it also represents an opportunity to accelerate innovation and deliver projects that positively impact our people and planet.

Architecture 2030

34 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

Little is an active participant in the Large Firm Round Table (LFRT). The LFRT is a leadership organization for firms that have at least 150 employees, including a minimum of 50 registered architects who are AIA members.

The roundtable primarily consists of firm CEOs and leadership of specific business units such as HR, IT, Operations, and Sustainability.

This year, Little collaborated with top sustainability focused professionals on the LFRT Materials Working Group. The group developed the AIA Materials Pledge Action Guide: Getting Started which focuses on a roadmap and practical resources to assist individuals, project teams, and firms of every size to improve material selections through the AIA Materials Pledge Commitment and the Common Materials Framework (CMF). This resource is available at AIA A&D Materials Pledge Peer to Peer Network and Mindful Materials Common Materials Framework Starter Guide.

Little's Structural Engineering Team signed on to SE2050 in 2021 and is one of the 172 firms that actively participate and report annually.

The team is focused on elevating the number of projects reported while reducing Embodied Carbon from previous years, highlighting resilience and creativity for greater reductions.

SE 2050 2025 marked three years into our commitment.

Little's engineering teams are aligning their designs to reduce total carbon emission of building systems. While the manufacturers in this industry lagged behind others, we focused on developing specification standards and templates that support the reduction of the Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants.

MEP 2040 Challenge - Carbon Leadership Forum

Materials Pledge

2025 marked the third year for AIA Materials Pledge Reporting for the industry and Little. The pledge is a benchmark on how firms are progressing in the creation of processes and tools focused on material specifications that support human health, social health and equity, ecosystem health, climate health, and a circular economy. The momentum continues with more firm signatories, annual reporting, and the project reporting metrics. Little is continuing to focus on and elevate our performance through the Materials Transparency@Little Standard.

Architecture and Design Materials Pledge Since becoming a signatory firm in 2021, as a collective act of the Large Firm Round Table, we stay resilient to doing our part to lower global greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more click here.

The world still needs a giant leap on climate ambition. We can and must win this battle for our lives.

Little is engaged in the collective efforts of the materials movement by continuing to support active involvement in Mindful Materials Common Materials Framework Forum; Mindful Materials

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

The Just Label is a transparency platform developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) to help organizations measure and communicate their commitment to social justice and equity.

Just Living Future Photo Credit: John Walker, Partner & Senior Architect, Little

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ME ASURING OUR PR OGRE SS

35

AIA 2030 COMMITMENT As part of our AIA 2030 commitment, we firmly believe in the importance of transparent reporting. This year, project reporting was down and measurements lagged behind due to internal and external factors. We continue to share performancerelated data with our industry peers through the AIA's Design Data Exchange, a collaborative platform that facilitates discourse and accountability within the industry.

133 Projects 2,992,690

OUR

2025

NUMBERS REPORTED TO AIA 2030

Gross Square Footage (GSF)

% PREDICTED LIGHTING POWER DENSITY (LPD)* REDUCTION

100 80 60 40

Current Industry Target is set at 25%.

35.33%

20 0

How Site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is Calculated: M E A S U R E D F O R 3 6 5 D AYS

* LPD is the total input power of the lighting system per square foot.

ENERGY MODEL (% GSF OF PROJECTS)*

7%

SPACE HEATING

PUMPS & FANS

* A corporate change in software platforms in 2025 resulted in a decline in the number of projects modeled.

Total Modeled 155,176 GSF

SPACE COOLING

93% LIGHTING

HOT WATER

OTHER LOADS

7.1% Modeled 92.9% Not modeled

EMBODIED CARBON REPORTED (% GSF OF PROJECTS)* ENERGY CONSUMPTION

ON-SITE ENERGY PRODUCTION

(kBtu / YEAR) FLOOR AREA (SQ. FT.)

59% Total Reported 1,755,486 GSF

41% 58.7% Reported 41.3% Not reported

36 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

* AIA 2030 Reporting for Whole-Building Projects only, Little has started measuring the impact of Interior projects in addition to whole building

Acknowledging the need for improvement and embracing responsibility as we approach 2030 is crucial for progress. By collectively embracing regenerative principles and taking concerted action, we can work towards a more sustainable and equitable future for 2030 and beyond.

R E D U C T I O N I N L I T T L E ’ S AV G P E R C E N TA G E P R E D I C T E D E N E R G Y U S E I N T E N S I T Y ( p E U I ) * F O R T H E PA S T S I X Y E A R S :

100

Current Industry Target is set at 90%

80 60

53.53% 40

40.80%

41.38%

54.00% 37.66%

38.47%

2023

2024

20

35.33%

0

2020

2021

2022

2025

Industry Average

* pEUI measures a building's expected annual energy use divided by its total size.

Recognizing that building reuse and interior projects are not only sustainable, they're abundant in the project portfolios of our clients.

PROJECTS REPORTED TO AIA 2030

77

56

133

INTERIOR ONLY PROJECTS

CenterWell Humana, Charlotte, NC

WHOLE BUILDING PROJECTS

PROJECTS REPORTED TO AIA 2030

Utilizing data to inform design decisions, Little is giving equal emphasis to embodied and operational carbon measurements. While AIA 2030 is currently only focused on reporting "whole building" embodied carbon, Little has been working diligently on analyzing embodied carbon for both new construction as well as interiors.

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ME ASURING OUR PR OGRE SS

37

BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY

38 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

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Building Charlotte Prep a Healthy Lower School, C ommunity Charlotte, NC39

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Healthy Company, Healthy Community Over the past year, Little has contributed volunteer hours and/or pro bono services to the following organizations:

James Lee Community Center

Over the past year, Little has contributed monetary donations to the following organizations: 321 Coffee A Gift for Teaching Advent Health Foundation American Heart Association ArtPop Street Gallery Atrium Health Foundation Black Women in Architecture Network Boys and Girls Club of America - We Care Event Catawba Lands Conservancy Charlotte Center for the Humanities Children's National Medical Center Classroom Central Coalition for Adequate School Housing

40 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

Community of Hope Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Design for Freedom Durham YMCA Foundation for Orange County Public Schools Goodyear Arts Hoag Classic Golf Tournament Hoag Hospital Loudoun Education Foundation Marbles Children's Museum McLeod Health Foundation Mindful Materials Miriams Kitchen

NC Performing Arts Center North Carolina Zoo Society Orange County United Way Saint Elizabeth's Hospital So Others Might Eat Susan G. Komen Foundation Sustain Charlotte The Green Heart Project The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing United Arts Central FL United Way of Central Carolinas United Way of Orange County Wake Tech Foundation

Designing for Impact Fueled by Community In early 2026, Little was awarded a grant through the AIA Upjohn Research Initiative, which supports applied research that advances the value of design and professional practice.

We believe design can do more than create functional, beautiful spaces—it can help address systemic inequities and improve quality of life. With support from the Upjohn Research Initiative, Little is developing the Positive Social Impact Tool (+SIT), an innovative framework that helps design teams evaluate and elevate the social impact of potential developments, regardless of project type or scale.

Drawing on more than 90 equity-related indicators and leveraging AI-powered data

analysis, +SIT generates a "Social Score" that helps design teams identify opportunities for positive social impact across six categories: Identity, Connectivity, Resiliency, Wellness, Prosperity and Finance. With research and beta framework now complete, the investigative team is transforming +SIT into a scalable, repeatable tool that can guide early-stage site assessment, inform stakeholder engagement and help create stronger, community-centered outcomes.

While several planning frameworks and justice indexes exist today, +SIT brings together many of the industry's most pressing social and environmental considerations into a single, flexible, projectfocused platform. Integrating measures such as climate justice, access to essential services, resilient infrastructure, restorative ecosystems, and net-positive community impact, the tool helps design teams make more informed decisions.

+SIT generates a "Social Score" that helps design teams identify opportunities for positive social impact across six categories: Identity, Connectivity, Resiliency, Wellness, Prosperity and Finance.

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Building a Healthy C ommunity

41

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION Building a more inclusive profession starts long before someone enters the workforce. That's why Little invests time in mentoring students, supporting emerging professionals, and creating opportunities for people to explore careers in architecture and design.

Through programs like ACE Mentorship Program, National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), United Way, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, our employees share their knowledge, mentor future designers, and help strengthen the profession.

By also serving as active members of the Large Firm Round Table, we help shape best practices that influence the firm and the broader architectural industry. This leadership ensures that equitable and inclusive strategies are embedded into how we recruit, mentor, and develop future talent.

Mock UrbanPlan City Council at Washington-Liberty High School

Diversify Architecture [DA] Fellowship Little's involvement with the Diversify Architecture Fellowship program centers on introducing fellows to the realities of professional practice, offering meaningful exposure to firm culture, workflows, and project delivery processes. Through mentorship, shadowing, and hands-on learning, fellows gain insight into collaboration, client engagement, and design development. This experience plays a critical role in career advancement, helping demystify a profession known for its complex and often challenging path to licensure and longterm success. By sharing our experiences and supporting fellows throughout their journey, we hope to make the path into architecture more accessible and attainable.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America Our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America introduces young people to career opportunities they may not have previously considered. Our team has supported candidates as they prepare presentations for a national Youth of the Year scholarship opportunity, offering guidance and encouragement throughout the process. Building on this partnership, we are planning a career day to introduce students to the wide range of careers within the AEC industry.

By investing our time, sharing our experiences, and building meaningful relationships, we hope to bridge gaps between aspiration and opportunity for future designers.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE 42 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

Citizenship Celebration for Emerging Professional Amaya Cameron

Black Women in Architecture Brunch

Guest on Studio Nights Podcast, a student led, design-focused podcast

NCNOMA Scholarship Gala Equity Firm Award

Marbles Future Me Career Fair

Portfolio reviews for local students

Celebrating Brittany West's graduation from IIDA Emerging Leaders Program

Visit from day campers at the Stratford Richardson YMCA in Charlotte

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Building a Healthy C ommunity

43

FOSTERING WELLNESS AND INCLUSION FROM WITHIN

Pace Running Group: Charleston Office

The spaces we design influence how people feel, connect, and experience the world around them. We believe creating healthy, inclusive environments goes beyond meeting minimum standards - it requires thoughtful decisions that consider the needs of people, communities, and the environment from the very beginning.

We believe these same principles that shape thoughtful, high-performing spaces - wellness, connection, accessibility and belonging - should also shape our workplace culture.

By investing in our employees and fostering an environment where people feel supported, valued, and empowered, we strengthen our ability to create meaningful outcomes for our clients and communities.

Wellness Culture Bringing fitness into the workplace has become a meaningful way to strengthen culture, connection, and overall well-being.

Across several offices, employee-led run clubs, hiking outings, and friendly dodgeball tournaments encourage movement, reduce stress, and strengthen relationships beyond project work. We're also exploring wellness through a different lens with the Little Garden, a workplace pilot established in our Charlotte and Orlando offices. By growing food in compostenriched soil and reconnecting employees with plants, food systems, and regenerative thinking, the gardens create opportunities for shared learning while reinforcing many of the same principles we bring to our clients through healthy, sustainable design.

Building in Partnership The best design solutions are shaped through collaboration.

By working alongside clients, community members, industry partners, and transdisciplinary teams, we welcome different perspectives to the table. These partnerships ground our work in real needs and shared ownership. Through these partnerships, we ensure that our work remains relevant, responsive, and equitable.

Whether it's through the places we design, the culture we foster, or the partnerships we build, we're committed to crafting environments where people, communities, and organizations succeed together.

44 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

The Little Garden Orlando Office

Hike to Sugar Loaf Mountain: DC Office Fitness Challenge

Community Visioning For Linear Park

Charlotte Office

Little's Demographics GE NDE R MALE

423

FEMALE

49%

EMPLOYEES

51%

E T HNIC I T Y / R AC E

9%

AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKAN NATIVE ASIAN BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISPANIC OR LATINO MULTIRACIAL/MULTI-ETHNIC NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER WHITE NOT SPECIFIED

DECREASE IN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

8%

2.6%

71%

7.1%

0.2%

2.6%

7.6%

28.6% WORKPLACE DIVERSITY

0.5%

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Building a Healthy C ommunity

45

(Re) Mixed-Use 46 BEYOND Competition SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

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Looking Toward the Future

47

Start of Little’s Focus on Sustainability

• •

USGBC Founded First Little LEED AP

•

‘93

• •

LEED rating system unveiled

‘00

• University of South Carolina, Little’s first LEED project

AIA 2030 Challenge issued

by AIA Architect: All new buildings, developments, an major renovation shall be carbonneutral by 2030.

‘05

‘06

Architecture 2030 established Leadership requirement for LEED AP

•

‘02

Timeline of Progress Toward Reg

‘16 •

‘17

‘19

‘20

Center for Building Performance Established

‘21 •

• • •

‘18

Little’s first WELL project – Symantec Mountain View, CA Commitment for our offices to be LEED/ WELL

• •

Metals in Construction finalist for Living in the Wall

Architecture at Zero Competition 1st Place Winner for Fog Catcher, San Francisco State University

•

• •

“Declaration of Innovation”, our framework for innovation outlined

• •

48 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

Neo City School – First Net Zero Energy Project

Architecture at Zero Design Competition 1st Place Winner for Navae Vitae

•

Living Our Vision 2019 Firm Initiatives include: Engage Our Sustainability Platform

4Roots Mass Timber Project – First registered project with International Living Future Institute (Living Future)

Little shifts focus to regenerative future adding measureme of Social Equity (HEWS)

•

Little committed to SE2050

•

Little committed to MEP 2040

Sustain@Little established

Introduced initial focus areas of measurement – Health, Energy, Water (HEW)

•

• Charlotte Office WELL and LEED Silver Certified

Orlando Office Renovation aligned with WELL and LE Standards

, nd ns

•

•

•

Little became a member of LFRT Sustainable Leaders

Little committed to the AIA 2030 Challenge

Envision Dallas, Entangled Bank Project – featured on Nightline

‘08

‘09

• •

Introduced the Greatest Extent Possible – Get Your Green On campaign, Little’s first sustainable position Started reporting projects for the 2030 Challenge

•

‘10

Newton-Conover Middle School achieves LEED Platinum

• •

WELL Building Standard Launched First Little WELL AP

‘13

‘14

‘25

‘26

generative Outcomes (1993 - 2026)

‘22

‘23

‘24 •

oa e, ent

•

First Annual Report

•

• Beyond Sustainability: First edition external publication of our Annual Report

Pursuing Living Building Challenge on Catawba College Smokestack Project #24 Top Green Design Firms #4 Retail Top Green Design Firm by Sector Engineering News Record

o

•

Regen CoLab as a dedicated, firmwide resource

Materials Pledge

•

Signatory of Materials Pledge

o

•

d EED

•

WELL Platinum Crescent Communities, Charlotte

Little joins the Mindful Materials Forum supporting the development of the Common Materials Framework

• • •

• •

Launched Materials Transparency@Little

• •

• • •

Third Year for AIA Material Pledge Reporting

•

Beyond Sustainability III Preparing for renewal of JUST and WELL for Charlotte Office Regen CoLab evolves to Performance & Regeneration Studio

Beyond Sustainability II NeoCity School featured in Creating Regenerative Schools, an AIA publication

•

Little committed to Zero by 2030 Measuring and Reporting Scope 1,2,3 Emissions, in compliance with Green House Gas (GHG) Protocols

Little becomes a Just Organization

• •

DC office achieves LEED Silver and WELL Gold Certifications

The Nature Conservancy achieves LEED Platinum 15 Years of AIA 2030 Reporting

•

Charleston Office built to WELL standard

Charlotte Office WELL Recertification to Platinum

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Looking Toward the Future

49

INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

Discover how we’re creating a better future with a focus on regenerative design outcomes through the stories we craft, our unique points of view and the perspective we gain.

Will AI Be the Final Straw in the Climate Change Equation?

By Scott Brideau

The exponential rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has prompted plenty of debate from those praising its potential across industries to those warning of the challenges it’s sure to bring. The potential in both directions is daunting, for sure. Setting aside the speculation and anticipation about what AI may ultimately enable humankind to accomplish, and the moral/ethical tangles attached, we’re going to focus on the myriad questions about its potential strain on global resources and infrastructure and those implications writ large in the context of climate change.

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Materials Transparency: A Good, Better, Best Guide

By Vickie Breemes

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Perfection is the enemy of the good.” Nowhere is that more true than in the world of building materials.

Every building product—from steel to flooring to paint— has ingredients and impacts that go far beyond use and appearance. Materials transparency is about revealing what’s in those products and understanding how they affect people, the environment, and long-term value.

Think of it like a nutrition label for your building.

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50 BEYOND SUSTAINABILIT Y ANNUAL REPORT

The Future of Design in the Face of Climate Change

By Henry Kwon and Don Baus

The impacts of extreme weather are no longer a future concern; they are a present reality overwhelming infrastructure and endangering communities. Record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and storms are pushing our built environment to its breaking point. In response, designers must lead with two complementary mindsets: resilience—the ability to withstand shocks and “bounce back”—and regeneration—the ability to restore and renew the systems that protect and sustain us.

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Building Beyond the Minimum: Resilience, Flooding, and the Urgency We Can No Longer Ignore

By Lindsey Piant Perez

Last year, devastating floods across Texas and New Mexico claimed more than 130 lives, including children. Neighborhoods were submerged, thousands stranded, and billions of dollars in damage left behind. The scale of loss is staggering and deeply painful. And yet, for many, it’s a grim confirmation of what has long been predicted. Climate data clearly shows that extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent, and the built environment—our schools, homes, hospitals, and community spaces—often remains unprepared.

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How Designing for Equity Leads to More Sustainable Projects

By Scott Brideau

The concept of equity is hardly a new thing. In fact, it dates to ancient Greece and the works of Plato, among others. And the vast majority of us recognize its value to society. But through centuries of developing civilizations, we still haven’t achieved a reasonable level of it. That’s a short-sighted, egocentric, and even dangerous worldview that is pulling apart deep connective tissue in society.

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Looking Toward the Future

51

WORDS FROM OUR CEO

SUSTAINING WHAT MATTERS MOST As we close this year’s sustainability report, it is tempting to measure progress only in the language of hard building metrics: reduced emissions, improved efficiencies, new systems deployed, and benchmarks achieved. These measures certainly matter; they reflect discipline, accountability, and momentum.

However, at its core, sustainability isn’t simply about systems or outcomes. It is about people, and their capacity to adapt, to learn, to recover, and to thrive in a world defined by change. Sustainability challenges, and opportunities, do not exist in silos. They are embedded in our relationship with nature. They require interdisciplinary understanding, integrative systems thinking and a willingness to learn and adapt over and over again.

True sustainability is not static. It is dynamic, lived, and requires adaptation. It asks not only how well we are performing today, but how prepared we are for tomorrow. It challenges us to think beyond environmental stewardship and operational responsibility toward something more enduring: human resilience.

While resilience of our communities and infrastructure is important for creating environments where people can be safe, secure and protected, the most critical form of resilience resides within people. Communities and organizations endure, and grow, not because they are immune to disruption, but because their people are capable of responding productively and creatively to that disruption.

Human resilience is not accidental. It is cultivated. It emerges in cultures and environments that recognize uncertainty not as a threat to be feared, but as an opportunity for growth and a condition to be navigated together. And together is the key word. Human resilience relies on our interdependence. When the burden is shared, human resilience is contagious because it is built in community.

When people are supported to learn, adapt, and recover together, strength spreads across teams, neighborhoods, and networks. Shared challenges foster shared resolve; trust deepens, connection grows, and collective confidence takes root. Resilience becomes a shared asset which enables people not just to endure change, but to carry one another forward with purpose, reaching a higher potential together.

This year reinforced that resilience is about moving forward with intention. Our collective ability to adapt to new technologies, evolving social expectations, climate realities, and economic pressures, depends on how well we invest in people. The future will continue to bring uncertainty.

Climate pressures, technological transformation, and social change will test assumptions and stretch capabilities.

Uncertainty is not an obstacle to sustainability. It is the context in which sustainability and resilience become most meaningful. Our success will be defined not only by what we build or reduce, but how those built environments help their occupants rebound from adversity.

As we close this report, we do so with confidence.

Not because the work is complete, but because it is ongoing. Sustainability is not a destination; it is a lifelong practice. It is strengthened each year by choices that prioritize people and human resilience in concert with nature, effort over complacency, care over expediency, and long term viability over short term gain.

By helping our clients sustain their communities through our work, we sustain our purpose. And in doing so, we help build a future that is not only sustainable but resilient, adaptable, regenerative and enduring.

Carol Rickard-Brideau, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP is a Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Little.

She can be reached at carol.rickard@littleonline.com.

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Photo Looking Credit: Ashley Toward Spinks, the Design Future Lead, Little 53

GLOSSARY OF TERMS Regeneration

Embodied Carbon

Regenerative and restorative buildings go beyond living building levels by not only enhancing their own structures but also revitalizing the surrounding environment.

This includes activities like restoring the natural hydrology of a site or creating habitats for wildlife and plants that have been lost.

Embodied Carbon is the carbon dioxide emitted during the manufacture, transport, and construction of building materials, together with end of life emissions.

Resilience Resilience anticipates risk and disruption—ensuring that buildings and communities can endure, adapt, and recover.

Sustainability Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.

HEWS Health, Energy, Water and Social Equity (HEWS) are Little’s focused areas of measurement.

Predicted Energy Use Intensity (pEUI) Predicted Energy Use Intensity is the estimated building's annual energy usage.

Lighting Power Density (LPD) Lighting Power Density is the total input power of the designed or installed lighting system per square foot, expressed as watts per square foot (W/sf). You may also see Predicted Lighting Power Density (pLPD).

Operational Carbon Operational Carbon is the carbon emitted during the lifetime operational use and maintenance of a building.

Energy Model An Energy Model is a simulated prediction of energy use based on architectural and engineering design characteristics, climate and weather data, and local site impacts.

Net Zero Net Zero projects are projects in which the actual energy used is equal to the on-site renewable energy generation. This energy balance is over a finite time period, such as a whole year, monthly, or smaller increments.

Net Zero Ready Net Zero Ready is a high performance building with ultralow energy consumption and has the ability to be offset with on-site renewable energy generation to become a zero energy building.

Net Positive Net Positive projects produce more energy than Net Zero projects. In these projects the actual energy used exceeds the onsite renewable energy generation.

This energy can be over a finite time period, such as a whole year, monthly, or smaller increments.

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Integrative Process

An integrative process is a comprehensive approach to building systems and equipment.

Project team members look for synergies among systems and components, the mutual advantages that can help achieve high levels of building performance, human comfort, and environmental benefits. (USGBC)

Gross Square Feet (GSF) Gross Square Footage is the total area of enclosed space measured to the exterior walls of a building.

SIGs Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups focused on creating a sense of community through common interests.

Scope 1, 2, 3 Emissions

A way of categorizing the different types of carbon emissions that a company generates. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from a project, such as fuel burned on site. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions for a project, such as the emissions from purchased electricity.

Scope 3 emissions are all other indirect emissions for a project, such as the emissions from a package delivery to the site.

Walk, Transit, and Bike Score Walk Score, Transit Score, and Bike Score are standardized metrics used to estimate how easy it is to get around a location without relying on a car.

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Photo Credit: Looking Daniel Toward Mai, Human theResources, Future Little 55

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Front and Back Cover: Public Greenway Adjacent to Confidential Client Campus, Charlotte, NC