Submission by AWW.
Being a good ancestor
Practice
1. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
We are committed to making a positive impact. This year we have received our Quality Mark Gold as a testament to the time and passion that sits behind each decision we make.
Our commitment continues to focus on transparent and honest reporting through creating a net gain environmental impact, enhancing people’s quality of life and building partnerships that effect positive change.
We are net-zero carbon (Scope 1, 2, limited 3) across our business operations, carbon balancing through TEMWA which combines tree planting with sustainable agriculture, reforestation and community education in Malawi.
We are a member of the UN Race to Zero and a signatory of Architects Declare and the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, publishing our Carbon Reduction Report and Social Impact Report annually. This year multiple projects are set to achieve Passivhaus certification and our post-occupancy reporting, revisits our buildings to ensure they deliver environmental efficiency and social benefits.
2. Do you have a clearly stated purpose aligned with the planetary emergency? We’re looking for a bold ambition here, and a culture which recognises the need for long-term thinking.
In 2023, we became an Employee Owned Trust (EOT), aligning our structure with our mission to drive positive change. As an EOT, all employees are beneficiaries of the company’s success. This year our EOT has secured enhanced maternity and paternity leave, an updated family policy, introduced a menopause policy and increased study leave.
A critical part of ensuring our company values is shared equally has been introducing a non-fee earner career pathway progression proposition. For many in non-architectural roles the route into senior leadership and director roles can feel uncertain or unobtainable, we’ve set to change that, highlighting the diversity of talent, insights and characters that help a business thrive.
3. Do you share research and knowledge for the benefit of society and the wider world?
Regenerative design is key to our practice and design principals. This year we’ve taken a deep dive into Whole Life Carbon. Hersham Place Technology Park gave us the opportunity to explore this in practice.
We researched and tested tools new to the business. This allowed us to calculate the estimated embodied carbon of the existing structural elements, expected to be retained, and quantify the inherent embodied carbon value of the structure in comparison to a new build equivalent. Through this research we produced four figures that guided our design approach, including 571 kgCO2e/m² embodied carbon from existing structural elements and 874 kgCO2e/m² embodied carbon associated with retrofit.
Involvement in these projects allows us to grow our understanding of complex socio-environmental issues and apply this learning to practice.
Project
1. Do you advocate for long-term thinking at the outset of work? Do you initiate work with long-term thinking and challenge clients? Also, can the organisation demonstrate that this approach has worked?
We have embedded circular economy (CE) into building design through advocating for building re-use, agreeing CE strategy at Stage 1, including a CE method statement at RIBA Stage 2/3, designing for disassembly, adopting ‘Building in Layers’, communicating the disassembly strategy through the life of the project and engage in industry research.
Working with Hammersmith & Fulham to deliver the local authorities first 31 new Passivhaus Certified apartments at Farm Lane demonstrates this in practice. For a Passivhaus building to perform at full efficiency, a key part of the handover will be equipping people to live in their flat in a way that saves them money and reduces the environmental impact of the scheme long-term.
The design reimagines what Passivhaus design for housing can mean, with large, cantilevered balconies, full height windows and open living spaces demonstrating that form and function can be retained while still meeting ambitious certification requirements.
2. Does your work take account of the future climate and the need for resilience?
Our ESG policy guides both projects and practice and is established by our ESG team in partnership with practice directors. It aligns with our ISO 14001, social value quality mark and ARB commitments. All projects consider long-term impact on carbon and natural resources through, design, construction and use.
Supporting heritage assets also forms part of our approach to resilience in design. The Newport Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre has given us opportunity to revitalise a landmark of national and global importance while striving for BREEAM Excellent in design. Partnering with local artists and inspiring young talent, through street art, not only celebrated local culture but also encourage community stewardship. This could otherwise be lost as the climate continues to impact the Transporter Bridge’s physical setting across the River Usk. This includes a need to raise the floor levels by 9.1m to address 1 in 200-year flood events.
3. Does the majority of your work go beyond mitigating negatives and towards optimising positives?
As signatories of the RIBA 2030 Challenge, we’ve been tracking our progress and believe we’re on target to achieve net zero operational readiness across all relevant projects. However, progress is affected by evolving legislation and shifting definitions of ‘net zero,’ ‘zero impact,’ and ‘positive impact.’ To help shape that clarity, we’re actively contributing to the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard Pilot through a live deep retrofit project.
We see Passivhaus as a natural step towards optimising positive impact through design that is future climate ready. Internally we have started a Retrofit Masterclass, sharing the learnings of our internal Passivhaus certified designers and project caser studies to upskill the wider team. This acknowledges that on average buildings perform 40% worse than intended, while Passivhaus standard close this performance gap, improving health and wellbeing outcomes for occupiers as well as improving air quality and reducing energy bills.
Co-evolving with nature
Practice
1. Do you use biophilia within your premises and/or do you regularly gather in natural settings?
Our Interior Design team has extensive experience in biophilic design, which they’ve applied to our own studios. As part of our January Motivational Monday series, the Bristol team rolled up their sleeves for a seed-planting session, potting up herb seedlings to nurture and grow in the studio. A simple initiative, but one that reinforces the connection between wellbeing, nature and the spaces we work in every day.
Beyond our projects, we actively engage with nature through volunteering and community work. We are currently forming a partnership with a rewilding initiative, giving staff opportunities to participate in hands-on nature regeneration. This work deepens our understanding of ecological systems and strengthens our commitment to creating places that support long-term biodiversity and environmental resilience.
2. Can you share examples of where you have considered nature in decision making?
At a practice level, we prioritise our people getting out in nature, with public green parks within 300m of both of our office spaces. Our offices are BREEAM rated ‘Very good’ and ‘ Outstanding’, with our London studio space achieving Net Zero Carbon and offering shared roof gardens.
A critical part of our project decision making is the environmental credentials, exploring how the site can actively engage with and connect to nature. In constrained urban sites we prioritise green and biodiverse roofs often with integrated PVs and aim to link up to local green networks to provide biodiversity corridors.
At Exeter College we maximised the design of green spaces to reduce the urban heat island effect within the campus and provide sheltered outdoors spaces with a mix of biodiverse planting. This includes drought resistant species, responding to forecasts that annual temperatures will continue to rise, with sporadic rainfall locally.
3. Are you supporting nature locally and nationally?
Local to our Bristol studio the team have volunteered to support the creation of a new green roof at the Belmont Estate, helping to build a new roundhouse structure that will be used for teaching, storytelling, and shelter, linking to the estates rewilding projects. This included construction of a new grass roof and timber screen walls which offer protection from the prevailing winds.
Nationally our projects support biodiversity and nature, all meeting BNG 10% requirements and in many areas exceeding this.
Our TEMWA partnership also supports nature at an international scale, providing the funds to teach local communities about reforestation and improving soil health in northern Malawi.
Project
1. Can you demonstrate work that strives to match the performance of a mature ecosystem?
Our projects strive to match the performance of a mature ecosystem, including achieving Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and bringing nature into the spaces we design.
Working at Lackham Campus we engaged with Natural England, helping to understand the impacts and benefits of proximity to Mortimores Wood Local Nature Reserve, which comprises approximately 1.5 hectares of woodland and riverbank habitat. Design considered the species supported by these woodlands and mature green networks on the site for bats, badgers, reptiles and birds.
We’re supporting Thames Water with their relocation, designing the interiors for a new workspace that places nature at its heart.
Our planting strategy weaves greenery directly into the furniture and layout, bringing plants into the centre of the office to create natural visual and acoustic buffers around desks and the reception area. The result is a softer, more connected environment that gently draws people together and encourages interaction across teams.
2. Are you working on material stewardship?
We advocate for retrofit, reuse and retention as a first principal when approaching design.
Broad Quay House, a UK Net Zero Carbon Pilot Scheme, will rationalise and extend the existing structure, locking in and reducing the embodied carbon, improve building fabric performance and reduce operational carbon demand with high performance façade and promotion of urban greening and on-site renewables. A feasibility study explored refurbishment, deep retrofit and replacement, focusing on material stewardship and carbon efficiency with whole life carbon assessment, space heating demand and EUI carried out on each option.
Prioritising a deep retrofit approach, the scheme will include a biosolar roof, exceed LETI guidance for energy efficient glazing resulting in a 30% space heating demand reduction, targeting NABERS UK 5.5* and Platinum ActiveScore, resulting in a total embodied carbon of 899 kgCO₂e/m².
This approach is emulated across our project portfolio where possible.
3. Does the majority of your work demonstrate the use of biologically-inspired approaches such as Bioregionalism, Biophilia or Biomimicry?
We work in partnership with landscape architects to drive biophilia in design. Many of our healthcare projects build on proven links between green views and improved patient outcomes. Over the last 8 years, we have proudly supported Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, providing architectural services across a range of healthcare settings from dementia inpatient units to acute mental health wards. This requires an understanding of how our environment shapes behaviour, healing and safety. At Langley Green Hospital, private external green space next to de-escalation and seclusion rooms have included biophilic design on secure fencing to protect patients while boosting restorative neurological effects of nature.
This is also seen in Selworthy School’s Hazelbrook Campus, where our team has developed a SEND school for non-ambulant pupils with physical and learning difficulties. The scheme includes sensory gardens, therapy rooms, specialist teaching spaces and outdoor areas designed to support both educational and therapeutic development.
Creating a just space for people
Practice
1. Do you have a progressive EDI policy and can you evidence many forms of diversity, which are welcomed and acknowledged, within your company/organisation?
We are committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different cultural perspectives available in a diverse society. We aim to create a workplace where people feel respected and valued, and can achieve their potential regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability or age.
We continue to champion policies that give fairer access to the industry such as apprenticeships, mentoring and visa sponsorship. We also aim to remove barriers to education with student fee loans and paid study days.
In an industry where the mean gender pay gap is 13.8% and the ethnicity pay gap is 9.4%, our focus is on equity in progression. This means accessible career pathway plans that are not reliant on financial capacity, fair and transparent reporting and communication across the business on our pay gap and having an action plan in place to close it.
2. Do you operate a no overtime culture, meet the living wage consistently, and stipulate a fair salary ratio between staff of all levels?
We support equal opportunities in employment and deems that all staff, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, age or disability should receive equal pay for the same or broadly similar work and for work rated as equivalent or of equal value. AWW aims to avoid unfair discrimination and to reward fairly the skills, experience and potential of all staff.
Our business operates a pay system which is transparent, based on objective criteria and free from gender bias, regardless of race or disability. We pay the Living Wage as a minimum.
We have engendered a no overtime culture through careful management and accepting that overtime is almost always foreseeable. Therefore, when overtime is looking likely this is red-flagged and discussed with the project director to find an alternative solution. Sometimes overtime can’t be avoided and this is either paid or TOIL is arranged.
3. Do you support charities, community groups, social enterprises, action groups and others through pro-bono work, charitable giving or in-kind donations?
Our partnerships span both project work and business operations. We annually support Young Bristol and Safer London, delivering skills sharing workshops, mentoring and fundraising.
This year 130 voluntary hours were donated to support VCSEs, exceeding our 50-hour target. £2,392 has been raised to support local and national community projects (exceeding the target of £2,300) as well as £791 value-in kind donations. This includes donations of laptops linked to our SEND school projects in Bristol and attending careers fairs close to sites across the city.
Through our impact fund, held with Quartet, we match with projects across Bristol, providing the financial support they need. Alongside funds we have been able to offer pro-bono architectural advice and support to groups such as the St Paul’s Advice Centre, helping overcome spatial layout challenges that can improve their day-to-day operational capabilities.
4. Do you use an ethical framework to assess opportunities and/or supply chain partners and is them team consulted on these decisions?
We are proud to be the first architectural practice to achieve the Social Value Quality Mark Gold in 2025. As part of this commitment, we uphold a series of pledges and KPIs that we report on annually.
We are known for our strong team culture and for leading collaborative relationships that enable clear, open communication and productive partnerships. Successful collaboration starts with early and consistent engagement with clients and stakeholders throughout the design process.
We take a robust, integrated approach to design development, ensuring all key services and deliverables are aligned from the outset. Careful selection of project partners is essential, with a focus on shared values and attention to detail. We regularly review our value chain including clients, suppliers, and partners and only work with those who share our high ethical standards, reinforcing our commitment to responsible, value-driven practice.
Project
1. Does your work demonstrate deep engagement with local stakeholders and end users?
We specialise in translating stakeholder aspirations into architectural solutions, ensuring every voice is heard and decisions are made transparently. Our appointment of a Social Value Design Consultant is key to putting this commitment into action. We have developed a scope of services that includes on-the-ground engagement, working with partner VCSEs and grassroots organisations to maximise the long-term impact of our projects.
Listening and learning from the communities neighbouring or using our site has been integral to our work at Distillery, Bristol. We offered site tours to the Dings neighbourhood group, collating feedback on the completed buildings and emerging designs for two additional offices. Conversations explored retention of the meanwhile use planting, a vibrant, wild and welcoming seating area around grasses and pollinators.
We also delivered curriculum support giving local Year 9s opportunity to work in teams to come up with an approach to the site layout and propose key features.
2. Does your work create connected and resilient communities which positively contribute to neighbourhoods and allow equality of access?
As Architects and Interior Designers, we recognise our responsibility to positively shape the built environment and contribute to society through our projects, processes, and supply chain. Achieving the Social Value Quality Mark Gold in 2025 reenforces our commitment to promoting social innovation and helping build healthier, safer, and more resilient communities. This includes supporting local economies by retaining value in the cities where we live and work.
Our recently completed Queens Quay achieved this, connecting the building back to the city, creating a calm workspace for residents. Prioritising resilience through refurbishment saved 1,506 tonnes of embodied carbon, achieving BREEAM Excellent and ActiveScore Platinum. Natural materials, lighting and integrating nature help reframe a Georgian building for modern working with dual aspect on to Queens Square and the harbour, boosting the wellbeing of staff. To create a resilient workplace the design also prioritised green travel, with accessible cycle and scooter storage.
3. Does the majority of your work promote equity in society, and consider all people, not only building inhabitants
We work to uphold our social value pledges, prioritising wellbeing and inspiring connection on all our projects, through providing empowering and inclusive environments that stimulate physical and mental health.
Through design we consider safety, access and equity, promoted through internal design reviews that build on feedback from communities and stakeholders in and around our project sites. As buildings are developed, we work to support the contractor in ensuring the construction process does not adversely impact local people through CEMP and project management.
Once operational we aim to revisit our buildings, using surveys, photography and observation to understand how the building operates within its context.
AWW have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking, endeavours to ensure it is not taking place within our directly employed workforce or any of our value chain. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships.