Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) in Specifications, a CSI Hackathon
Written by Melody Fontenot, Chair of the Portland JEDI Committee
On November 10th, 2021, "JEDI in Specs, a CSI Hackathon" was presented at Future Vision 2021, a virtual, multi-session program held November 8-12th by the AIA Oregon Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The purpose of this particular workshop was to explore how construction specifications can be a tool in advancing JEDI initiatives in the built environment.
Why a JEDI Spec Hackathon? We need to ask questions and have conversations, followed by actionable steps toward achieving JEDI initiatives. We need to assess the structures we currently have (in this case, architectural specs, products, materials, contract documents) and see what we need to break down, get rid of, rebuild, and add to, in order to CREATE the future we not only want, but NEED if we want to survive and thrive.
Architecture is all about actively working toward designing and building a better world. Design involves problem solving and dealing with major issues, including social justice and climate change, in addition to numerous other considerations to learn about and attempt to balance. This work begins with having more conversations- with the community to understand their history, culture, and needs; with project Owners to better define their priorities around JEDI; and with AEC firm ownership as well- what does your company stand for? Can we spec it- clearly define it and relay it so everyone is on the same page?
First, Melody Fontenot reviewed the role of specifications, and the power they convey. We have to start by learning the history and current rules before we determine how to BREAK those rules , or reshape them. We need to start asking more questions about the status quo.
Specs are the vehicle where A/E’s can supplement and ENFORCE contract requirements; we want to make sure not to include language that may add barriers. We highlighted what progress has been made, such as most pronouns now removed from contract and spec language and cities that have implemented community agreements or EDI initiatives, including Portland’s Community Benefits Agreement and Seattle’s Equitable Development Initiative.
Public projects usually require published notifications and a percentage of minority-owned businesses; why can't private projects include similar requirements- have we asked? We have a responsibility to educate project Owners to set requirements beyond 'code minimums' and 'the way things have always been done'.
What about more 'community agreements'? Can we make a spec section to convey this project requirement? Based on information like the AIA Equitable Practice Guide and Gehl Institute's Inclusive Healthy Places.
What parts of the construction process do we need to reassess to be better stewards of land and materials? The Useful Waste Initiative, championed by Julia Mollner, PSU Adjunct Faculty, CPID Fellow of Practice, works to repurpose mockups into shelters, sleeping units, guard houses, and beyond. They offer a guide book, containing example specification language.
Ren DeCherney with ILFI helped us examine material transparency and how sustainability and stewardship support equitable communities. ILFI's Red List aims to increase equity by eliminating chemicals that are toxic along the entire supply chain- factories that make toxic chemicals disproportionately negatively affect frontline communities. Check out ILFI's affordable housing materials list and more on JUST.
Then we had participants split into 4 breakout rooms to 'hack' some specs hosted on a MIRO board; brainstorming to find opportunities to improve existing language or add new text focused on JEDI initiatives. What can we make into project requirements rather than suggestions? Participants were encouraged to bring their questions, unique perspectives, and thoughts; the discussion was aimed at having a conversation and generating new questions, rather than having all the answers.
Room 1: Justice - Owner Questions and Division 00 Procurment/Bidding with Melody Fontenot
Increasing equity and diversity in bidding- increasing opportunities for underserved groups, local, small businesses bidders (ie regional preference for bids? weighted bid scale to help ‘balance’ bids)
New Section targeted for community agreement or JEDI language for Owner optional inclusion
Is there a way to require equitable treatment of everyone involved in the project?
What items would you include on a checklist for Owner discussion to define project performance requirements related to humanity and JEDI- preservation of history, culture, community, etc.
What 'community agreements' establishing clear rules for behavior and respect would you create?
We ask what our building owners expect of the building, but what do we as Architects expect of Owners? Contractors? Firms can create agreements establishing accepted client behavior toward their employees.
Community engagement to maintain spaces or systems; community agreements for building occupants?
Room 2: Equity and Diversity in General Conditions- Division 01 with Alexander Lungershausen
012500 Substitution Procedures- can we add that substitutions can't adversely affect or eliminate minority subcontractors?
013591 Historic Treatment Procedures- expand on preserving cultural history somehow to prevent gentrification?
014000 Quality Requirements- include community agreements here?
014339 Mockups- include language from Useful Waste Initiative on repurposing mockups
016000 Product Requirements- include general language for compliance with ILFI's Red List
017419 Construction Waste Management and Disposal- require a waste management plan even when not required by a sustainable program
019113 General Commissioning Requirements- expand the Owners Project Requirements (OPR) to include values and devise a method to verify an Owner’s JEDI initiatives were achieved, possibly through Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) reports interviewing occupants (not typically included in basic services)
Maybe we need to update the definition of basic services; a systemic change to include community outreach and follow up not as a supplemental service, but part of due diligence.
Alexander noted "General Requirements of Division 1 have the opportunity to be inviting to minority bidders by offering storage spaces, limiting substitutions that remove minority manufacturers, fabricators and installers, and provide communication support on job sites. We reiterated the opportunities that the reuse of large building mockups can offer to communities, if you build them in a way that they can become part of a small house. This is an effort that PSU’s Center for Public Interest Design has been spearheading for years now and that has already produced some tangible results. Key to verify the success of any inclusionary efforts will be some form of JEDI commissioning at the time of the project completion. Knowledge of what actually happened and what worked are a great resource that can be shared with visitors and construction participants alike."
Room 3: Inclusion and Accessibility - Division 08 Openings and Division 10 Specialties with Kourtney Strong
ADA is the baseline; how can we go beyond the bare minimum? Have conversations with the Owner while discussing other project performance, like environmental goals, to include setting project goals for accessibility, inclusion, and diversity by removing physical, digital, and social barriers.
Room 4: Environment and Materials- Division 9 - Interior Finishes with Ren DeCherney
Discussions on which sections have products on the red list, and the need for conversations to engagement the community; a skill not taught in design school- how can designers facilitate gathering community preferences in an accessible and comfortable way?
“It is encouraging to witness that the removal of society’s barriers is continuing and actually gaining some decent momentum in our community. The goal of the Hackathon was to identify where the removal of barriers can be integrated into the fabric of the specifications.”
We certainly started the conversation, now to turn intentions into actions.
Where can we go from here?
Avoid products known to cause inequity, containing materials on the ILFI’s Red List
Specify 'Red-List Free'
Have discussions with Owners (client owner and owners of your firm):
What can we implement today to make our processes and spaces better for everyone?
How can we be more proactive? Ask questions!
Be transparent- become a JUST organization
Advocate for waste reduction goals & strategies on every project
Donate a mock-up, construction materials, or volunteer time
CSI PDX JEDI committee - future town halls to share knowledge and discussions
NOMA NW Call to Action
Architecture requires community collaboration, we must ask questions and hold owners accountable for this part of the process. We need to educate them to the IMPACT of their building decisions- this is what truly protects the health safety and welfare of all the public, not just the majority. We hope this has inspired you to ask more questions of your project and firm Owners - to think beyond code minimums and the current status quo to push these boundaries as a statement of values through the spaces they own and along the entire process to get to there.
You can watch the main portion of the presentation (minus the breakout rooms) here.
