by Daniel Huntsman, LEED AP
dhuntsman@huntsmanag.com

At Huntsman we foster a culture where passion, dedication, and service have a real impact on the lives of those we design for. These values are instrumental in the work we do, but they also extend beyond our projects to our communities.  As a firm, we participate in a number of charitable events and fundraisers yearly.  This year, I’d like to highlight a unique program that has become one of our favorite holiday traditions.

Since I started the firm in 1981, we have distributed bonuses to our staff at mid-year and again during the winter holidays.  With the year end bonus, each of our employees also receives a second check which is not made out to anyone.  The idea was to pass the check along to an organization, a cause, or even an individual to whom it would make a difference.  While many firms make a united donation to charities on behalf of their employees, this program was borne out of my desire to enable our staff to actually help direct the firm’s philanthropy. As it is their year-long efforts that make it possible for us to have money to donate, it is only fair to have our staff help identify at a very personal level where their share of our contribution goes.

The rules of the program are simple. We only ask that our employees send the check someplace where they think it will truly be helpful. They can even simply cash the check and give the cash to an individual whom they know is in need.  I know that in many cases the second check gets added to contributions our employees are already making on their own.

And the program is completely anonymous.  We do not know where the donations go until weeks later when thank you letters come into the office from many of the recipients.  They are written by real people who sincerely appreciate the generosity of our employees. The number of letters we receive and the sincerity of the gratitude validates the breadth of our program and that our contributions are getting to where it matters.

Often these letters are from non-profit organizations that we did not necessarily know about before. Some are new and some have been active for years, but they all bring to our attention the social, economic, and environmental issues present in our communities.  It has been fulfilling to see the diverse mix of causes that our staff chooses to support.

by Daniel Huntsman, LEED AP
dhuntsman@huntsmanag.com

As we look forward to the opportunities and challenges each new year presents, it’s useful to pause and reflect on past accomplishments. I like to think that some of our greatest achievements collectively within the design and construction professions are those that benefit the greater good – giving of ourselves to better the communities in which we live and serve every day. We can all understand that even on our most challenging workday, we’re far better off than so many others. Each year, we see hardships that communities and individuals face; adversities that prompt us to give of ourselves and do something for those who can really use a helping hand. Here at Huntsman, I’m proud that our staff volunteers their time towards a number of philanthropic organizations that support our local communities. These organizations’ commitment toward meeting community needs is an ongoing effort that happens all year long. It is in this spirit of looking back at a rewarding 2013 and looking forward with optimism for 2014 that I want to express thanks to our staff and to our many industry colleagues for sharing their time and their talents – the gift of design – throughout the year.

For the past 13 years, our staff has participated in Herman Miller’s We Care program.  In more than 25 U.S. cities, the event brings together architectural and design firms in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America where kids get the chance to create handmade presents for their families and loved ones. Members of our New York office joined Herman Miller and leading design firms in support of this common cause. Together, they brought their expertise and passion for design to collaborate with kids in making these unique gifts – ranging from jewelry to holiday themed tee shirts to household items like placemats.  “I’m so proud of everyone this year. It’s so fulfilling to see how the design community comes together as a whole to help these kids craft holiday gifts for family and friends, “ said Sabrina Thompson, who supports the coordination efforts on behalf of the Herman Miller A+D team in New York, “and it makes me happy to see how proud the kids are when they finish their craft. It really proves how the best presents aren’t ‘store bought.’ It also encourages the kids to get in touch with their creative side.”

As it is each year, the challenge is for designers to come up with a creative idea that kids would love and be proud of, and that could be produced quickly by children ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old.  “It’s always incredibly fun to watch the kids helping each other and working together. We had a couple of BFF’s who designed their tee shirts exactly alike” says Huntsman senior designer Andrea Hurtado, “It’s a great experience – aside from the overall fun we have – because it provides the kids with a foundation for appreciating and understanding the significance of giving.“

2013 also saw our second year supporting Canstruction, the national fundraising event where firms construct giant-sized structures made entirely of canned food and whose proceeds benefit local food banks.  The year’s theme was games, and entries could reference anything from classic board games to the more current mobile, electronic version.  A dozen employees from our San Francisco office with GCI General Contractors and Rutherford & Chekene Engineers constructed a sculpture inspired by the video game Duck Hunt.  Comprised of nearly 5,700 cans of a well-rounded meal (tuna, crab meat, salmon, beans, peas, and asparagus), the aluminum sculpture replicated a popular scene from the game featuring the hunting dog holding two waterfowl victories, one in each hand.

Canstruction raised more than 30,000 cans of food which were donated to the San Francisco and Marin Food Banks.  Now in its third year in the Bay Area, the fundraiser represents the largest, single canned food donation in the food banks’ history, driving home the point that creative ideas can be made of the most common product like a can of food.  And that design can help create visual awareness for organizations and their causes.  “As chair for SF Canstruction 2013,” shares Ginger Kelly, “I am honored to have worked with such a dedicated group of individuals who participated to make this year such a great success. The nine teams included close to 30 firms who spent five months fundraising to buy cans, designing, building, and celebrating their amazing structures.  It is really commendable that our design community has taken the time and energy to give back to those in need, while having fun and using their talents.  The teams have formed lasting relationships and continue to support the awareness of hunger in the Bay Area by sharing their photos, success, and stories with the industry.”

The following video captures the six-hour build in a 90 second time-lapse animation (courtesy of Jake Wiens):

As part of a pro-bono, community outreach venture with the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and Pankow Builders, Huntsman senior associate Karen Feltham dedicated her design efforts for an interior rehabilitation project for theSan Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center located in the Haight Ashbury district.   Formerly a firehouse originally built in 1895, the Center’s home required modifications to create a more inviting and accessible facility for its client base of 15,000 parents and children.   The renovations included an expanded reception and waiting room areas, improved client counseling rooms with sound-proof walls for greater privacy, a remodeled children’s therapeutic playroom, and expanded staff work spaces.  In addition, the building underwent a seismic retrofit to better support the organization’s 24/7 services such as one-on-one counseling, educating the community, and building city-wide partnerships.

Additionally, 2013 brought Huntsman the opportunity to partner with healthRIGHT 360, an organization that consolidated the programs of Walden House, Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Asian American Recovery Services, and Rock Medicine.  At the start of last year, design principal David Meckley and project coordinator Joanna Heringer led a pro bono visioning workshop and programming exercise for healthRIGHT 360.  The visioning identified objectives the organization will address as it relocates its facility later this year.  Addressing space inefficiencies resulting from ad hoc growth, the planning effort proposed a new alignment of programs to aid how the organization can improve health services to the community as well as create a more prominent identity in its neighborhood.  We look forward to healthRIGHT 360’s success in its new home and in its mission to provide medical care and treatment to San Franciscans in need.

We spend much of the year providing design services to support the business of our clients, but the power of design also lies in social responsibility.  Through sharing ideas and creative problem-solving, we all can help shape stronger and healthier communities.

All of us at Huntsman Architectural Group wish you the best in the new year.

by Dan Huntsman
dhuntsman@huntsmanag.com

As the holiday season draws to a close, we are reminded of how the spirit of giving extends beyond our family and friends to the communities in which we work and live. Within the design profession, there are a host of opportunities to use our creativity to collaborate with community organizations whose missions are to serve those in need. For many of these groups, financial support to sustain the quality of their services has become increasingly more difficult to raise. They often have to develop innovative programs to gain visibility for their causes and attract both donors and volunteers. The contributions made by our employees have helped these organizations with fundraising and outreach efforts, and through their talents and skills, have been able to share the gift of design.

For the past 12 years, Huntsman has participated in We Care, an annual holiday event sponsored by Herman Miller. For this event, architecture and design firms in 27 cities around the country join together to volunteer their time and skills in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of America. Teams comprised of designers host craft stations, where kids make personalized gifts. At the start of the holiday season, Huntsman staff in both New York and San Francisco joined leading design firms to bring their expertise and passion for design to work with over 450 school kids in creating unique gifts – everything from jewelry, holiday themed tee shirts, photo frames, to wall clocks. At the end of the day, the children who participated in the event brought home armloads of handmade gifts.

“We strive to create smiles and stories that will be well remembered,” says Erin Wendt, who supports the coordination efforts on behalf of the Herman Miller A+D team, “We aim to incorporate the arts and culture as part of the day. In addition to the craft-making, we host photos with Santa, a face-painting table and offer temporary tattoos as part of the fun. The best response that we could hear at the end of the day is for the children to ask if we would return next year!”

Among the many challenges of putting together this event is coordinating craft designs that could be created by children ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old. “While planning, we have to consider several aspects: creativity of the craft, originality, cost, and ease of assembly,” shares Andrea Hurtado from Huntsman. “Kids have only 45 minutes to go from table to table, so creativity and efficiency were in high supply.”

Where the kids find delight in creating handmade gifts, designers get the opportunity to access their inner child, play with their creativity, and make time for our community. It also gives them a chance to encourage kids to use their imagination and to access their creativity for a thoughtful gift. It stresses the adage that gift giving is about meaning more than commercial value. “It is such an exciting event for the children, and they are so appreciative for the opportunity to make these gifts,” adds Huntsman’s Brandye Johnson, “not only for their loved ones, but for themselves as well.”

For CANstruction, a national fundraising event whose proceeds benefit local food banks, building creative sculptures out of food cans is leveraged as a marketing tool to draw the public in and create awareness for the organization. CANstruction holds annual design and build competitions to construct giant sized structures made entirely out of canned food. In more than 100 cities in North America, the structures are on display to the general public the week before Thanksgiving.

San Francisco CANstruction proposed the theme of the Cannes Film Festival for 2012, which required entries to tie back to the international film festival. Paying homage to its client Pixar Animation Studios, Huntsman teamed with GCI General Contractors and Rutherford & Chekene Engineers to construct a sculpture inspired by the film “Up,” the first animated feature film to premier at Cannes. Comprised of more than 5,300 cans of chicken, tuna, beef stew, crab meat, and assorted vegetables, the “Up” structure represents a whole greater than the sum of its many parts – an idea that is reflected in the event itself with 13 other structures in the competition. The event raised more than 70,000 cans of food which were donated to the San Francisco and Marin Food Banks.

“CANstruction is an ideal way for our industry to give back to the community in which we build,” shares Lauren Sherman, Chairperson for SF CANstruction. “Food and shelter are the basics that many are struggling with right now. CANstruction raises a tremendous amount of food while having fun and raising awareness about issues of hunger.” Only in its second year in the Bay Area, CANstruction 2012 represents the largest, single canned food donation in the food banks’ history, driving home the point that creative ideas can be made of the most common product like a can of food. And that design can help tell a much more compelling and visual story.

While the holidays are a time when we are more conscious about the thought of giving, we can all pool our individual talents and creative ideas any time of year. The collective good is designed by our ability to come together and support each other.

From all of us at Huntsman Architectural Group, we wish you the best in the new year.

A New Paw Print In The Neighborhood
By Linda H. Parker, CID, LEED AP

The past few years have been a trying time for community-based organizations.  Non-profits that rely on private donations as well as funding from local governments have been operating on limited resources while searching for creative ways to continue and try to better serve their client base.  After nearly 25 years and through seven different locations, Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) has been fortunate in its strive to secure a facility that meets the needs of its unique mission.

PAWS is an organization that provides for the comprehensive needs of companion animals for low-income senior citizens and persons living with HIV/AIDS and other disabling conditions. John Lipp, moving on from his role as PAWS’ Executive Director, shares with us what it has been like during his seven-year tenure improving fundraising efforts and then ultimately able to acquire and renovate the organization’s new facility in spite of the economic headwinds.

Linda:               Looking back on PAWS’ humble beginnings, how have you stayed true to your roots while expanding upon your services?

John:                PAWS is part of what was known as the San Francisco model, which was a group of non-profits formed in the late 80’s to address the AIDS epidemic. PAWS was born out of that movement, and true toSan Francisco, it was a very specialized need that people sought.  PAWS was originally a food bank at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, where we observed people were coming in to get their personal food rations to feed their pets.  The light bulb went off that no one should be forced to choose between feeding a pet and feeding oneself.

From that, PAWS’ guiding principle has been the core belief that animals are so important to human health and well-being.  Though we began as an organization focused on HIV/AIDS needs, we expanded our clientele over the years, because we realized that this is a good model and there’s a greater need in the community.  As we’ve grown, our volunteer programs have grown, too.  We now have 550 active volunteers and 12 full-time staff members, but we are all volunteer coordinators at the end of the day.  Our job is to motivate, inspire and train the volunteers and give them the tools to go out into the community.

Linda:               With a size of 550 volunteers, do you think that has changed the community-based foundation of the organization?

John:                The fact that we have so many volunteers is a testament to how important it is to have PAWS in San Francisco. Without the community behind us, PAWS would not exist. We are completely privately funded.  So, it has to be the community that believes in this mission and keeps it going.

Linda:               How did you manage to expand that community interested in helping PAWS?

John:                We realized that the human-animal bond cuts across age, gender, and political affiliation – it’s actually a unifying force in our community.  Once we realized that, we could expand beyond the HIV/AIDS service community. If you have pets in your life, you understand how important their unconditional love is; everybody can relate to that.

Linda:               Has PAWS been involved with any research studies focused on this bond between people and pets?

John:                Yes, we realized that there are demonstrated health benefits of the human-animal bond, and to truly change public policy, we have to help document studies.  First, we became a center where we can collect this information and disseminate it for various research efforts.  Then a few years ago, we partnered with UC Davis, and we helped to study the impacts of pets on people with HIV and AIDS.

Linda:               Do you know if those studies have been expanded to include people with other kinds of illnesses or disabilities?

John:                Throughout the country, there has now been a lot of work looking at companion animals and senior citizens.  There are some interesting studies on how having a dog will decrease isolation.  It motivates senior citizens to get out and have a dialogue with their neighbors.  It’s also healthy; seniors who walk their dogs are more active and therefore stay fit, maintain a healthy weight, and are more engaged.

Linda:               What are some of the ways you have expanded the services since you had started with PAWS?

John:                In 2007, we began a pilot program funded by Dorothy Graham of the Graham Family Foundation to serve low-income seniors.  We realized instantly there was a huge need for this demographic, and then we noticed that our initial clients who are living with HIV/AIDS are now becoming seniors, too. In a way, we have been on the forefront of looking at aging services for people with chronic illnesses.

Linda:               In regard to PAWS’ fundraising efforts, has Petchitecture been different than any other event you had taken on?

John:                Truth be told, I was not a huge fan of events, but I’ve come to love them from working at PAWS.  They are not just about fundraising but about friend-raising; you can cultivate a whole new group of donors and volunteers in the way you position the event.  When I first started PAWS, I spent three months observing the planning of Petchitecture.  I realized the event involves a lot of work, but it wasn’t bringing in a whole lot of money.  The architects and contractors invest greatly in creating very one-of-a-kind pet habitats.  So, I thought about how to build upon the enthusiasm of working with the design community and how to increase the proceeds so it’s worth everyone’s time and energy.  Since then, we have been able to quadruple the annual income we bring in from Petchitecture.

Linda:               How did you make Petchitecture a more effective fundraiser?

John:                We looked at where we could increase revenue: corporate sponsors, individual donors, and ticket prices.  More importantly, there is a perception of value at play.  If you give a fundraiser away, people perceive no value in it.  So once we raised sponsorship levels and ticket prices, the perception was that the event was serious.  At the end of the day, you have only one opportunity to bring that many people together, and you better make the most of it.

And seeing the event through the eyes of the design teams, I sense each firm makes their individual pet habitat a priority, as if it were a project for a client.  This is just as important as the fundraising, and that inspires everyone at PAWS.

Linda:               For the firms like ours, it is a very emotionally bonding and enriching experience as well.  We learn from it and even develop design innovations used on projects for our human clients.

Many non-profits never get to the point of purchasing their own building, much less do it in the amount of time that PAWS has existed.  With your move, what are the key things that have made a difference?

John:                Certainly morale is better.  Our staff, volunteers, and clients feel better coming to such a beautiful and functional space. That is important, because their work is difficult. We were able to build a storage facility for our food bank and a veterinarian clinic space. The resources we now have will better position PAWS for the future.
One of the most exciting moments was when we sent letters to our clients announcing the move.  When we told them that we bought a building and this was our last move, we initially were a little worried. Will they understand how important this is for PAWS’ long-term viability?  Surprisingly, we received many phone calls and notes congratulating us.

Linda:               Were you worried that your donors would think you were spending your money on a building and not your clients?

John:                Absolutely.  When you invest in a capital project, it is a long-term investment that takes away from the immediate need.  That can be difficult to reconcile, so I had to constantly communicate that this endeavor was for PAWS’ future.  Twenty years from now when there is a need out there, and there will be that need, our community will still be able to take care of our pets.

Linda:               Do you donors now understand that PAWS is an organization focused on long-term viability?

John:                Having your own piece of real estate definitely shifts the playing field with corporate donors.  People have always loved and given to PAWS, but now they feel like they give to an organization that will be here for the future.  The new facility has done a lot for donor confidence.

Linda:               Conversely, is there a potential you might lose donors that would prefer to work with smaller, grassroots organizations?

John:                2008, 2009, and 2010 were tough years for every non-profit, and we are now seeing our donor base starting to grow again. There are probably people who only want to focus on the very small non-profits, but we are attracting more donors who are investing in PAWS in hopes that we grow.

Linda:               What would you share with other non-profits that might consider purchasing and renovating a building?

John:                It all goes back to planning; for a lot of non-profits, it might not make sense to own your own building.  It really depends on the direct services you provide.  For PAWS, it made perfect sense, because we needed a huge food bank center, and we have people bringing their pets on site.  My advice, once you get behind the cause, is to hold on.  The process may start slowly but then moves quickly, and you have to adjust your expectations along the way. Once we were in the process of acquiring a building, it took us six months of going back and forth with the previous owners to close the deal.

Linda:               Is there anything about the construction you would have done differently?

John:                I don’t know if I would have done anything differently.  The key is to have the right project team in place in order to have a good relationship and be able to talk honestly about limits and expectations.  PAWS, our architectural team, and our general contractor, Jim Moore, all worked together so effectively.  We didn’t have the luxury of solving problems with money, so we had to be creative in responding to the many unknowns and variables that arose during the project.  We were fortunate to have Sidemark and Teknion donate furniture for our workspace, too. It’s about an open dialogue and not worrying about who gets credit – that’s what I learned to make this happen.

Linda:               Is there any advice you would give in terms of planning and pre-construction?

John:                In hindsight, we were probably a little short on the amount of planning required.  We could have spent a half-day to meet and throw everything on the table.  But at the same time, you have to be flexible with a plan once you have it down.  Planning is important to get all parties on the same page, but you can’t get so wedded to it that you can’t move from it.

Linda:               As you move on from PAWS, what do you hope for the organization as it approaches its 25th year?

John:                I truly believe in transition being healthy for organizations. It’s good to bring in new people, energy, and ideas.  With the new building, its amazing staff, and vast volunteer pool, I feel this could not be a better time for PAWS.  Looking forward, there are many opportunities, and the hardest thing will be to figure out where to go from here to further promote our mission.  Being at PAWS has been a very special period in my life and a rare opportunity.  I’m excited to continue my part as both a donor and volunteer.

Linda:               How has PAWS planned for expanding nationally in the future?

John:                We really believe the PAWS model is so important, and we have talked about having PAWS or a similar organization in every major community in our country.  To that end, we’ve put together a very comprehensive start-up kit. We can now give prospective groups ideas on how to start, the forms and documents to use, and even technical assistance.  Two and half years ago, we worked with Partners United for People and Pets inNew Yorkand helped them rethink their operations.  The result became PAWSNew York.  We have different governances but provide similar services and share resources.  I’d love to see PAWS branches throughout the country with the same identity.  Our challenge has been that there are many organizations named PAWS, but they are not affiliated with us.  From a fundraising perspective, there is more potential for corporate sponsorship being in a national marketplace.

Linda:               Do you have any last thoughts you would like to share?

John:                For this new facility, we started the process six years ago with a visioning exercise.  Do you remember we envisioned what the perfect space would look like?  When I compare those early ideas and renderings created when we did not have a building in mind to the final space now, the similarities are uncanny.  I would like to express how much I really appreciated everything the project team at Huntsman did for PAWS.  In the scheme of building projects, we know this was smaller and probably a challenge due to limited resources.  However, we were treated with so much respect and felt like the most important client to your team.  The working relationship was more than just a business relationship, and it’s really about working with great, compassionate people. ◙

John Lipp is now the Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has authored The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Recruiting and Managing Volunteers.