In the most uncertain times, like the global pandemic we are facing, we turn to research to help inform innovative solutions to pressing issues. While it may seem practical in the short term to cut these “nonessential” programs, in the long-term thorough research is key to unlocking inventive design. Specifically in the built environment – from sustainable fixtures to rethinking urban density, research is essential to evolutionary change. CRTKL has evolved into a cultural agency to advance positive outcomes in our local and global communities. To support this mission, CRTKL established a research team to develop programming and be a resource to establish an educational baseline for our firm. Through a human-centric design approach, our team addresses the imperatives of resiliency, wellbeing and technology and their influence in the built environment. To successfully achieve our commitment, it is critical that we deliver robust, research-driven, future-focused design solutions for our clients– solutions that can quantifiably and positively impact the social, economic and environmental value.
“There is no better time than now, to bypass incremental change and truly advance the practice. Research is the foundation of how we pivot to make a significant change,” says Kelly Farrell, President and CEO of CallisonRTKL.” To be impactful, in the built environment, we must take on social, economic and environmental issues and the only way to advance is through the pairing of research and design thinking.”
To ensure these research-based solutions are implemented to their full extent, we have created several mechanisms to promote, support and communicate our research:
The Research Microgrant Program supports small, focused research projects proposed by CRTKL employees by investing $50,000 to support research projects across the firm. Microgrants seek to support the many global studies already underway at CRTKL, including a spatial metrics study, a stadium mixed-use impact analysis and a deconstruction reuse report.
The Global Research Fellowship builds on this by expanding the global expertise and network of people contributing to research initiatives across the firm. Fellows act both as an advocate for new research or knowledge as an active participant in firmwide research initiatives.
We have also created an internal research platform and database, where people and projects can be connected across the globe and provide resources that focus on unique challenges and trends critical to our firm. As a part of this platform, our online learning programs then allow people to learn the core skills and mindset of a design researcher. Teams, then, will learn how to conduct research, garner insights and turn those insights into human-centered ideas and solutions.
The research team initiatives also expand to our clients and partners with the launch of the new CRTKL CoLab program – where we’ll work together to solve industry-related problems with our clients and partners using short, innovative design sprints.
Our practices are also bolstered by research dedicated to the most impactful facets of our industry: tech and mobility, resilience, wellbeing and human-centric design.
Finally, our 2020 impact study focuses on assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of our completed projects to better understand the impact they have on the communities they reside in.
“I’m so excited to be a part of the expanded focus and commitment to research at CRTKL,” begins Sarah Wicker, Director of Research. “Research is core to understanding the people and communities we design for. An increased focus on this department allows us to continue our position as leaders in human-centric design in the AEC industry.”