"You Are Here” explores issues affecting our world not from behind our desks but from our personal experiences as people living, visiting and working in cities around the world.
Black American Architecture & Interior Design: The Past, Reality, and Moving Forward

As a Resource Librarian at CallisonRTKL Miami this month and throughout the year, I am committed to bringing you information and life stories on the Black American experience in the U.S. I am delighted to showcase and praise the work of architects and interior designers from a few generations back. These trailblazers sacrificed much to […]

Social Injustice, Resiliency, and Freedom in Iran

VOICES + PERSPECTIVES: CRTKL’s Voices and Perspectives series covers topical social justice-related causes. As many may have heard, civil unrest and protests emerged against the government of Iran associated with the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini. The uprising began in September of 2022 and is continuing today. In this series we learn from […]

Day of Action and Remember Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, we reflect on the work and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the integral role he played in America and the world. We look to him and his activism as an example of inspiration for what we try to model as a firm daily. At CRTKL, we established the Social Action Committee, a […]

Back to School Surprise: CRTKL’s Social Action Committee Gifts Two Updated Staff Spaces to Mount Auburn Elementary

Mount Auburn Elementary School is minutes from our office in Dallas, Texas, and has recently completed an almost two-year construction upgrade. Unfortunately, not all their spaces received a renovation — including the staff lounges. I saw a request on social media for used furniture donations for the lounges made by one of the school administrators, […]

Queerness in Seattle: Living at the Intersection of Identity and Design

In celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride, we’re profiling industry professionals in CRTKL’s Seattle office to see how queer identity and design aesthetics intersect in their city and in their lives. Lucy Baraquio, Principal and Seattle Office Leader What qualities do you believe an office needs for queer people to feel safe at work? Lucy Baraquio: The […]

Researching Bias: A Data-Driven Path to Restorative Justice

Juneteenth is an opportunity to reflect on the still far-reaching effects of slavery in the United States – from the disproportional rate of Black people in prisons to bias in the building code. Today, Sarah Wicker, our Director of Research, discusses her team’s efforts to address these political, cultural and socioeconomic inequalities from a data-driven […]

Conversations in Design: Jenna Ryan, Winner of Retail Touchpoints’ 40 under 40 Awards

Jenna Ryan, Senior Designer, has been announced a winner of the Retail Touchpoints 40 under 40 Awards. Today, we’re sitting down with her to talk about her design inspiration, her experience with mentorship and how she prioritizes equity in the design community. How did you get started as a designer? Jenna Ryan: I was in […]

CRTKL Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we’re featuring the voices and perspectives of a few of our AAPI employees across the country to learn more about how their culture has shaped their identities at work and beyond. How has your identity informed your career?  Shujia Chen, Associate: I’m from China, […]

An Astrophotographer’s Perspective: Orlando Orozco’s Response to CNN’s “Satellite Pollution is Threatening to Alter Our View of the Night Sky”

Recently, Kristin Fisher at CNN published, “Satellite Pollution is Threatening to Alter Our View of the Night Sky” describing the phenomenon that 1 out of every 15 points of light in the night sky in less than a decade will be a moving satellite. CRTKL’s Orlando Orozco, Associate in the Digital Transformation Group and astrophotographer, […]

Welcome to Seaport San Diego: Talking Southern California’s Urban waterfront connection to the Sea, Sun and So Much More

The San Diego Bay has long been associated with its roots as a Port and Naval base. Recognized as some of the best weather in the country, San Diego is also home to numerous museums, parks, commercial fishing and serves a bi-national community, yet there is an obvious lack of connection between the city and […]

Celebrating Women’s History Month at CRTKL

In celebration of women’s history month, we sat down with women from around the globe at CRTKL to discuss the intersections of their identity with their careers.  How has your experience as a woman shaped your career? Preeti Mogali, Dubai: I started my career in a world where more equality in the workplace, at least […]