New CEU From Tarkett Explores Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Within the A&D Industry
With its newest CEU, “Making Our Circle Bigger,” Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring, aims to create dialogue among the architecture and design industry on the issue of equity, diversity and inclusion and how to incorporate these principles into the spaces they design, and the teams they lead.
In addition to creating a deeper understanding of the terms “diversity,” “equity” and “inclusion,” the one-hour course explores statistics regarding minorities in the industry, outlines the business case for creating more inclusive teams; and provides personal and project profiles of A&D firms that have achieved success in these areas.
“As design professionals, we often forget that the people we have in the room have a profound and direct impact on our project outcomes and the relationships we have with clients,” said Libby Gillen, vice president of strategy, A&D for Tarkett North America. “The only way we can move forward is to have open and real conversation, and it is our hope that this course will help facilitate greater dialogue and adoption of these ideals.”
The latest report from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) shows that the industry is making progress. For example, nearly two in five architects are now women, and the proportion of individuals completing the architectural experience program (AXP) who identify as non-white or Hispanic has reached a record high at 34 percent. However, other figures show significant room for growth. The NCARB report reveals that fewer than one in five new architects identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, only 0.4 percent of architects are Black women and less than 1 percent of certified architects are Hispanic, despite the fact that this growing population makes up 16 precent of the American workforce.
“When our A&D firms aren’t representative of the communities we serve, we’ll struggle to truly understand what our clients need,” Gillen said.
Going beyond race and ethnicity, the course discusses a holistic view of diversity to include age, ability, religion, motherhood and country of origin. It also includes an exploration of neurodiversity, which refers to variations in the human brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood and other mental functions—all of which can have a significant impact on how one might interact with their physical surroundings.
“Making Our Circle Bigger” is available by appointment, either in-person or virtually. Participants are eligible for 1.00 learning unit through AIA, or 0.1 credit through IDCEC. To schedule a course for your firm, please contact your Tarkett sales representative or go to https://www.ceuevents.com/tarkett.
About Tarkett
With a history of 140 years, Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative flooring and sports surface solutions, with net sales of €3 billion in 2019. Offering a wide range of products including vinyl, linoleum, rubber, carpet, wood, laminate, artificial turf and athletics tracks, the Group serves customers in over 100 countries across the globe. Tarkett has 12,500 employees and 33 industrial sites, and sells 1.3 million square meters of flooring every day, for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields. Committed to change the game with circular economy, the Group has implemented an eco-innovation strategy based on Cradle to Cradle® principles, with the ultimate goal of contributing to people’s health and wellbeing, and preserving natural capital. Tarkett is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment B, ISIN: FR0004188670, ticker: TKTT) and is included in the following indices: SBF 120 and CAC Mid 60. www.tarkett.com.
