The internal culture can be challenging. There is a noticeable lack of diversity, and the environment is often dominated by a specific group, which may leave others feeling excluded or insecure about their job stability. Even employees who are promoted to senior positions can feel vulnerable. This culture of fear can be emotionally taxing.
Branch offices seem under-resourced in terms of support infrastructure—often lacking dedicated HR or IT personnel—which leads to a heavy reliance on virtual communication and online feedback. This structure makes performance reviews feel impersonal and sometimes unbalanced.
The middle management layer tends to be less supportive and, in some cases, toxic, which significantly impacts the work environment and team morale. There is little tolerance for differing working styles, even among high-achieving employees with credentials such as LAF/ASLA awards, PLA, LEED, or SITES certifications.
Additionally, the firm's portfolio is overwhelmingly focused on a single type of commercial project, which limits opportunities for sustainable design—a core value for many professionals in this field.
