MATRIX: A Design for Diversity

MATRIX Architects, Engineers, Planners, Inc. is one of the premier architectural firms in the state of Oklahoma. The company founded in 1984 credits diversity as one of their keys to success. MATRIX enjoys diversity in a range of initiatives from their actual design work to their cultural make-up.

 

“We are uniquely diverse being that we are one of the few truly Full-Service Professional Design Firms in the State. We have all of the major design disciplines in-house creating a very Diverse & Comprehensive Corporate Structure,” says President & Founding Principal, Steve Alter. MATRIX is designed with multiple disciplines of varied design input and influence including; Architecture, Planning, Interior Architecture & Design, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plumbing Engineering, Civil Engineering, & Construction Phase Services. Add to that our planned diversity in ages, genders, races, nationalities and you have the ultimate in a diverse organization.”

 

MATRIX has a written policy statement to address diversity issues and company policies that are inclusive of all employees.

 

“Diversity impacts our bottom line every single day. Our plan is to keep monitoring the already successful diversity that we have created at MATRIX and to always view our policies as dynamic and constantly morphing within our established goals and mission statement,” says Alter. “Additionally, architectural design is a very complex and multi-variable process; the more diversity of original thought, varied points of view and experiences the more excellent the design.”

 

Companies have to realize that diversity is directly related to their success from both a moral and financial viewpoint. “I truly believe that both management and employees embrace diversity because they know that the resulting designs have received the most thoughtful input.”

 

When employees don’t embrace the policies set forth by your company to embrace diversity, it’s important that you have practices in place to address those transgressions so that other employees know there are repercussions. “For MATRIX, employees’ diversity issues are addressed through our carefully designed HR process both in-house and through a third party professional consultant. The repercussions are similar to other behavioral issues. The act is addressed immediately and tactfully and the violator is given a warning and written up in their employee file which leads to probation.”

 

The more creative MATRIX is in their design and planning process certainly relates to more business success. Achieving cultural diversity as a model for success gives a different thought process to designing and planning for winning architectural structures.

 

“Diversity is misused and/or misunderstood. You have to always be thoughtful of constantly planning for the optimum diverse composition of your organization. It’s important for all employees to keep an open mind and always be aware and respectful of their co-workers. For MATRIX and many other businesses, the benefits are many and provide for a completely well rounded and comprehensive design solution.”

 

Risha Grant