This New York City Firm Just Formed the First Private-Sector Architecture Union

Last December, employees from New York–based firm SHoP Architects sought to prompt changes in a field known—at least to many who work in it—for its grueling working hours, low compensation, and lack of diversity, filing paperwork to form the only union at a prominent U.S. architecture firm, only to withdraw their bid several weeks later. But the unsuccessful unionization campaign set forth an ongoing conversation about the rigorous realities of architecture work culture and kickstarted similar efforts at several other firms, among them Bernheimer Architecture, which on Thursday announced it has voluntarily recognized what is being called the first union at a private-sector architecture firm in the U.S.

Employees at the 22-member firm, which specializes in affordable housing and also works on residential projects, will join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, one of the largest industrial trade unions in North America, after a two-year unionization effort. "We recognize that both the employer and employees in the field of architectural work face constraints and challenges beyond the control of any individual firm," the employee group, which calls itself Architectural Workers United, said in a joint statement with the firm. "By working together we can uplift the profession and industry in ways that we could not by acting alone."

They continue: "Though we are stepping into uncharted territory in many ways, we are overwhelmingly excited, and hopeful, to bolster the values that make BA special. We encourage and invite other practices to join us in this endeavor to reshape the industry at large."

In an interview with the New York Times, which broke the news, the firm’s principal, Andrew Bernheimer, said that they will soon start the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, adding, "I truly believe it makes our place better, that we’ll provide better architecture." 

After SHoP’s initial unionization effort galvanized architects at several other firms, it’s safe to imagine the impact of Bernheimer Architecture’s success might be similar: in fact, an organizer with the machinists’ union told the Times that up to 10 union campaigns were at various stages across the industry. 

Top image of Bernheimer's Quonochontaug House in Rhode Island. Photo by Jeremy Bittermann, Courtesy Bernheimer Architecture.

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