Our firm encourages our staff to participate in a number of professional organizations in the hope that by attending conferences and workshops, employees can expand their skillsets and gain exposure to diverse perspectives. Memberships with organizations like AIA and IIDA provide a multifaceted avenue for career development and networking, enabling employees to stay at the forefront of industry trends and innovations.

Beyond the confines of the office, we work as mentors in some of the region's premier universities and design schools. Our team supports the next generation of designers and architects by pursuing roles as adjunct faculty, bridging the gap between industry and academia. Our involvement seeks to foster student growth through constructive critiques and offering transformative internship experiences that pave the way for promising careers.

smbw’s commitment to community extends to active participation in a tapestry of local groups, meaningful engagements, influential boards, and impactful charitable initiatives. By weaving ourselves into the fabric of our community, we contribute to the betterment of the places we call home. As a SWaM certified Micro Business, smbw is dedicated to engaging other small, emerging, and disadvantaged business in all of our work.

In the spirit of fostering growth and connection, we host Design Unwind—an engaging weekly firm-wide happy hour. Beyond its social allure, Design Unwind serves as a hub for design education, team cohesion, and showcasing project milestones. At smbw, the blend of our nimble approach, deep camaraderie, and vibrant culture forms the bedrock of our success, propelling us to greater heights in RVA's creative landscape.

Our firm is backed by research, and we share our industry expertise in the form of research initiatives. Design Forward scales sustainably-focused approaches to every-day design through case studies and thorough research articles. We believe that through incremental change, we can have a large impact on the built environment and our comprehension of it.

Our community-driven research initiative, Shine the Light focuses on issues impacting how we design and the communities we design for. As architects, designers, and community leaders, we have a massive impact on the built world and our communities. Through this annual program, we have the opportunity to harness this impact and our platform to enact positive change in the world around us.