Episode
Episode 06 | Sustainable Design with Lauren Dickey
- Podcast
- Design Impacts
- Published
- Jul 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3584
- Processing state
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Summary
In this episode, host Ana Clark sits down with Lauren Dickey, Principal and Director of Interior Design at WER Architects in Little Rock, Arkansas, and member of ASID National’s Environment, Health and Wellness Committee. Lauren shares her personal journey into sustainable design, practical strategies for implementing it in practice, and what the industry is working toward on a national level. In this episode we discuss: * Lauren’s background — How a love of the outdoors and family life led her to a passion for sustainable design, including a wake-up call when E. coli contamination blocked access to favorite kayaking spots * Sustainable design in the workplace — How WER Architects began their sustainability journey in 2020, starting with manufacturer conversations, weeding out greenwashing, and focusing on carbon emissions as an entry point * Linear vs. circular economy — What these terms mean and why transitioning to a circular economy requires collaboration across designers, contractors, and waste management * Evaluating materials — How to ask manufacturers for EPDs, HPDs, and Declare labels as documentation of product responsibility — and why asking questions moves the needle even in small markets * Wood as a sustainable material — Why “save the trees” messaging has evolved and why wood is now recognized as a regenerative, lower-carbon alternative to many synthetic materials * Getting coworkers on board — Lauren’s approach to building internal momentum, including hosting office sustainability lunches that grew from 8 attendees to the entire firm * Talking to clients — Shifting the conversation from “sustainability” as a buzzword to human health outcomes and long-term cost savings * National ASID work — An update on the Environment, Health and Wellness Committee’s ef…