At 45 Architecture & Interiors, sustainability isn’t a checkbox — it’s a business discipline.

As we pursue Living Building Just Certification through the International Living Future Institute, we are committing to a third-party verified framework that evaluates equity, diversity, transparency, and employee well-being within our practice. JUST is often described as a “nutrition label” for organizations — and that clarity matters. It pushes us to measure what we value and improve what we measure.

For us, this work strengthens both our environmental leadership and our business acumen.

​

Sustainable design begins with sustainable operations. By aligning our firm with the Living Future movement, we are sharpening internal accountability, refining compensation transparency, formalizing equitable hiring practices, and tracking performance metrics that directly influence culture and retention. Strong culture reduces turnover. Clear systems improve profitability. Transparency builds trust — internally and with clients.

JUST certification also deepens how we guide projects. It reinforces our commitment to high-performance buildings, responsible material selection, reduced carbon impact, and resilient community outcomes. The same rigor we apply to wall assemblies, daylight strategies, and long-term durability is now applied to how we operate as a company.

This is about building what matters — not just in the built environment, but within the business itself.

​

By voluntarily holding ourselves to an internationally recognized standard, we demonstrate that design excellence, environmental stewardship, and disciplined operations are not competing priorities. They are mutually reinforcing. As we grow across Montana and beyond, JUST certification ensures that our culture, ethics, and performance scale with the same intentionality as our architecture.