At VDT, we value personal wellness for all employees. Our Culture Initiative has brought wellness to the forefront of our firm during the 2020-21 pandemic. We celebrated our first annual ‘Wellness Week’ in 2020.

Each year, our office also participates in the Chicago Active Transportation Alliance Bike to Work Week and the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge 5K.

We believe that a part of wellness is giving back to our communities, so VDT offers 16 paid hours/year for employees to spend volunteering for causes they believe in.

We look forward to continuing the wellness initiative at VDT and finding new ways to support it in the future.

We believe in helping our employees reach their career goals. That is why we offer a number of opportunities including a Mentorship Program, Fireside Chats, assistance with licensure testing and materials, memberships in professional organizations, and assistance in attending industry conferences and events.

Mentorship
Our Mentorship program is a structured, one-on-one program aimed at coaching in professional development and fulfillment of professional goals; understanding of the industry and navigating the profession. Each mentor will be paired with 1 or 2 mentees for a 6-month duration. During this time, the mentor and mentee meet monthly.

Fireside Chats
We have periodic presentations / chats presented by one of our eight principals. This is a space where employees can learn about the principal's background, how they got to where they are today, and glean new knowledge about the history of VDT and the architecture industry.

Licensure
VDT supports the completion of licensure for architecture and interior design. The firm reimburses completion of ARE, CSE, NCIDQ and LEED exams; and provides supporting study materials.

Work From Home is here to stay and VDT has adapted and pivoted. All of our staff are now able to enjoy a hybrid work model of 60% in-office and 40% work-from-home.

We have established different committees (Technology, Operations, Sustainability, and Culture) to help engage the entire staff, provide leadership opportunities and develop value-added programs for the workplace.

We feel that making space to relax, unwind, and get to know one another provides the opportunity to know your colleagues better on a personal level.

One of our favorite traditions is Beer Fridays where we celebrate the end of the work-week with a cold one. We also hold various other events like Pancake Day, Holiday Parties, and Summer Outings, to name a few.