Fentress Architects has earned ISO 9001:2008 Certification for Production and Delivery of Architectural, Interior Design and Planning Services. According to the firm’s announcement, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifies companies that exhibit the highest level of quality management and client service. It also notes that Fentress Architects passed the two-phase audit without a single non-compliance.

“With Fentress Architects’ client-first culture, we hold ourselves to the highest standards for architectural design,” says Agatha Kessler, CEO at Fentress Architects. “We are honored to be recognized for exceptional quality management and client service. Being awarded ISO 9001:2008 is a testament to our values and philosophy.”

According to the announcement, an example of Fentress Architects’ culture of continuous improvement is the Ambassador Program, which strives for client delight at every phase of a project, “from front desk to back office, proposal to post-occupancy.” The firm’s philosophy, the Touchstones of Design, includes precepts such as “Listen Closely” and “Restrain the Ego,” guidelines which also ensure that Fentress meets and exceeds client expectations for design and functionality. In the words of Curtis Fentress: “The real art of public architecture is getting people to see their own greatness in a building.”

ISO 9001:2008 acknowledges that a company has an established and effective quality management system. To gain certification, companies undergo two phases of auditing by a licensed external organization, followed by annual surveillance.