employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

MASS Design Group

Is this your company?

MASS Design Group Reviews

4.1

86% would recommend to a friend

(43 total reviews)

Alan Ricks, Patricia Gruits, Christian Benimana

88% approve of CEO

62% positive business outlook

MASS Design Group has an employee rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 43 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The MASS Design Group employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Non-profit and NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

43 reviews
2.0
15 Oct 2021

Disappointing

Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The organization attracts intelligent, conscious, and talented people, particularly young people and young women looking to practice in ways aligned with their values and to create work that contributes positively to the world. An international community creates opportunities to work on projects and with people who might normally be out of reach. Leaders have compelling notions and research around the ideas of craft and sustainability in architecture, particularly around African countries.

Cons

The organization is limited by its reliance on nepotism, a static reputation based on a handful of well-known projects, a top-down hierarchy which threatens to topple at any moment (while espousing otherwise), and a resistance to efficient, productive, and healthy ways of working. Middle managers are ill-equipped to run and staff projects, fearing and flattering legacy directors over serving the work and teams. Young women and people of color take the brunt of the mismanagement. Diversity statistics are flaunted, not accounting for the deep complexity of a large % of staff of African descent working and living in Africa.

avatar
MASS Design Group Response
4y
Thank you for your feedback. We are very proud of the work that our growing diverse leadership team around the world has achieved over the years. We look forward to their ongoing development as they lead some of our most important work in creating built environments that are equitable, dignified, and just. With that in mind, we take your thoughts very seriously, if you would be willing to contact our Human Resources Managing Director Peter Torrebiarte at ptorrebiarte@mass-group.org to further discuss we would greatly appreciate it.
2.0
6 Nov 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Young team, good opportunity to meet network, great snacks, fun retreats

Cons

Loyalty is valued above all else, unprofessional leadership, culture on paper strives to be "transparent" but the reality is an emotion-driven environment that promotes friends, doesn't allow for constructive criticism, and doesn't really value employees when it matters . Mission comes well after ego and leadership emotion du jour. Surprising coming from a nonprofit that touts itself as a model of architecture serving society.

2.0
2 Nov 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Fun energetic team, challenging work, good access to industry experts

Cons

Immature and inexperienced leadership, unprofessional and disorganized work environment, horrible work/life balance with zero flexibility, superficial emphasis on culture, lack of resources limits professional development opportunities.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 43 Reviews

Glassdoor has 56 MASS Design Group reviews submitted anonymously by MASS Design Group employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if MASS Design Group is right for you.