Do the investments in architectural design help companies to be more sustainable? Findings from an exploratory study

This paper explores the effects of the corporate architecture of industrial companies in relation to sustainability by means of a literature review and an exploratory research methodology including interviews to six Italian industrial companies that have invested in corporate architecture for sustainable development since 2000. The analysis suggests that corporate architecture is a fundamental means by which a company can improve the living conditions of the community in which it operates by contributing to territorial sustainability in economic (e.g., supporting local firms and providing employment), environmental (e.g., creating structures with a low environmental impact) and socio-cultural (e.g., accommodating and supporting events, creating places of socialisation and offering facilities to the community) terms.