v1.1 with Implementation Guidance
The SEAM Standard
The Social Equity Assessment Method — the world's first independent certification designed to measure, manage, and improve social equity outcomes in commercial real estate. This is its digital reference.
- Pillars
- 4
- Concepts
- 8
- Objectives
- 21
- Activities
- 65
Products
Recognitions issued by SEAM, Inc.
Each recognition is reviewed independently against the SEAM Standard.
Product
Certification
The flagship SEAM recognition. Verifies that a project meets the SEAM Standard across context, governance, procurement, workforce, and community — recognising verified social-equity performance for the building and the people it touches.
Explore →Product
Seals
A theme-specific SEAM recognition. Verifies that a defined initiative — for example, a community development program or an ethical procurement practice — was carried out in line with the SEAM Standard within a stated Assessment Scope.
Browse Seals →Product
Marks
Focused recognition for a single, demonstrable achievement — like a community grievance mechanism, a living-wage commitment, or gender pay equity. Earned by completing the underlying SEAM Activity to the Standard.
See Mark-eligible activities →What is SEAM?
SEAM (Social Equity Assessment Method) is a structured framework for advancing social equity in construction and real estate projects. The standard organizes its guidance into four Pillars: Social Impact, Social Responsibility, Social Justice, and Social Accountability.
Within these pillars, the standard defines 8 distinct Concepts that focus on specific social themes. Each concept contains Objectives that set the specific goals to achieve, and each objective has Activities — the actions you take to reach those goals.
A SEAM Certification recognizes a project for its progress along a continuum from acting to avoid harm, through preventing harm, to contributing to sustainable solutions. Certification is offered at four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
The framework
Four pillars
SEAM organizes its guidance into four pillars covering the major dimensions of social equity in commercial real estate.
Pillar
Social Impact
Know who your project affects — and whether it is working. Measurable outcomes for people and communities, backed by evidence.
1 concept · 14 activities
Pillar
Social Responsibility
Walk the talk on governance, community, and investment. Match your organization’s actions to its values.
3 concepts · 14 activities
Pillar
Social Justice
Equity across procurement, the workplace, and capital access. Decisions that expand opportunity for everyone.
2 concepts · 18 activities
Pillar
Social Accountability
Human rights, ethical sourcing, and worker well-being — the full reach of a building’s connection to people.
2 concepts · 19 activities
Themes
8 concepts
Each pillar contains concepts that focus on specific social themes.
Social Responsibility
Transformational Governance
Enables an organization to take responsibility for its actions and serves to increase its ability to behave in a socially responsible manner.
5 objectives
Community Involvement
Organizations can help strengthen civil society through respectful engagement, support, and relationship-building with the community.
1 objective
Social Investment
An organization can help to promote higher levels of well-being and improve quality of life in the community.
1 objective
Social Justice
Social Equity + Justice
No group should have less power or fewer benefits or rights than any other group, whether by race, geography, gender, age, ability, religion, or any other qualifying trait.
4 objectives
Social Justice Innovation
The commercial real estate industry can become more culturally responsive and racially just through innovation.
2 objectives
Goals
21 objectives
Each concept contains objectives — the specific goals projects work toward.
Social Impact
Concept IA Impact Assessment
- IA01 7 activities
Contextual Analysis
- IA02 5 activities
Impacted Party Engagement
Ensure that impacted parties' views, concerns, and values are considered to increase their well-being.
- IA03 2 activities
Monitoring + Evaluation
To implement adaptive management so that projects remain responsive to changing circumstances and unforeseen challenges and decrease negative social impacts.
Social Responsibility
Concept TG Transformational Governance
- TG01 3 activities
Education + Awareness
Increase the number of organizations operating in a socially responsible way, contributing to equitable development.
- TG02 2 activities
Voluntary Initiatives
Participate in voluntary initiative(s) addressing social responsibility to contribute to a more equitable society.
- TG03 2 activities
Responsible Policies
Create policies and commitments reflecting understanding of social responsibility to increase ethical and sustainable practices.
- TG04 2 activities
Transparent Communication
Promote social responsibility through clear and open communication.
- TG05 2 activities
Impacted Party Materiality
Understand impacted party materiality to ensure impacted parties rights are upheld.
Social Justice
Concept SJ Social Equity + Justice
- SJ01 5 activities
Equity + Inclusion in Procurement
Integrate equitable and inclusive procurement strategies to expand opportunities in commercial real estate.
- SJ02 5 activities
Equity + Inclusion in the Workplace
Establish workplaces where all employees feel valued, respected, and fairly treated, irrespective of their backgrounds or identities, to decrease workplace inequalities.
- SJ03 4 activities
Equity + Inclusion in the Community
Ensure all persons within the impacted community have the same access to social resources and that rights are respected to increase economic stability.
- SJ04 2 activities
Equity + Inclusion in Capital
Create equitable economic opportunities and achieve social justice goals within communities.
Concept IN Social Justice Innovation
- IN01 1 activity
Social Justice Industry Innovation
Advance industry standards through innovative social justice initiatives in commercial real estate to increase equity and improve social outcomes.
- IN02 1 activity
Design for Embodied Justice
Advance equitable design within projects to challenge systemic inequities and prioritize the needs and voices of marginalized communities.
Social Accountability
Concept HR Human Rights
- HR01 4 activities
Ethical Materials Procurement
Implement ethical sourcing practices to protect, promote, and advance human rights in the materials supply chain.
- HR02 7 activities
Ethical Suppliers Procurement
Protect, promote, and advance human rights in the labor supply chain to decrease labor exploitation, forced labor, and modern slavery.
- HR03 2 activities
Human Rights Reporting
Ensure transparency and accountability in addressing and communicating human rights impacts to increase identification and rectification of systemic issues.
- HR04 2 activities
Human Rights Awareness
Promote human rights advocacy in commercial real estate through continuous education and awareness to increase respect for impacted parties’ rights.
Actions
65 activities
Activities are the basic units of measurement in SEAM Certification. Each activity sits under an objective and applies to one or more rating systems.
Administered by SEAM, Inc.
For information about pursuing certification, see the SEAM Certification Guidebook.