HOK

What's next in hyper-flexible and sustainable medical facilities? That's what BOMA International wanted to know when it interviewed HOK's Ami Shah and Anica Landreneau! A few highlights from their conversation: Ami discussed her work designing hyperflexible "sandbox" teaching environments (image below). Featuring movable walls and theatrical ceiling grids, these highly adaptable spaces provide a more immersive experience for training medical students. "The question for architects is, 'How do you prepare learners to be in the best environment they can be?,'" said Ami. "As we first looked into reinventing these spaces, we discussed the psychology of learning and pedagogy. With that, we understood that a student might not absorb material as well when passively listening to lectures, versus how they might learn from interactive engagement." Anica shared how more medical facilities are discovering the benefits of biophilia - and - how medical institutions can find cost-effective ways to improve sustainability. "We're working on a hospital in Washington, D.C., where we have designed a 900 KW solar array over the parking deck at no cost to our hospital developer/operator," said Anica. "We leveraged that through a power purchase agreement. There's a lot of local and federal incentives for renewable energy that is more accessible than people realize. And many sustainability measures are cost neutral – you're not losing a treatment space or a hospital bed by applying these features." Check out the full Q&A here: https://lnkd.in/gNddDz_S #healthcaredesign #sustainability #medicaleducation

Our London studio recently partnered with non-profit Yuva Unstoppable to design a primary school for underprivileged children in Mumbai. This pro-bono project, completed through our corporate responsibility program, HOK Impact, will provide educational opportunities for up to 200 co-ed students when it opens this year. The climate- and site-responsive design focuses on simplicity and flexibility. Red brick and concrete comprise the main material components. Jali screens along the southern elevation will support natural ventilation and reflect the local architectural vernacular. HOK’s in-house sustainability experts performed extensive environmental and climate analysis of the site to optimize thermal comfort while balancing daylight and mitigating solar heat gain. Solar shading over the facade and verandas reduces heat within the classrooms. “This project is an amalgamation of great minds and hearts that will see the creation of a safe and happy haven of education for hundreds of students,” said Amitabh Shah, founder of Yuva Unstoppable. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/gGmKkFYT #HOKimpact #hoklife #projectnews

Great to see Caitlin Turner, director of Interiors at HOK, share her thoughts on workplace design and the move away from hot desking in Bloomberg News! “Clients don’t want to give employees any excuse not to come in. If you want them to share desks, they say, ‘Why should we?’” With office occupancy still shifting post-pandemic, dedicated desks are seen as a way to make the office more appealing and encourage office attendance. Personalized desks also provide psychological and physical comfort, reducing the hassle of setting up a workspace daily. Learn more in Bloomberg: https://lnkd.in/gG-7sBXs #workplacedesign #office #bloomberg #interiordesign

The future looks bright! Our team is proud to be working on the Barney Allis Redevelopment in Kansas City with McCownGordon Construction and the City of Kansas City, MO. A central gathering place in the heart of downtown KC, residents and visitors will enjoy a new arts-focused, street-level Barney Allis Plaza. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 26, 2024, celebrating the new project. The transformed plaza will feature a variety of gathering spaces for events, a children's play space, dog park and lush landscaping. It will also be seamlessly accessible from the street level and support multi-modal connections. We're looking forward to the redeveloped Barney Allis Plaza opening in 2026! Learn more: http://barneyallis.org

At HOK, we’re making big, sustainable changes to our materials tracking processes. Metropolis Magazine’s Avinash Rajagopal recently toured our New York studio with our designers Christine Vandover, IIDA LEED AP and Elizabeth Baxter, AIA to learn about these exciting initiatives. Discover more how we are working to track and select building materials to make the built environment more sustainable, healthy and equitable.

Forbes recently featured HOK and Snow Kreilich's design of CITYPARK in St. Louis. The article highlighted how the soccer stadium is making an impact beyond sports, including: ✔ 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: CITYPARK unites soccer and community spirit, reflecting St. Louis’s commitment to its people and the city. ✔ 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: With a seating capacity of 22,500, CITYPARK stands as a beacon of modern design. ✔ 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: The stadium’s $168 million boost last season showcases sports’ role in the revitalization of cities. ✔ 𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭: Set on land that previously held highway ramps, the active site includes CITYPARK stadium, the CITY SC headquarters and training facility, team store and community gathering spaces, anchoring a new downtown district. Read the full Forbes article: https://lnkd.in/gGWbTeFN #HOKsport #MLS #stadiumdesign

The pandemic highlighted the critical role of public health labs in protecting our communities. Now, there is a growing movement to modernize these vital, yet often out-of-date, facilities. In their new article, David Schwartz and Daniel Niewoehner, AIA from HOK’s Science + Technology group explore the urgent need to upgrade public health labs and the design trends that are shaping these new facilities. From adaptable designs to cutting-edge technology integration, discover how HOK is helping create spaces that empower scientists to tackle tomorrow’s health challenges. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g2hAvKFp #publichealth #labdesign #healthcare #lifesciences #architecture

HOK is committed to developing the next generation of designers. One way we do this is through our Emerging Talent Summits. Emerging Talent Summits invite up-and-coming design leaders from across HOK to attend regional, in-person meetings. At these summits, young designers have the opportunity to: —Get to know their peers from across the firm. —Inspire each other by sharing their latest work and ideas. —Hear from HOK senior designers and guest speakers. —Provide the HOK Design Board with recommendations for improving HOK's design culture. —Tour HOK-designed projects and other architecturally significant buildings and spaces. Below are scenes from our most recent summits in Seattle, Kansas City and Atlanta. Discover more here: https://bit.ly/3VYcGuo #hoklife #careerdevelopment #design

Cities around the world are confronting threats from climate change and societal challenges brought on by migration, health crises and new ways of working. Resilient design and planning can help communities navigate these issues to safeguard lives and property. In a recent LinkedIn Live panel, HOK designers and planners share their approach to resiliency and how they are working with others to effect change in their communities. Key takeaways included: 1. Resiliency is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each community brings its own set of challenges. 2. Resilience requires a broad toolkit that includes design, planning, policy and advocacy. 3. Community input and buy-in is crucial to ensuring the success of any resiliency plan. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/gqBHThHd

"If people can work effectively from home, how can the office add value?" Each chapter of HOK Forward report addresses that core question. - In The Evolution of Work and Workplace, Kay Sargent and Thomas Polucci provide an overview of the modern office and how organizations from across sectors are using workspace variety, amenities and a focus on well-being and inclusion to revitalize the office. - In our Legal chapter, Caitlin Turner and Tara Roscoe outline how law firms are creating flexible new workspaces that provide individual autonomy while supporting organizational goals. - In our Professional Services chapter, Stephen Beacham, Jennifer Brayer, and Beth Ann Christiansen share how companies are using the workplace to engage with clients and win new business. - And in our Government chapter, Barb Anderson-Kerlin, Jessica Collins and Margaret McDonald spell out how government agencies are reshaping their offices around sustainability, well-being and equity to improve the experience for civil servants and the general public. All these sectors share another commonality: They are using design to change the narrative of the office. Instead of being a place people feel compelled to visit, they are making the office a place people want to visit. Browse HOK Forward below, or check out the online version at: https://bit.ly/4blSV4q #interiordesign #trends #workplacedesign