Emerging Talent Summits
Nov. 2024 | Event Summary
Washington, D.C. (Host city)
EAST COAST DESIGN SUMMIT
Kansas
Chicago (Host city)
Dallas
CENTRAL REGION
SUMMIT
Seattle
Los
San Francisco (Host City)
WEST COAST
DESIGN SUMMIT
2024 HOK Regional Design Summit
East Coast
Washington, D.C.
Site Visit: DC Consolidated Forensics Lab
01
East Coast Design Summit
East Coast Design Summit - Washington DC
2024.09.26-28
ORGANIZING TEAM
ATTENDEES
Roger Shwabacher Design Principal
Tour Guide
Monica Kumar
Sr. Project Designer
Shugo Suzuki Architect
Mo Yashi Design Professional
Andrea Gulerez Project Designer
Tina Tharrouniati Architect
Kelly Burkhart
Sr. Sust. Design Specialist
Myung Jung
Sr. Project Interior Designer
Nanjia Jiang Design Professional
Aruna Das Urban Planner
Tour Guide
Aaron Altman Director of Operations
Laura Lindsay
Int. Design Professional
Ai-Lien Vuong Architect
Sr. Interior Designer
Lauren Nowaczek
Interior Designer
Atlanta
Ruohan
Zou Design Professional
Sophia Mendez
Agenda
SEPTEMBER 26TH, DAY 01
7:00pm to 9:00pm – Group dinner at Kaliwa (kaliwadc.com) 751 Wharf Street SW. Washington, DC 20024
SEPTEMBER 27TH, DAY 02
9:00am to 9:30am
9:30am to 10:00am
10:00am to 11:30am
11:30am to 12:30pm 12:30pm 2:00pm – 3:30pm 3:30pm 5:00pm 6:00pm - 9:00pm
– Office Tour at HOK/DC – 3223 Grace Street, NW
– Tour Bus leaves HOK office.
– Project Tour #1: 1101 16th Street - Lead by Monika Kumor
– Project Tour #2: DC Consolidated Forensics Laboratory - Lead by Aaron Altman
– Lunch
– Project Tour #3: UHS - Lead by Andrew Kelmers
– Break
– Bus picks up group from hotel to take to Nationals Ballpark
– Nationals vs Phillies/Drinks & Dinner at ballpark
SEPTEMBER 28TH, DAY 03
9:00am to 9:30am 9:30am to 11:00am
11:00am to 2:00pm 2:00pm
– Attendees arrive at HOK offices. Light breakfast provided.
– Project presentations & open discussion
o Each attendee will be asked to prepare a 15 min presentation on a project that they have or are currently working on.
– Moderated discussion over lunch (provided by DC Office)
o What challenges should we be should we be addressing? Are they specific to us or part or larger themes in the profession?
o What design culture have we built? Is it the one we want to have? Where are we and what goals might we set?
– Conclusion
Porsche Cars North America Experience Center
GROUP INTERACTIONS
Group Discussion
GROUP OUTING: NATIONALS BALLPARK
National Gallery of Art
Discussions & Proposals
DISCUSSION 1:
WHAT IS HOK'S VISION STATEMENT?
Introduction / Problem Statement
HOK has a vision statement, but does it capture what makes HOK unique? Does our statement need to be articulated differentenly on separate pulic facing platforrms to reach a broader audience?
What is our proposal(s) for change?
Reconsider how we broadcast our firmwide vision statement so that it more closely represents the collaborative nature of our practice.
• Our company has no in-house style - what unites us is more of an approach to the work: true multi-disciplinary.
• Through our design approach, we are aligned with design language, vision throughout the process.
• Clients see us as a well-kept secret; we need more publicity for our work.
How can this be enacted & what will this achieve?
Social Media & Online Presence
We already publish multiple articles about our work, including the digital Design Annual (on LinkedIn), but there is more we can broadcast to showcase our work and awards.
We All Need an Elevator Pitch
Designers should be more encouraged to attend local events, join organizations, and seek new work. We should be hosting more events. Every designer needs to have an “elevator pitch” on HOK practiced and ready for when they meet potential new clients.
DISCUSSION 2:
DESIGN QUALITY: INTERNAL QA/QC
Introduction / Problem Statement
HOK's internal QA/QC processes are focused on technical delivery. There is a desire for a QA/QC of front-end design work. How can we begin to integrate similar review procedures into our current design workflows?
What is our proposal(s) for change?
Establish internal QA/QC procedures for individual projects and design processes.
• Done by Design Board? Or more likely: per office?
• We will need time built into the workplans to make this happen – allows fee to cover training designers.
• Development of this will be an on going process.
• Consider “Design Reviews” that allow anyone in the studio to attend – allow input from attendees on how to further the design ahead of major deadlines.
How can this be enacted & what will this achieve?
Accessiblility to Leadership
Design Principals could offer to have “open office hours” each week to talk design with younger staff. Similarly, MBU leaders and discipline experts could make themselves available for open discussion.
In general, there is a desire for more coordination between disciplines: architecture, interiors, sustainability and landscape. Also, Coordination between specialists (medical planning/lab planning) and architecture.
DISCUSSION 3: DEVELOPING YOUNG DESIGNERS
Introduction / Problem Statement
Designers need broad experience and full exposure to all project phases, not just concept/SD. Separating technical and design staff is problematic. “Handing off” projects to the technical team does not work.
What is our proposal(s) for change?
We need to educate young designers on how to present to the clients and communicate in an effective manner.
• Best way to do this is for younger designers to observe senior designers presenting to client, over and over again.
• Junior designers should practice presenting at in-house meetings where the risk is low. Frequency is the key.
• Leaders should look to offer constructive feedback.
• junior designers should be present at as many client meetings as possible
How can this be enacted & what will this achieve?
Encourage Senior Staff to be Inclusive
Senior designers should not feel it is strange to bring a larger group to a meeting – we can present it to the client as “in addition to producing work, HOK invests in teaching our younger staff”
More regular dialogue between senior and junior staff should be encouraged. Promoting communication between employees with differing experience levels will create a hotbed for shared knowledge..
RECOMMENDATIONS: ADDITIONAL IDEAS
Recommendation 1:
Listing Software Skillsets, Past Experience, Reasearch Efforts on the HUB
We need a better understading of individual's abilities and skillsets. On the HUB – on each person’s profile, should list “skills” software, building types, research papers. This will offer an immediate reference for collegues workinging together for the first time.
Chicago Bears Training Facility, Chicago
02 Central Region Design Summit
Central Region Design Summit - Chicago
2023.08.18-19
ORGANIZING TEAM
ATTENDEES
Peter Ruggerio Design Principal
Jonathan Zee
Sr. Project Designer
Emma Lawrie
Sr. Project Designer
Carla Landa
Landscape Designer
Jeehye Min Design Professional
Kagmin Lee Design Professional
Felix Seo Project Designer
Will
Shadwick
Sr. Design Professional
Megan Zhang
Project Designer Houston
Sarah Proefrock
Senior Interior Designer
Nathan Allen Sr. Design Professional
Kyle Ingber Project Designer
Sr. Design Specialist
Bella Wu Design Professional Morgan Murphy
Zixuan Luo Design Professional
Jacob Bodinger Design Professional
Erica Vranesh Landscape Architect
Mariel Brown Design Professional
Ali Senbas Design Professional
St. Louis Chicago
Agenda
OCTOBER 17TH, DAY 01
6:00pm to 9:00pm – Drinks & dinner at the NOBU Hotel (chicago.nobuhotels.com)
155 N Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607
OCTOBER 18TH, DAY 02
9:00am to 9:30am
9:30am to 10:30am
10:30am to 12:00am
12:00pm
1:00pm – 2:00pm
2:00pm – 5:00pm
– Arrival to office and breakfast, set up in Grant Park
– Brief attendee introductions
– Moderated discussion focused on each office’s design process, beginning with the Chicago studio
– Lunch with continued discussion about office design processes
– Guest speaker Iker Gil, focusing on architectural criticism
– Leave office for walking tour focused on Chicago urban planning
o Millennium Park
o Chicago Art Institute
o Maggie Daley Park
o Chicago Riverwalk
5:00pm - 6:00pm
6:00pm - 9:00pm
– Break
– Drinks and dinner at TBD
OCTOBER 19TH, DAY 03
9:00am to 9:30am 9:30am to 12:00pm
12:00pm to 1:00pm 1:00pm to 4:00pm 4:00pm
– Arrival to office and breakfast, set up in Grant Park
– Project presentations from attendees.
o Each attendee will be asked to prepare a 15 min presentation on a project that they have or are currently working on.
– Lunch and beginning of moderated discussion focused on design culture and critical discussions
– Discussion continues
o Are we able to engage our talent in work that inspires and aspires?
o How do we celebrate and recognize our work? Internally and externally?
o What new technologies/ software should we be using? What role will AI play in the future of design at HOK?
– Conclusion
Millenium Park
SITE VISIT - MILLENIUM PARK
Nelson Atkins Museum of Art
Chicago Riverwalk
Guest Speaker
Iker Gil AIA
Owner and founder of MAS Studio
Iker Gil is the founder and director of MAS Studio, the founder and editor in chief of the nonprofit MAS Context, and the executive director of the SOM Foundation. He has edited or coedited several books, including Radical Logic: On the Work of Ensamble Studio and Shanghai Transforming. He has curated or co-curated multiple exhibitions, including Nocturnal Landscapes, Poured Architecture: Sergio Prego on Miguel Fisac, and BOLD: Alternative Scenarios for Chicago, part of the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial. He was co-curator of Exhibit Columbus (2020–21) and associate curator of the U.S. Pavilion for the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. He has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Founded with partners Julie Michiels, and Jacob Chartoff, MAS Studio is an architecture and design studio based in Chicago with a focus on residential, commercial, civic, and cultural projects. Gil, who is originally from Bilbao, Spain, has collaborated with architects, artists, and designers on projects including the bLUMEN pavilion in Chicago; an installation at Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Pavilion; and Shanghai Transforming, a book on the city's rapid growth.
Gil has received several grants and awards, including the 2010 Emerging Visions Award from the Chicago Architectural Club and a President’s Citation from AIA Chicago. He was included in both Newcity’s annual "Design 50" feature, and the book Fifty Under Fifty: Innovators of the 21st Century, published by Images Publishing.
EDUCATION
University of Illinios at Chicago Master of Architecture, 2006
Superior d'Architectura de Barcelona (ETSAB) Bachelor of Architecture, 2004
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS
American Institute of Certified Planners
What Kind of Vigilante Are You?
• The discussion investigated the connection between architecture and identity, examining architecture’s social and political agency through historical research and design speculation.
• Overlapping interests and independent research make a perfect collaboration to explore vigilantism
Exploring Architecture’s Response to Societal Changes
• What does it mean to live in the city without a place you can call your own?
• What role can architects have in addressing homelessness? And how can cities become better homes for all?
• The unprecedented rise of urban dwellers living on their own challenges normative ideas about home and raises questions about how this change in social structure and lifestyle affects cities as a whole.
Review of Previous and On-Going Exhibits
• Griot, Storytelling, and the Manipulation of History
• A Cor-Ten Steel Landmark Hiding in Plain Sight
• James Florio at Tippet Rise
• Welcome to Tribuneville Reception
• Dialogues: Bart Crosby
• A Career in Five Projects: Carol Ross Barney
• Naomi Pollock: The Japanese House Since 1945
Discussions & Proposals
DISCUSSION 1:
HOK'S BRAND - WHO ARE WE?
Introduction / Problem Statement
What does the HOK brand mean to you? Are we apple? Are we Ferrari? This conversation focused on creating analogies between HOK and other company brands in an effort to understand how we are perceived in the marketplace and to better define who we want to be as a design group.
What is our proposal(s) for change?
We should reflect on what the HOK brand means to our market and how it defines us as a design company.
• Are we more like Ferrari or Mercedes?
• Mercedes is definitely not a Ferrari but still a great car nonetheless.
• Apple products have more than 1 dimension to their product; there is a social, a technological, cultural and many more aspects to it. Apple makes very complex and unique products just like ourselves.
How can this be enacted & what will this achieve?
Continual Evaluation of the HOK Brand
We should, as a company, continue to gauge how the HOK brand is perceived in our industry. This can be done through analogy, market comparisons, surveys, or self analysis.
Firmwide Polling - Understanding Ourselves is Important
A firm with 1700 highly educated engineers/artists deserve an understanding of how we are perceived by others and how we perceive ourselves. This proposal suggests that we conduct a firmwide survey asking employees what they think of the HOK brand and what we think our peers/ clients think of the HOK brand.
DISCUSSION 2:
TECHNOLOGY - BLANK PAGE PROBLEM
Introduction / Problem Statement
At HOK we have a vast, vast portfolio of content and design, which not many firms out there have the privilege of having and this a great asset moving forward to the realm of AI. What is the best way for us to leveage these assets? How do we take advantage of our existing knowlege base?
What is our proposal(s) for change?
HOK should leverage our vast knowlege base to train large language models that are proporietary & representative of our company.
• AI training is a great method to experiment with for a firm which has access to millions of content made by themselves.
• Our conversation started very skeptical regarding the potential of AI but acknowledged it’s an important field to at least acknowledge.
How can this be enacted & what will this achieve?
The Blank Page Problem
AI has the ability to generate large amounts of initial visioning content. Its has the potential to replace current processes of concept and though generation.
AI to Support Less Experienced Designers
For less experienced staff AI can be especially helpful in tackling the blank page problem. As a junior, less experienced designer, one could use AI as a catalyst in the design process. Maybe AI design will have its own design phase in our project delivery system.
DISCUSSION 3:
DESIGN CULTURE - THE MIDAS TOUCH
Introduction / Problem Statement
At HOK there is a seemingly hard split between technical and design teams. This conversation focused on how to better comingle the two group' s skillsets. The question was posed: How do we bring high design into all facets of our work, not just the conceptualizing of buildings?
What is our proposal(s) for change?
As HOK employees, we need to take a design attitude in everything that we do. Writing emails, taking notes, making a presentation should all be thought of as design exercises.
• We hear “Everyone wants to be a designer at the office”. Many people express discontent in their position.
• Our conversation started very skeptical regarding the potential of AI in he conventional design process but acknowledged it’s an important field to at least acknowledge.
How can this be enacted & what will this achieve?
Take a Midas Touch Attitude
We should strive to make everything we touch beautiful. Whether its a rendering, or the design of a simple set of stairs or a bathroom layout.
Design Doesn't Only Apply to Buildings
Every task we take on should be taken with sense of design purpose. This is a message that can be spread to any HOK employee regardless of their role at this company. Attitude towards work matters and viewing everyday tasks as design problems will only create stronger, more meaningful solutions.
RECOMMENDATIONS: ADDITIONAL IDEAS
Recommendation 1:
A Final Thought on Creativity and Critique
The two biggest enemies of creativity,...,are nothingness and infinity. - Sometimes with our colleagues we criticize our work due to limitations and constraints, but honestly that's the beauty of our work at HOK. I personally wouldn’t like to work with infinite freedom and parameters. We have a critical environment at this company and that is one of our greatest strengths.
03 West Coast Design Summit
West Coast Design Summit - San Francisco
2024.09.18-20
ORGANIZING TEAM
PARTICIPANTS
Paul Woolford
Architecture Design Principal
Jeffrey Stafford
Architecture Sr. Project Designer
Moderator
Loren
Supp
Architecture Sr. Project Designer
Yuepeng Li
Architecture Project Designer
Kristin Choi
Interiors Interior Designer
Biwen Sun
Architecture
Architect
Architecture Sr. Design Professional
Seattle Chujun Zhang
Urban Design Sr. Design Profossional
Sunny Sun
Interiors Sr. Design Professional Onur Ekmekci
Benhang Shi
Structural Engineering Engineer
Haley Anderson
EXD Sr. Design Specialist
Los Angeles
Manh Tran
Architecture Sr. Design Professional Jourdan Miller
Architecture Sr. Design Professional
Susana Cerda
Interiors Design Professional Daniel Park
Sustainability Sustainable Design Specialist
Agenda
SEPTEMBER 18TH, DAY 01
1:00pm to 1:30pm
1:30pm to 2:30pm
2:30pm to 4:00pm
4:00pm to 5:00pm
6:00pm to 9:00pm
– Welcome Gathering
– Pecha Kucha
- Participants Share Inspirations & Current Work
- 12 slides x 20s per slide = 4 minutes Each
– City Walk: FiDi
- Embarcadero Center
- One Maritime Plaza
- Transamerica Pyramid Center
- 2024 Renovation
- Foster & Partners Exhibit
– Design Wednesdays
- Presentation By NEOM ERI Team with Q&A
– The University Club
SEPTEMBER 19TH, DAY 02
8:30am to 9:00am
9:00am to 10:00am
10:00am to 11:00am
11:00am to 12:00pm
12:00pm to 2:00pm
2:00pm to 2:30pm
2:30pm to 4:00pm
4:00pm-to 5:00pm
6:30pm to 8:00pm
8:00pm to 10:00pm
- Cocktails, Hors D'oeuvres & Dinner
– Breakfast & Coffee at HOK Studio
– Site Visit at 535 Mission Project
– City Walk: Three neighborhoods with significant revitalization since 2000
- SoMa
- China Basin
- Mission Rock
– Site Visit at SF Public Safety Building
– Lunch at Mission Rock Resort
– Waymo rides to Golden Gate Park
– DeYoung Museum
- Hamon Observatory Tower
- Art Exhibits
– Discussion in the DeYoung Sculpture Garden
– Dim Sum Dinner at Harborview
– Exploratorium: After Dark Exhibits
SEPTEMBER
20TH, DAY 03
8:30am to 9:00am 9:00am to 10:30am
– Breakfast & Coffee at HOK Studio
– City Walk: Salesforce Campus
- Salesforce Tower
- Ohana Floor
- Typical Floor
- Operations Floor
- Salesforce Plaza
- Transit Center - Rooftop Park
10:30am to 1:00pm
– Discussion & Wrap Up at HOK Studio
- 3 Initiatives
- 3 Recommendations
EXCURSIONS
CITY WALK - ONE MARITIME PLAZA
CITY WALK - EMBARCADERO CENTER
Initiative 1 — Bolster Sustainable Design
Introduction / Problem Statement
HOK’s sustainability practice is often not sufficiently represented in early design decision-making. They are often relegated as consultants on the sidelines and brought in to help improve designs late in the design process with limited ability to steer the project more effectively. As a result, projects are not consistently leveraging existing expertise and missing out on the potential of achieving higher sustainability goals. Below are three easily achievable ideas to help bolster sustainable design at HOK.
A mandatory sustainability kickoff meeting at the beginning of every project will establish sustainability goals as part of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence and identify engagement points with the sustainability team in early design.
In collaboration with the Performance Design Lab, a series of hands-on, on-line training for Sustainable Liaisons and other committed individuals will cover performance simulations such as climate response, daylight, and thermal comfort.
Firm-wide sustainability seminars, available on-line and open to everyone, will provide education on core sustainability topics, reinforced with greater depth through weekly newsletters.
Initiative 2 — Stay Bold: Design Story & Meaning
Introduction / Problem Statement
This initiative invites us to embrace the power of storytelling in our pursuit of design excellence. There is more demand for bold ideas and thorough outcomes, which can harness creativity and inspire us to a higher level of design. Our current challenge is not allocating a consistent process where we craft an overarching story and/or authentic vision with our clients at the project onset. As a result, our big concepts can dilute or disappear completely as the project develops. The devices proposed below aim to maintain each project's big, bold ideas throughout the design process.
2A - VISIONING SESSIONS
2B - VISION DOCUMENT
Build in mandatory charrette time early on with the design team to think outside the box and let early ideas marinate. In addition, host a visioning session with the client to gain a deeper understanding of their goals, as well as their visual and experiential design preferences.
Create a vision document board template for project teams to capture the big ideas and grand vision. Vision boards would be used at project meetings to remind the client and team members of the agreed upon ideas. The board would be a living document that is refined as the project further develops. It would contain: the visioning session summary, project narrative, project facts, inspirations, concept diagrams, and current renderings.
Initiative 3 — Improve Meetings
Introduction / Problem Statement
In the fast-paced environment of HOK, effective collaboration is even more essential for innovation and project success. However, feedback from team members indicates that current meeting structures often lead to disengagement, inefficiency, and missed opportunities for creative input, particularly from emerging talent.
New and existing meeting formats can be improved through "Meetings 101" training seminars. These seminars (webinars) would be offered to team leaders or anyone regularly hosting meetings that would result in better meetings and design outcomes.
Below are some examples of basic principles of hosting a meeting that are often lost in the shuffle:
• Define clear objective
• Curate attendee list
• Prepare and share agenda
• Start & end time
• Engaging participation especially emerging talent
• Clear action items 3B - IMPROVED MEETING FORMATS
To further improve the meeting culture at HOK, we recommend implementing a variety of new meeting formats that leverage neurodiversity and focus on more successful exposure practices for emerging talent.
Standards for various meeting types could be accessed by employees through a new tab on the HOK Hub. These standards would aid in the efficiency of virtual and in-person meetings, creating an environment that reduces redundancy/meeting fatigue for everyone while also allowing emerging talent to become more involved.
The "Stand-up Meeting" or "SCRUM" is an example of a team and goals oriented process that has already been adopted by several projects teams at HOK.
Example: Spotify's "Tribe & Squad" Model
Example: SCRUM
Additional Recommendations
Recommendation 1:
Careers By Design Checkpoint Regarding Pigeonholing
Make a discussion point during the annual review process to gather whether individual staff feel pigeonholed in their current role and/or tasks
Recommendation 2:
All-Staff Open Houses
Internal project share of all active & recent projects in each office — once or twice per year
Recommendation 3:
Pushing back — Training on Handling Unrealistic Client Demands
Train client-facing staff on methods to proactively set expectations and respond to client requests for additional free work and unrealistic deadlines
Observatory at DeYoung Museum by H&dM
Model at Foster & Partners Exhibit
"The Canyon" Housing in China Basin by MVRDV