Fast Company recognized HOK as a Finalist for its Research Program, which invites all employees to participate in internal research initiatives and annual design competition.
Fast Company’s sixth annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list recognizes organizations and businesses that demonstrate a commitment to encourage and develop innovation at all levels.
“HOK’s philosophy for design excellence and innovation is grounded in our people and the way we work,” said Susan Klumpp Williams, co-CEO of HOK. “We are honored to be recognized as a home for the innovators in design.”
Key initiatives in HOK’s Research Program include:
1. STREAM: An advanced tool integrating parametric modeling with engineering expertise to quickly generate and refine structural designs.
2. Metamorphosis Design Competition: An in-house contest for emerging professionals that attracted 60 participants from 14 offices. Winning projects addressed global issues like refugee housing and evolving urban workplaces.
3. Designing for Equity: A task force established in 2020 to embed inclusive design principles across projects, including a new MLS stadium and an AstraZeneca R&D building.
4. Embodied Carbon Reduction: HOK is tackling the carbon footprint of structural systems through advanced research and life cycle assessments. The firm is aiming to conduct these assessments on all projects.
5. Advanced Airport Mobility: Collaborating with industry experts to develop infrastructure for electric aircraft and full airport electrification, addressing the environmental impact of aviation.
HOK was previously named a Fast Company Most Innovative Company in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Additionally, two HOK-designed projects (Boston Consulting Group Headquarters and Jacksonville Jaguars’ Stadium of the Future) received recognition in Fast Company’s 2024 Innovation by Design Awards.