HOK co-CEO reflects on achievements and the future of architecture in St. Louis magazine interview.
HOK’s co-CEO and design principal in St. Louis, Eli Hoisington, sat down with St. Louis Magazine as part of its “St. Louis Business 500” series to discuss the firm’s milestones, his vision for the design profession and his deep ties to St. Louis. The Q&A explores the firm’s recent projects—including leading the redesign of St. Louis Lambert International Airport—and Hoisington’s perspectives on architecture and design.
Excerpted from St. Louis Magazine:
On HOK’s Recent Successes
“We’ve reached a few milestones that are meaningful: 1. We won the greatest number of national design awards in my history at HOK (now 20 years). This is a result of our increased investment in design research, a greater emphasis on internal HOK design competitions, and more collaboration across our 26 global studios. 2. We set an example for others by achieving carbon neutrality in our internal operations. 3. Our firmwide portfolio of design work continued to edge closer to carbon-neutrality in 2023, this at a time when many firms are struggling to stay on pace with the deadline spelled out by the American Institute of Architects.”
On What Excites Him About the Future
“I am most excited about what we don’t know… in a creative industry, the process of discovery is what is most fulfilling. There are so many questions to explore. What does ‘work’ look like in 10 years? How will changing business needs, technology and mobility impact travel? As medicine becomes more personalized, will going to the doctor remain the same? Solving new challenges is what most excites me about the future of design.”
On a Change He’d Make to the Industry
“I would change our licensure requirements to include a requirement to not just engage in construction from an administrative perspective, but to actually build something… there are few things as impactful as the time I’ve spent working in the trades, learning in a truly hands-on fashion what it means to build, not just design.”
On St. Louis’ Business Environment
“I would love to instill more optimism into our community and then focus on building up a stronger outward PR narrative about our city and region. I have lived here for a decade, and I still find myself discovering new, amazing things about St. Louis… Let’s show people the hundreds of reasons to say yes to building a home and business here.”
On Leadership Advice That Shaped Him
“A good friend once heard me run through a presentation… He told me that even though I missed a point or two, I was more my true self and delivered a stronger message the second time around. His words of wisdom stuck with me: ‘I won’t remember what you said in detail tomorrow morning, but I will remember how you made me feel.’”
Read the entire St. Louis Magazine interview.