HOK welcomes Linda Vela as practice leader for HOK’s Healthcare group in Toronto; Chris Leary and Melissa Leong as practice leaders for the Science + Technology group in Boston and Los Angeles, respectively; and Ann Kosmal as firm-wide sustainable design leader for resiliency.
These new, experienced leaders will strengthen HOK’s design expertise in key markets and regions across North America.
Linda Vela, OAA, LEED AP BD+C, leads HOK’s Canadian Healthcare practice, guiding multidisciplinary teams on complex healthcare projects. With more than 20 years of experience as an architect, clinical planner and project manager, she has led major hospital redevelopments and specialized healthcare facilities of varying sizes.
Vela’s approach prioritizes regulatory compliance and operational efficiency to create adaptable and resilient healthcare facilities. Her portfolio spans mental health facilities, bed towers, cancer treatment centers, surgical suites, pharmacies and emergency departments.
Chris Leary, AIA, LEED AP, leads HOK’s Science + Technology practice in Boston. His experience includes extensive work with real estate developers, large corporations and fast-growing venture-backed companies in Kendall Square and the Innovation District around MIT. He specializes in high-performing buildings and environments that support scientific research and discovery.
Leary is a board member, secretary and executive committee member of the Kendall Square Association in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He regularly speaks at industry events hosted by the World Economic Forum, U.S. Green Building Council and Tradeline on topics including innovation districts and integrated project delivery.
Melissa Leong, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, LEED AP, leads the Science + Technology practice in HOK’s Los Angeles studio. She has more than 20 years of experience building integrated teams to deliver complex projects, including 2.85 million square feet of interior space built.
Leong’s clients include major universities, technology-driven corporations, private R&D organizations and biotechnology firms. Her background also includes projects across many other markets, including healthcare, corporate, commercial, civic, justice, mixed-use, aviation and historic preservation.
Ann Kosmal, FAIA, LEED AP BD+ C, CPHC, PDC, serves as HOK’s firm-wide resilience leader based in Washington, D.C. She brings more than two decades of owner-side experience helping federal and private sector clients address extreme weather risks through design. Her thorough planning and holistic approach emphasize life safety, long-term performance, operational reliability and cost efficiency.
Prior to HOK, Kosmal informed federal policy at the highest levels, including the U.S. General Services Administration and the Executive Branch. In these roles, she safeguarded federal assets from evolving physical risk and developed performance metrics for 36 federal agencies focused on mission readiness, operational effectiveness and fiscal high-risk issues.
“Linda, Chris, Melissa and Ann bring deep expertise in their respective fields and a strong track record of delivering complex, high-performing projects,” said Susan Klumpp Williams, HOK’s co-CEO and managing principal of the Washington, D.C. studio. “Their experience enhances our ability to deliver thoughtful design solutions that help clients achieve their operational and long-term performance goals.”