The No. 2 ranking in the Workplace category recognizes HOK’s research into neuroinclusive design and its power to reshape how the world works.
Fast Company has named HOK the No. 2 most innovative firm in the Workplace category for 2026, citing the firm “for showing workplaces what it takes to be neuroinclusive.” HOK is the only architecture and design firm on this year’s Workplace list, alongside technology and benefits companies including Asana, Indeed and Wellthy.
The ranking reflects the impact of a book rooted in a decade of HOK design and science research: Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces (Wiley, 2025), authored by Director of Thought Leadership for Interiors Kay Sargent. Much like The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design helped define green building 25 years ago, this new manual provides a guide for the next era of inclusive architecture.
The strategies work. At its own Seattle studio (pictured above), HOK used the book’s principles to redesign the office—incorporating quiet rooms, sensory gradients and flexible seating neighborhoods. The results, measured through physiological data and surveys, showed a 24% increase in employee satisfaction and a 21% increase in physical activity compared to working from home.
This “neuroinclusive lens” now extends far beyond the office. HOK teams are applying these principles to laboratories, hospitals, airports and sports and entertainment venues—systematically reducing the sensory overload that causes stress and exhaustion across the built environment.
“We’re proud to see the work our teams are doing in neuroinclusive design recognized on this scale,” said Susan Klumpp Williams, HOK’s co-CEO. “It’s part of a commitment to using design to enhance people’s lives that runs deep across our firm.”
Sargent has shared insights from the book in interviews and conferences around the world, including South by Southwest (SXSW), the Society for College and University Planning’s (SCUP) Annual Conference and the International WELL Building Institute Summit. A 22-city book tour allowed Sargent to share the book’s findings with thousands of professionals in the design community and beyond.
This is the fourth time Fast Company has honored HOK as a Most Innovative Company, following recognitions in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Read more on the Fast Company Most Innovative Companies list.
Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces is available at inclusiveworkplace.design.