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Clark Davis and I recently got the chance to talk to Ernest Beck, writing for the Architect (AIA’s magazine), about research at HOK and the impact it has on our practice. It really got us thinking about how important it is to everything we do.
Once the mainstay of academic institutions and the private sector, research today is attracting more resources and funding at architecture firms than ever before. The trend will likely continue as advances in many fields—from materials science to energy use—generate new ways to design buildings and to measure the performance of increasingly complex systems. “There is research now in everything we do,” says Leigh Stringer, director of innovation and research at global design firm HOK. “Clients are demanding more, and so we have to be innovative at every level,” she says. “Research is integral to innovation. Without research, HOK has no business.”
I find that especially now, clients are asking for more and more evidence. They don’t just want JUST beautiful spaces, they want spaces that provide a significant return on investment. To be credible professionals, it’s up to us (and our research partners) to really understand the implications of our designs on people and the environment. Many people at HOK have spent significant time and money developing relationships with universities and membership organizations to expand our capabilities when it comes to research. And yes, it does keep us competitive, but also keeps us looking ahead to what’s next and helps us solve problems better and faster.
In the wise words of Neil Armstrong, “Research is creating new knowledge.”
