HED is very proud to share that we have been ranked in the Zweig Group 2020 Hot Firm list. The Zweig Group Hot Firm list recognizes the 100 fastest-growing architecture, engineering and construction firms in the United States and Canada. Through an assessment of finances (a score comprised of both dollar and percentage revenue growth rate over a three-year period), this ranking reflects firms have outperformed both the economy and competitors to become leaders in their chosen fields.

We accredit this growth and stability to the dedication and professionalism of our staff, who have committed themselves to our shared mission of creating positive impact for our clients and communities through their design talents.

As an organization we believe we can't create positive impact unless our people come first, which is why we are so excited to announce that we have been named a Zweig Group 2020 Best Firm To Work For!

The Best Firms to Work For award recognizes architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the US and Canada based on an exhaustive review of their workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, and much more. We believe that awards and rankings such as these are important tools for judging our efforts against our peers and ourselves to continue our commitment to our staff that create positive impact for our clients and communities.

We're proud to share that we are number 25 in the Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) magazine Top 40 Electrical Design Firms of 2020!

HED is pleased to announce that we, in partnership with PCL Construction services, have been selected by the County of San Diego, CA, as the Architect of Record for the new Lakeside Community Library!

The new, 16,840 sf Lakeside Library will be a signature building, landmark, and significant resource to the community designed to offer space and resources for enhanced community engagement and activity. It will act as a welcoming gathering place with a variety of services and events and provide for informational, educational, and civic engagement needs. In addition to the facility itself, the library will be a source of additional positive impact in the community by being sustainable, with a design that will conform and be certified through the Living Building Challenge Net Zero Energy Guidelines.

The architectural concept for the Lakeside Branch Library grows from a thorough observation of the local context and collaboration with the county. The aesthetic will be fresh, sleek, modern, and feature clean architectural lines as well as contemporary materials and color palettes, creating a distinct identity within the community. With an interior ceiling height of eighteen feet in the central spaces, the design lends a voluminous, bright feel to not just the lobby, but program spaces like the children’s room, marketplace, community room and adults’ space.

HED is pleased to share that the Veoneer North American Technical Competence Center (NATCC) in Southfield, MI has been awarded the AIA Michigan SMACNA Sheet Metal Award.

This award recognizes design excellence through state-of-the-art climate control/system design, fabrication of duct work, metal architectural roofing, and ornamental metal.

The new NATCC provides space for a team of more than 900 staff members and fulfills its mission to promote innovation and industry leadership through its design as a highly experiential, interconnected workplace. Designed to help shape the company’s future in autonomous driving and active safety systems, the new technical center features both office and automotive testing spaces.

In the recent issue of SMART Dynamics of masonry Megan Crawford, P.E. and Kevin Doyle, AIA outline how HED's integrated architecture and engineering teams created savings and solutions for AUCH Construction's HQ using masonry solutions.

Throughout the design process, masonry presented itself in many ways, outlined in detail in the article but summarized here:

- Steel Braced Frames for Open Design Depended on Masonry Sheer Walls
- Use of Masonry reduced Materials, Costs, and Schedule
- Masonry Choices and Schemes Set a Dramatic Tone
- Use of Masonry Offset Glass in Meeting Energy Codes

Using the link below you can read the full article and learn about how use of masonry contributed to the most effective design solution.

HED has pledged to continue its support of The 2030 Challenge and now the Carbon Positive Reset, a full day live educational webcast led by Ed Mazria, intended to educate, inspire, and mobilize our colleagues and allied professionals worldwide to embark on a course of action which can rapidly change our world. The global teach-in will showcase the most effective building materials, construction methods, design tools, architecture and planning strategies, practices and policies for dramatically and rapidly reducing the embodied and operational carbon emissions as we RESET our targets and actions to meet the Paris Agreement.

As Carbon Positive states: "It’s clear we can grow our economies, create and support livable communities, and phase-out fossil fuels to solve the climate crisis. Now is the time to collectively accelerate our motivation and actions – designing buildings with no on-site fossil fuels; innovating and shifting to carbon positive buildings, materials, construction and infrastructure; creating building decarbonization and clean energy jobs; integrating passive design strategies and renewable energy in projects; and addressing the root causes of increasing and projected climate catastrophes and pandemics. The world will certainly be better equipped to confront potential disasters if we readily and immediately share resources, expertise, and information.

As it now stands, we can still retain a high probability of meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target and avert the most dangerous aspects of climate change by reducing annual CO2 emissions 50% to 65% in the built environment by 2030, and completely phasing-out of fossil fuel CO2 emissions by 2040."

With buildings and infrastructure responsible for well over half of all annual global emissions, the international architecture, engineering, construction, planning, and building community must play a key role in meeting the 1.5°C target. Actions and support from leaders in A/E/C are crucial. As economies emerge from the global pandemic and building and infrastructure construction recover, sector actions will send a strong market signal and give governments the confidence to act in line with the remaining global carbon budget.

We have affirmed our commitment and pledged financial support for this cause, and we hope that other firms will join in the effort!

HED welcomes Ronda Paradis, MBA to the firm as Associate Principal, Healthcare Sector Strategy & Development for the Boston office, bringing 30 years of experience in executive-level strategy and business development in the A/E/C industry. In this role, Ronda will collaborate with leadership and local design team to develop and execute effective strategies for growing the Boston office and presence in the Northeast. Her industry network, knowledge of market trends, and focus on client needs will complement the seasoned team she is joining at HED.

Prior to joining HED, Ronda acted as the Vice President of business development for the health and science practice of Suffolk Construction in Boston, MA, the largest construction management company in Massachusetts and the premiere healthcare and S+T builder in New England. Prior to that she held positions at HDR, Inc. as Principal, Education, Science & Technology Development and Principal of Healthcare and S&T Development in the Boston office, where she expanded visibility for their service offerings and led client relations.

Ronda’s passion for team-oriented problem solving will be integral to HED’s effectiveness toward its mission: Advancing Your World, through the Positive Impact of design, our teams create exceptional solutions for our clients, the community, and the world.

As a collectively diverse group of people that seeks to create Positive Impact, the employees of HED have been jolted by the social unrest and cries for justice following the death of George Floyd under the knee of a police officer.

We denounce racism, hate and violence and stand together in protest and call for justice, equality and respect for all humankind.

We pledge:
• Our commitment to peace and support of the National Organization of Minority Architect’s (NOMA) call to be B.R.A.V.E.

• To be of service to our neighbors and our communities.

• To provide equitable opportunity within our profession in support of the extraordinary and overlooked potential within the communities we serve.

HED is pleased to announce that we have recently been selected as the Prime Architect for the Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) new Design and Media Arts Center (DMAC) building project!

The new DMAC building will replace the existing Sage Hall and consist of approximately 80,000 gsf of design and design-related programs brought together in a state-of-the-art facility that includes technology and media rich lab and lecture spaces. Students will have access to industry standard tools in a setting that encourages innovative practices in teaching and learning. The DMAC will consolidate the Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Digital Media, Visual Communications, Sign Graphics, and Tailoring programs, along with room for potential growth in Communications Technologies.

Poised to be an innovative hub and a gateway for the campus, DMAC will sit on the campus’ most prominent corner – an excellent opportunity to showcase design labs and their creations near LA’s Fashion District, with a location along the elevated light rail line. A place for all students to congregate and be supported, DMAC will be both a welcoming and motivating force on the campus while connecting students to many facets of the College. HED is thrilled by the prospect of contributing to another project on LATTC’s campus, especially a project that will create positive impact in the global design community for decades to come!