HOK

The United Soccer League (USL) has become the first U.S. pro sports league to adopt a promotion-and-relegation model, with club owners voting to implement a three-tiered system common in international soccer but never before seen in American professional sports. Forbes’ Tim Newcomb spoke with Rashed Singaby, director of Sports + Recreation + Entertainment at HOK, about how this model could fundamentally change the way its USL soccer stadiums are designed.   The new top division, USL Premier, is targeted to launch in 2028. On-field results will determine which teams move across divisions, creating new challenges for clubs that must plan for fluctuating capacities, increased dependence on modularity and greater economic resilience to help them weather the uncertainties the model relegation brings.   “For the USL, embracing the opportunity for hosting events like concerts is going to be key so when the not-so-sunny days in the league come they can activate and generate revenue in the stadium,” Singaby says. “They have to start to be nimble.” Projects featured: 🔹Detroit City FC's new stadium, AlumniFi Field 🔹Union Omaha's new stadium and mixed-use district   🔗 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gVPgi5tW

How can cities and counties get more value from their real estate investments? Join us May 28 for an interactive LinkedIn panel featuring experts from CBRE, RocaPoint Partners and HOK. We’ll explore strategies for consolidating and expanding government campuses, rethinking aging facilities and creating more effective, higher-performing public assets. Live viewers can also submit questions to the panel in the chat. RSVP today and be part of the conversation.

Two HOK projects have been recognized at Interior Design Magazine's NYCxDESIGN Awards, KPMG's U.S. Headquarters in the Large Corporate Office category and LaGuardia Airport Terminal B in the Iconic Project category. ✨ HOK's design concept behind KPMG's U.S. Headquarters was developed to celebrate the city: drawing inspiration from the rich history of New York and KPMG's legacy. Expression changes between floors drawing on inspiration from Manhattan's different neighborhoods. The planning divides open plan neighborhoods into different sizes offering choice supported by open and closed collaboration areas, hybrid meeting spaces, all infused with state-of-the-art technology for hybrid workflows. ✨ LGA TB set new standards for airport design in New York City and beyond. The Arrivals and Departures Hall acts as the terminal’s front door, with dramatic pedestrian bridges that link to midfield concourses and gates, while pocket parks within the 35-gate terminal pay homage to New York's iconic green spaces. Congratulations to our project teams, clients and partners on these wins! 📸 Eric Laignel (KPMG) and Jeff Goldberg/Esto (LGA TB)

Nursing education is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. The shift to competency-based education means nursing students must prove their skills in practice–not just in the lecture hall. Join us live on LinkedIn for HOK Up Next, where three experts will discuss how changes in curriculum and technologies like simulation and AI are changing nursing school design. Panelists will include: - Ami Shah, firmwide health education practice leader based in HOK's Atlanta studio - Sarah Campbell Holton DNP, senior healthcare consultant at HOK - Dr. Chris Smith, dean for the College of Nursing at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - Stephanie Miller, HOK's director of public relations, moderator Click below to put it on your calendar ⬇️ 👐

HOK's Tom Polucci has been recognized with the 2026 Leadership Award of Excellence by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) New York Chapter! Presented by Anne Wood Drysdale, Currie Gardner and Ryan Rillon, the honor champions a local leader who has made significant contributions to the design industry. Chapter honorees receive a limited-edition Herman Miller Eames Turned Stool representing the lasting impression of design, beauty of expression and the joy of everyday life. "My time at HOK has reinforced that leadership is not just about projects or moments of success, but about shaping a culture that endures, one grounded in mentorship, shared values and a responsibility to give back," said Thomas Polucci. Earlier this year, IIDA's Georgia Chapter recognized Betsy Graham, director of interiors in HOK's Atlanta studio, with the same honor. These recognitions reflect the strength of HOK's interior design leadership and the lasting impact of our teams. Congratulations Tom and Betsy!! 🔗 🎥 View the full presentation: https://lnkd.in/gWhkhtet

Now under construction, the Brooklyn Borough-Based Jail was designed with an emphasis on well-being, sustainability and community. The building’s carved massing allows natural light to penetrate deep into the floorplate while a large vertical cutout—the “central reveal”—creates protected outdoor recreation space within the facility. Exterior fins temper summer sun, invite winter light and help reduce both cooling demand and reliance on electric lighting. The facility’s high-performance envelope and exterior shading contribute to energy modeling results showing 69% lower energy use than the AIA 2030 baseline and 17.9% below ASHRAE 90.1-2010. The project responds directly to community feedback and its Brooklyn context. Sculpted vertical piers, continuous bands of glass and warm terra cotta establish a civic presence that balances openness, privacy, durability and neighborhood character. 🔗 Discover more in the 2026 HOK Design Annual: https://bit.ly/4d68JLK

Originally built more than 40 years ago, the North Main Terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) serving Alaska Airlines has been reconfigured by HOK and progressive design-build partner HENSEL PHELPS to streamline the traveler journey from curbside to security.   The Alaska-led program creates a double-height hall that reduces congestion and improves sightlines so travelers can easily see the next step in their journey. To do this, the project team relocated back-of-house services on a mezzanine level to a bridge level between the terminal and parking garage. The modernization also reclaimed underutilized curbside space, expanding the check-in hall’s footprint and consolidating entryways from the curbside that caused bottlenecks.   “This project transforms one of SEA’s most important passenger areas into a clearer, more efficient gateway for travelers,” said @Keith Hui, regional leader of Aviation + Transportation in HOK’s Seattle studio. “By opening up the terminal, improving circulation and integrating modern technology, the design helps create a seamless traveler experience.”   🔗 Find more about this project: https://bit.ly/3PapP3d 📸 Sozinho Imagery

Hey, Cleveland? Are you ready for Cosm? We know we are. With Cosm Cleveland's recent groundbreaking, the venue is redefining the way the world experiences content by bridging the virtual and physical worlds through Shared Reality. Designed by HOK+ROSSETTI and developed by Bedrock Detroit, Cosm Cleveland will expand on the foundational design of its first four venues (Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit). The space will feature a 12K+ LED dome, complemented by a high-resolution wall-to-wall LED display and incorporates characteristics reflective of Cleveland’s vibrant community. 🔗 Discover more, https://bit.ly/42D6YRn

Brand presence in sports venues now extends well beyond traditional naming-rights agreements. Increasingly, it includes spaces that reflect a brand’s product, values or commitment to a community. At Roig Arena in Valencia, designed by HOK in partnership with ERRE, a whisky-branded lounge immerses fans in the brand through a tailored hospitality experience. Recently, The Financial Times featured HOK’s Director of Sports + Recreation + Entertainment – International, John Rhodes, on the evolution of brand engagement in stadiums and arenas—and what it means for venue design and the fan experience. “You’re not just buying a seat anymore—you’re building an experience,” said Rhodes. While these branding opportunities at stadiums and arenas are becoming more sophisticated, he also stressed that authenticity should be at the center of the experience. “It has to feel like a benefit to the fan, not something being pushed at them." 🔗 Find more, https://bit.ly/4tCUCng 📸 Hufton + Crow

Airports are complex facilities operating 24/7 with thousands of decisions made every hour. How can they respond faster to the needs of airlines, staff and travelers—and shift from reacting to issues to anticipating them before they occur? San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is addressing that challenge with its new HOK-designed Airport Integrated Operations Center, a centralized, 24/7 hub bringing together security, operations, airlines, facilities and customer care to improve coordination and decision‑making across the airport. The 22,000‑sq.-ft. center supports real‑time collaboration and helps SFO manage growth, improve efficiency and elevate the traveler experience. At the heart of the center is a shared hearth space (pictured below) that displays real-time data and a live audio feed of the airport’s control tower. “This focus on collaboration from the team helped resolve some of the differences in working environments that we were going through,” said Chris Gardini, project architect in HOK's San Francisco studio. “All the different groups have different ways of working, but we wanted to have one spot where they could freely collaborate and not worry about bothering their neighbors.” 🔗 Learn more about the project in AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT Magazine: https://bit.ly/3Pkdppd 📸 Bruce Damonte