HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm, announced today that architecture and interior design firm BBG-BBGM's New York and Shanghai employees have joined the company.
BBG-BBGM’s primary business has been hospitality design, with a focus on luxury hotels and resorts. The addition of BBG-BBGM's people to HOK's practice in New York and Shanghai positions HOK among the world's leading hospitality design firms.
"The addition of a premier hospitality design firm to our already strong hospitality group provides immediate benefits for HOK's clients worldwide," said Bill Hellmuth, AIA, HOK president. "We have tremendous mutual respect for each other and share a passion for exceptional design and project delivery. We each are committed to creating great spaces that respect their communities, delight guests and bring value to owners. This is an exciting time for HOK's people and clients."
"HOK is a wonderful fit for us," said Louis R. Hedgecock, AIA, LEED AP, a former managing partner at BBG-BBGM who has joined HOK as a principal in New York. "Coming to HOK, which has such a robust global infrastructure and highly collaborative culture, gives our people increased opportunities for professional growth and the ability to design significant projects all over the world. We expect a seamless transition."
"We're excited about the prospect of continuing to create excellent hospitality experiences for clients all over the world," said Julia Monk, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, a founding partner of BBGM and a managing partner of BBG-BBGM who joins HOK in Shanghai. "The global hospitality market is growing quickly. Joining HOK expands our global reach to meet the market's demand. The timing is perfect."
"We are practicing in a truly global marketplace," added Carl Galioto, FAIA, HOK's New York managing principal. "Our goal is to be the leading expertise-based design practice in every market in which we operate. The combination of BBG-BBGM's people with our hospitality design experts immediately positions HOK as a worldwide leader in hotel and resort design. Each client will benefit from our collective expertise, whether they are designing new properties or renovating and repositioning existing facilities."
HOK's expanded hospitality interior design group is led by Monk in Shanghai, Christina Hart, ASID, IIDA, LEED AP, in New York and Randa Tukan, IDC, LEED AP, in Toronto.
In addition to Hedgecock, Hart and Monk, BBG-BBGM partners who have joined HOK include Gregory Cranford, AIA, Marc Gross, AIA, LEED AP, and Marie-Paule Petitjean, AIA, LEED AP, all based in New York.
BBG-BBGM's hospitality experience includes Suite 5000 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York; the Atlantis Sanya, the MGM Grand Sanya and the St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa in Hainan, China; The Peninsula Shanghai; the Rosewood Abu Dhabi Hotel and Residences in Abu Dhabi, UAE; the St. Regis Hotel and Residences Bangkok; the Smyth Hotel in New York; and the renovation of The New York Palace Hotel and the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
HOK's global portfolio of hospitality projects includes the Doha City Centre Hotels in Doha, Qatar; renovation and re-branding of Delta Hotels and Resorts across Canada; the Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort in Hua Hin, Thailand; the Four Seasons Shanghai in Shanghai, China; the Hyatt on the Bund in Shanghai; the Marriott Chicago River North Hotel in Chicago; the Marriott West India Quay in London; the Hilton Columbus Convention Center Hotel in Columbus, Ohio; and the New Songdo City Sheraton Incheon Hotel in Incheon, South Korea.
The New York and Shanghai offices of BBG-BBGM have joined HOK. The Washington, DC, office of BBG-BBGM will continue as BBGM.
HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm. Through a network of 24 offices worldwide, HOK provides design excellence and innovation to create places that enrich people's lives and help clients succeed. For four consecutive years, DesignIntelligence has ranked HOK as a leader in sustainable and high-performance design.
Related Stories
Laboratories | Apr 12, 2024
Life science construction completions will peak this year, then drop off substantially
There will be a record amount of construction completions in the U.S. life science market in 2024, followed by a dramatic drop in 2025, according to CBRE. In 2024, 21.3 million sf of life science space will be completed in the 13 largest U.S. markets. That’s up from 13.9 million sf last year and 5.6 million sf in 2022.
Construction Costs | Apr 11, 2024
Construction materials prices increase 0.4% in March 2024
Construction input prices increased 0.4% in March compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices also increased 0.4% for the month.
K-12 Schools | Apr 10, 2024
A San Antonio school will provide early childhood education to a traditionally under-resourced region
In San Antonio, Pre-K 4 SA, which provides preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, and HOLT Group, which owns industrial and other companies, recently broke ground on an early childhood education: the South Education Center.
University Buildings | Apr 10, 2024
Columbia University to begin construction on New York City’s first all-electric academic research building
Columbia University will soon begin construction on New York City’s first all-electric academic research building. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the 80,700-sf building for the university’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons will provide eight floors of biomedical research and lab facilities as well as symposium and community engagement spaces.
K-12 Schools | Apr 10, 2024
Surprise, surprise: Students excel in modernized K-12 school buildings
Too many of the nation’s school districts are having to make it work with less-than-ideal educational facilities. But at what cost to student performance and staff satisfaction?
Cultural Facilities | Apr 8, 2024
Multipurpose sports facility will be first completed building at Obama Presidential Center
When it opens in late 2025, the Home Court will be the first completed space on the Obama Presidential Center campus in Chicago. Located on the southwest corner of the 19.3-acre Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, the Home Court will be the largest gathering space on the campus. Renderings recently have been released of the 45,000-sf multipurpose sports facility and events space designed by Moody Nolan.
Green | Apr 8, 2024
LEED v5 released for public comment
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened the first public comment period for the first draft of LEED v5. The new version of the LEED green building rating system will drive deep decarbonization, quality of life improvements, and ecological conservation and restoration, USGBC says.
Codes and Standards | Apr 8, 2024
Boston’s plans to hold back rising seawater stall amid real estate slowdown
Boston has placed significant aspects of its plan to protect the city from rising sea levels on the actions of private developers. Amid a post-Covid commercial development slump, though, efforts to build protective infrastructure have stalled.
Brick and Masonry | Apr 4, 2024
Best in brick buildings: 9 projects take top honors in the Brick in Architecture Awards
The Ace Hotel Toronto, designed by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, and the TCU Music Center by Bora Architecture & Interiors are among nine "Best in Class" winners and 44 overall winners in the Brick Industry Association's 2023 Brick in Architecture Awards.
Retail Centers | Apr 4, 2024
Retail design trends: Consumers are looking for wellness in where they shop
Consumers are making lifestyle choices with wellness in mind, which ignites in them a feeling of purpose and a sense of motivation. That’s the conclusion that the architecture and design firm MG2 draws from a survey of 1,182 U.S. adult consumers the firm conducted last December about retail design and what consumers want in healthier shopping experiences.