Architecture firm HKS has established a dedicated Regenerative Design team, signalling a strategic shift in the firm’s approach to architecture and urban development. The initiative reflects a systems-thinking methodology aimed at creating environments that restore ecological balance while enhancing social and community well-being.
This announcement follows the launch of a Commercial Interiors practice in Mexico City earlier this month, extending HKS’s human-centred, future-focused design services across Latin America and reinforcing the firm’s global commitment to specialised, context-responsive architecture and interiors.
A systems-driven approach to architecture
The newly formed regenerative design team integrates expertise in regenerative design, net-positive projects, and nature-based solutions. HKS positions this development as a move beyond traditional sustainability, focusing instead on designs that actively contribute to environmental recovery and community resilience. According to Tony Montalto, HKS Chief Design Officer, the approach allows the firm to create buildings and spaces that give more than they take, supporting ecosystems while generating lasting value for clients and communities.
The methodology encompasses a wide range of considerations, including climate-responsive passive design, clean energy generation, water cycle management, carbon sequestration, and material circularity. The team collaborates closely with existing HKS project teams to tailor strategies to each project’s specific context, ensuring that designs respond to both environmental and social needs.
Expertise behind the initiative
Leading the team is Yasemin Kologlu, Director of Regenerative Design at HKS, who has more than two decades of experience in net-zero energy, carbon, water, and waste projects. Her role extends beyond HKS, with leadership positions in the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, Architecture 2030, and American Institute of Architects COTE in New York.
Supporting the initiative are Senior Regenerative Designers Matthew McGrane and Jennifer Preston, who bring extensive experience in high-performance, climate-responsive, and people-centred design. Their work spans multiple scales and building types, consistently aligning environmental objectives with community engagement and social equity.
The team also includes emerging designers Olivia Raymundo and E.J. Shin, who contribute research-driven insights and interdisciplinary design methodologies, alongside Amir Zarrabi, a computational designer specialising in performance-driven strategies that integrate parametric and AI-enabled workflows into early-stage design decisions.
