WASHINGTON, D.C. — HOK promotes Roger Schwabacher, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, to Design Principal in its Washington, D.C., Tampa, and Miami studios. He takes over in Washington, D.C., for Bill Hellmuth, FAIA, LEED AP, who recently announced that he will retire in April 2023. In addition to his role as HOK Chairman and CEO, Hellmuth has been the office’s Design Principal since 1993.

“I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working closely with Roger in D.C. for the past 18 years,” Hellmuth said. “He has made significant contributions to shaping our studio culture and growth. Roger’s design leadership in D.C. also freed me up for my firmwide leadership responsibilities. I could not have done both without his help.”

“Roger is an exceptional designer and a strong collaborator who has the rare ability to bring a creative, artistic vision to each project while also solving its complex technical constraints,” said Susan Klumpp Williams, AIA, LEED AP, Managing Principal of HOK’s Washington, D.C. office and interim Co-CEO. “This leads to projects that delight people while providing real value to our clients.”

Schwabacher’s design experience includes architectural, urban, and sustainable design for a wide range of building types, including government, corporate, higher education, commercial office, health care, science and technology, hospitality, civic and cultural, retail, and residential buildings. His work has earned numerous awards.

Schwabacher is a member of HOK’s global design board, the University of Maryland School of Architecture’s Board of Visitors, the American Institute of Architects, and the U.S. Green Building Council. He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University.