DES MOINES, IA — INVISION and GastingerWalker& announce they will merge under the INVISION brand. The merger unites two architecture and design firms within The HFW Companies network in a move to create a national architectural collective — combining complementary expertise, cultures, and geographic reach to unite nearly 200 employees.
From offices in Des Moines, Waterloo, and Iowa City, Iowa; Jacksonville, Florida; Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Kansas City, Missouri, the newly integrated INVISION will offer clients expanded capabilities across health care, education, workplace, hospitality, government, civic, mixed-use, and cultural design. INVISION has 111 years of design experience, complemented by GastingerWalker&’s 45-year heritage. Combining both companies’ expertise and track records will serve more than 400 active clients nationwide.
Kansas City, home to GastingerWalker&’s headquarters, will remain a permanent and integral hub within INVISION’s national platform. The firm is focused on long-term investment in the region, continued growth of the local team, and expansion of the company’s Midwest footprint, providing clients with continuity, local expertise, and support.
“We’re not just combining teams, we’re combining legacies,” said Jana Bee Triplett, Managing Partner at GastingerWalker&. “GastingerWalker&’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to personal client relationships align perfectly with INVISION’s century-long tradition of bringing clients’ goals to life. Together, we are poised to shape spaces that will make an even greater impact on the communities we serve.”
Founded in 1914, INVISION has experience in health care, education, and civic architecture. The firm was most recently honored with the 2025 Association for Learning Environments’ John N. Shaw Award. Similarly, GastingerWalker& has worked on designs in Kansas City and beyond since 1981, earning accolades such as the 2025 American Institute of Architects Excellence in Design Award. The firms have collectively earned more than 100 design awards in the last decade.
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“This merger equips us with more tools, talent, and reach to better serve our clients,” said Brad Leeper, Partner at INVISION. “It strengthens our ability to deliver innovative solutions, while reinforcing The HFW Companies’ network of best-in-class architecture and engineering firms.”
"With the addition of GastingerWalker& and INVISION under one brand, we are furthering our vision of a preeminent architectural collective that represents nearly every facet of the discipline,” said Michael Hein, Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner of The HFW Companies. “This merger is a powerful example of how bringing together legacy firms within HFW creates not just stronger companies, but a stronger profession — with the scale, expertise, and creativity to serve clients nationwide."
Clients and partners of both firms will benefit from continuity in leadership and service, with the added benefit of broader expertise and deeper resources. The merger also creates new opportunities for employees, expanding professional development, cross-office collaboration, and career growth across a larger geographic footprint.
“This merger creates an even stronger environment for collaboration and professional growth,” said Peggy Bennett, Managing Partner at GastingerWalker&. “Team members can now work across more studios, share knowledge more broadly, and access new avenues for growth and leadership.”
GastingerWalker& has designed Kansas City landmarks such as Starlight Theatre and J. Rieger & Co. Distillery, while INVISION’s portfolio includes Iowa projects Cedar Falls High School and UnityPoint Health - Blank Children’s STAR & Developmental Center.
“I am thrilled by the expanded opportunities this merger provides,” said Mark Nevenhoven, Partner at INVISION. “By combining our expertise and perspectives with GastingerWalker&, we will deliver even more innovative, thoughtful, and human-centered design solutions that positively impact both our clients and the communities they serve.”
Beyond their client work, both firms share a commitment to community impact — from INVISION’s 3,000 hours of annual volunteer service to GastingerWalker&’s quarterly community service efforts with local food banks, neighborhood revitalization projects, and design-focused mentoring programs for architecture students. This shared mission will carry on as the unified INVISION continues to invest in the communities where its employees live and work.
