03: A New Kind of Architecture Firm

In this episode, Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA tells the story of the founding of HOK and highlights founders, Gyo Obata and George Kassabaum. Kiku Obata, daughter of Gyo Obata, and President of Kiku Obata & Company, joins Patrick to share stories of her family and additional insight into her father. Patrick shares his lessons for listeners to take away from this episode:Build a strong internal, cooperative cultureMake a commitment to innovationHave a strong commitment to growth, even if it takes decadesTo read along and see illustrations and personal photos that accompany this series, get Patrick’s book, Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm. You can buy the book at gablmedia.com/buildsmartbook/ and find out more information at macleamy.com Mentioned in this episode:SpacesCoDesign

Om Podcasten

BUILD SMART is a narrative podcast that features Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, architect, and former CEO of global firm HOK. With host Mark R. LePage, AIA, NCARB, MacLeamy shares stories and lessons from his 50-year career, rising from an HOK junior designer to the company CEO, a tenure that parallels HOK’s growth from 150 employees in St. Louis to a staff of more than 1,900 in 27 offices on three continents. MacLeamy highlights innovative solutions and tough decisions that sustained HOK through multiple economic swings, culminating in it becoming one of the world’s Top 10 architecture and engineering firms. HOK was structured for long-term success — BUILD SMART will share these lessons to help architects and creative-services firms build for long-term success as they design a world-class firm.