APRIL 2016
H
business elite canada
3
By Jacquelin Bhandari
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H
OK is known for its ability to take
on challenges and turn them into
opportunities. Their work reflects
a collaboration with experts, best practic-
es in sustainability and thought leadership.
The most important aspect of HOK’s de-
sign is the ability to foresee how commu-
nities will interact with any given project.
For clients of the global creative firm, the
result is a confluence of art and practical-
ity.
HOK was founded in St. Louis, Missouri
in 1955. Today, HOK is a global firm with
an established name in architecture proj-
ects around the world. The Canadian arm
of HOK sprouted its roots in 1997, in a
merger with Toronto-based Urbana Archi-
tects. Since then, HOK Canada has grown
to include four offices across the country
in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa.
With the help of local experts, these global
leaders in innovation flawlessly redefine,
and redesign solutions for the evolving Ca-
nadian architectural and design landscape.
HOK’s process ultimately takes into con-
sideration how architecture and design af-
fects human behaviour. Through consulta-
tion across various disciplines, HOK is able
to find solutions to challenges unique to
their clients. HOK puts out cutting-edge
projects that keep Canadians thinking
about how space positively affects every-
day life.
In this two-part series, Business Elite Can-
ada speaks with HOK’s experts on the Ca-
nadian projects of their choice, and how
Canada helped them inspire a new think-
ing towards architecture and design.
CISCO WATERPARK PLACE,
TORONTO, ONTARIO
CISCO Systems is just one of HOK’s many
returning clients. The global tech giant had
previously asked HOK to build their Innova-
tion centre in London, England. Lisa Ful-
ford-Roy, HOK’s Senior Vice President of
Marketing and Strategy, speaks highly of
the partnership that HOK and CISCO have.
The Canadian innovation centre for CISCO
Systems, located in Toronto’s downtown
core, is proof of that.
“This facility is a live example of embed-
ding their brand, using technology intui-
tively and strategically to change how their
people can work more effectively,” says
Fulford-Roy.
