Keep exploring HGA in Southern California. This page brings together more stories from our Santa Monica and San Diego teams, including office happenings, project updates, community involvement, and key milestones from across the region.
LA Team Supports IIDA SoCal Fundraiser
Members of HGA’s Los Angeles team joined IIDA Southern California’s Drag Bingo Fundraiser at the Andreu World Los Angeles Showroom in support of A Sense of Home.
The Pride Month event brought the design community together for bingo, entertainment, and connection while raising funds for an organization that helps create first-ever homes and brighter futures for youth aging out of foster care. For our team, it was a fun and meaningful way to support local partners, connect with peers, and celebrate the role of home in creating stability and belonging.
Welcome to our 2026 Summer Interns!
This summer, we’re excited to welcome Vanessa Tsuji and Ava Gellegani to the Santa Monica office. Both are currently pursuing their Master of Architecture degrees at USC and UCLA, respectively, and bring strong design, technology, and community engagement experience. Throughout the summer, they’ll support project teams across the region while gaining hands-on experience, contributing fresh perspectives, and continuing to grow as emerging design professionals.
2026 HGA Founder’s Awards SoCal Honorees: Kim James and Bryan Vogt
HGA’s Santa Monica and San Diego teams celebrated this year’s Founders Award recipients, honoring Sr. HR Manager Kim James in Santa Monica and Sr. Project Architect Bryan Vogt in San Diego. The award recognizes team members who embody HGA’s values through their leadership, collaboration, mentorship, and everyday contributions. Kim and Bryan were celebrated for the meaningful impact they make across their teams, projects, and office culture, helping strengthen the relationships and shared commitment that shape each studio.
May 2026 New Hires
HGA’s Santa Monica office welcomed two new team members: Matt Lafflam, Senior Project Manager for Healthcare, and Jessica Schmitzberger, Market Performance Leader for the Community, Workplace, and Government market sector. Their experience strengthens the office’s project leadership, client relationships, and cross-market expertise as the team continues supporting complex work across Southern California.
Sustainability Recognition for the Santa Monica Office
HGA’s Santa Monica office received a Gold GoSaMo Achievement Award from the City of Santa Monica and GoSaMo TMO, recognizing our 2023–2024 sustainable commute efforts. The award honors Santa Monica employers working to reduce congestion and support the city’s mobility goals.
Community Impact: ACLA Design x Diversity Day
The LA office joined ACLA Design x Diversity Day, spending the day with K–12 students exploring architecture, creativity, and the built environment through hands-on activities and mentorship. At HGA’s booth, students stepped into the role of designer, creating their own theatre concepts through an interactive planning exercise focused on collaboration, storytelling, and problem-solving. The event was a fun and inspiring way to introduce young students to design careers while reinforcing HGA’s commitment to investing in future generations.
HGA in Action at Chollas Creekside Park
HGA’s San Diego team participated in the Earth Day Extravaganza at Chollas Creekside Park, joining community members for a day focused on environmental stewardship, education, and neighborhood connection. The event supported local efforts to care for shared green spaces and celebrate a healthier San Diego.
City of La Quinta Featured in HGA Insights
Our work on the City of La Quinta Cultural Campus was featured in HGA’s latest Insights piece, Design in Dialogue: Five Case Studies in Indigenous Engagement. The article explores how early, thoughtful collaboration with Indigenous communities can help shape design that is more grounded in place, history, and cultural context. Through five project examples, including La Quinta, the piece highlights how listening, relationship-building, and cultural storytelling can lead to more meaningful outcomes for the communities each project serves.