HGA Happenings: November 2024

The Fine Arts and Photography Building at Spokane Falls Community College is now open. The new site brings the two departments together in a prominent facility overlooking the Spokane River valley and anchoring the south end of campus. The building, formally named sƛ̓x̣etk (ska-hét), meaning “fast water” in Salish, serves as a hub where students learn, create, collaborate, and showcase their talents in fine art and photography. Featuring state-of-the-art studios, classrooms, labs, and galleries, the arts center supports and enhances the college’s strong arts programs, while providing opportunities for collaboration with the larger community. Exposed wood beams and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the river and surrounding trees, creating a powerful connection to nature. Partners include local architectural partner, ALSC Architects and collaborator and artist, Jill Anholt, who created a dynamic art installation on the center’s windows. Learn more about this new, creative sanctuary, here.

A grand opening ceremony celebrated the opening of Clinic by the Bay’s new location in San Francisco’s Excelsior neighborhood. Supported by private donations and staffed by volunteer students and medical residents, the clinic has been a vital resource for the community for 14 years, delivering essential healthcare services to medically underserved residents. HGA collaborated with the clinic to renovate the historic Alemany Emergency Hospital, preserving its historic character while integrating modern features and state-of-the-art medical equipment. The new facility enables the clinic to expand its services, featuring four exam rooms for primary and specialty care, two consultation rooms for health coaching and mental wellness, a medication room, and a two-chair dental suite. Learn more about the clinic, providing imperative services to the San Francisco community, here.

A ribbon cutting ceremony commemorated the official unveiling of the new Sacramento State Art Studio Lab (ASL). The state-of-the-art learning environment, designed by HGA, offers an equitable arts education for students and faculty. The lab replaces a mid-century warehouse with modern studios supporting diverse art disciplines. Featuring instructional and graduate spaces for painting, sculpture, wood and metalwork, and a central exhibition space, the facility was crafted to maximize multifunctional spaces. Seamless indoor-outdoor connections, shaded circulation areas, and clerestory windows provide optimal lighting. Sustainability is central, with a heavily insulated envelope, energy recovery systems, drought-resistant landscaping, and a design that will consume 30% less energy than required by California’s energy code. The ASL elevates Sacramento State as a creative hub for the region fostering an inclusive environment and inviting public engagement through accessible spaces and exceptional programs. Read more about the new Art Studio Lab, a canvas for creativity, here.

ThedaCare’s new health campus in Oshkosh, Wisconsin held a topping-out ceremony, celebrating the placement of the final steel beam. As part of a downtown Oshkosh redevelopment initiative, the new facility will provide much-needed healthcare services to residents east of the interstate, who currently face more than a 15-minute drive to the nearest hospital. Once completed, the hospital will feature emergency care, inpatient beds, advanced imaging services, an ambulatory surgery center, a medical office building, and a pharmacy. Designed by HGA, the facility reflects a timeless aesthetic inspired by the historic downtown, incorporating masonry, wood, and other nature-inspired accents. Read more about the new facility, set to enhance the community’s access to care, here.

The Kinship Community Food Kitchen’s proposed new headquarters in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood marks a significant step forward in the non-profit’s mission to continue combatting food insecurity, poverty, and social isolation. Formerly known as the Riverwest Food Pantry, Kinship has been a vital community resource since the early 1970s, serving approximately 16,000 people annually. As the organization continues to grow, its current food center and administrative offices have reached capacity, prompting the selection of a new site. The project, still in the early stages, has received initial city approval and is currently seeking rezoning approval for the proposed location. HGA is designing the new facility, which will include a free food market, commercial kitchen, greenhouse, and spaces for additional community services. Learn more about how the new headquarters will help Kinship not only address food insecurity, but also expand its efforts to meet other critical community needs, here.