HGA Wins Three National Awards for Design Research

HGA has received three 2026 Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Certificate of Research Excellence (CORE) recognitions, one of the design industry’s most esteemed awards for evaluating research rigor and practical impact.

The research studies include:

Froedtert ThedaCare Health Emergency Department Expansion Predesign Study

The Froedtert Hospital Emergency Department expansion was designed to be nimble, tackling immediate challenges like inpatient bed shortages and uncertainty in patient volumes while remaining adaptable to future needs. The multidisciplinary team employed evidence-based design and Lean methodologies to inform design decisions through data, driven by user experience, and aligned with clinical outcomes and long-term organizational goals. The resulting design, centered around a universal treatment room, responded to current demands while supporting long-term flexibility through operational efficiency and adaptability, ensuring project resilience into the future.

Client: Froedtert ThedaCare Health
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Study Team
HGA: Renae Rich, Tanya Chadha, Paul Widlarz, Brent Peterson, Wesley Churchill
Froedtert ThedaCare Health: Annette Roehl

Beyond the Build: Post-Occupancy Evaluation of a Student Union Transformation

This post-occupancy evaluation explored the impact of recent renovations to the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM) Student Union, aiming to assess how the design interventions advanced student engagement, well-being, and sense of community. Using surveys, focus groups, onsite observations, and simulations, the study captured increased satisfaction, utilization, and sense of pride and belonging. Findings established a baseline for ongoing improvements and underscored the value of inclusive and adaptive campus spaces that foster student success.

Client: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Study Team
HGA: Adaheid Mestad, Mahshid Jalalian, Bryanna Benicia, Kevin Allebach
UWM: Mike Schmit, Eric Jessup-Anger, Brandon James, Dave Hoffman

Bridging Design and Behavior: Understanding and Promoting Sustainable Practices In a Passively Cooled Housing Building

This study explored the human and building factors shaping resident decisions to better align design intent with how occupants use a passively cooled housing building at an environmental learning center. A mixed-methods approach revealed resident choices were driven by a complex interplay of knowledge gaps, conflicting needs, and social dynamics. The findings informed practical, co-created strategies that offered a starting point for using design to encourage pro-environmental behaviors in high-performance buildings.

Client: Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center
Location: Finland, MN
Study Team
HGA: Danya Hakky, Renae Rich, Ariane Laxo
Loughborough University: Debra Lilley
Wolf Ridge: Peter Smured, Nathan Engstrom

Learn more about how Research & Innovation at HGA shape design.

Previous Awards