Over the past several months, we’ve been actively engaging across the region—sharing ideas at conferences, breaking ground on new and exciting projects, and reaching key milestones that reflect the impact of our work. We’ve also continued building meaningful connections within the communities we serve, collaborating with partners and neighbors to shape places that respond to local needs and long-term growth. Learn more about how we’re making an impact across our region through our people, our projects, and our ongoing community involvement.
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CSAC Headquarters Renovation Moves Into Construction
The California State Association of Counties has started construction on its historic K Street headquarters renovation. Designed by HGA, the project will modernize the 115-year-old building with seismic upgrades, interior improvements, a new sixth floor, and an accessible roof deck.
AMFP NorCal’s 3rd Annual Behavioral Health Symposium
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Community Action with Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
For Earth Day, HGA San Jose partnered with the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy to support stewardship of the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens, a public greenway that brings together trails, gardens, wildlife, art, and community space in the heart of the city.
By volunteering locally, the San Jose team helped support a more welcoming and vibrant public space for the broader community — and got a little fresh air while they were at it. Not the worst way to spend Earth Day.
More is More: How Maximalism Can Bring New Relevance and Greater Equity to the Modern Workplace
Can the workplace move beyond minimalism to reflect the diversity of today’s workforce? HGA shows how maximalist design can turn office spaces into living expressions of equity, belonging, and story.
When most people picture a modern workplace, a familiar image comes to mind: open-plan spaces defined by neutral palettes and sleek, minimalist finishes. While these environments prioritize efficiency, they also reflect a sense of uniformity. For employees returning to the office more consistently after years of hybrid work, pared-back interiors can feel less like a reflection of company culture and more like an erasure of it. Simultaneously, companies are now more diverse than ever, with employee bases that represent a variety of backgrounds and unique perspectives to bring to the table.
As organizations across industries consider how to make the workplace meaningful again, designers have the opportunity to broaden the visual and cultural language of office design. Rather than overly simplifying spaces, designers can layer them up with color, pattern, history and personality. By embracing maximalist principles, the workplace can become a living framework for collaboration, empathy, respect and equity.
Read the full article here.
Sacramento Access Week Pilot Program: Rethinking Accessibility Through Hands-On Learning
Accessible design is often discussed through the lens of code: dimensions, clearances, path of travel requirements, restroom layouts, parking standards, and other technical criteria that shape the built environment. But while code knowledge is essential, designing truly accessible spaces also requires curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of how people experience buildings every day.
This June, HGA’s Sacramento office piloted Sacramento Access Week, an internal learning initiative developed in partnership with HGA’s Equity team and Certified Access Specialist team. The week was designed as a refresher on code and ADA requirements, while also creating opportunities for staff to engage more directly with accessibility through hands-on activities and shared learning.
Read more about the project here.