New Outlooks with Tamar Ribnick

When I think about Community + Live, I think about the opportunity to have an impact. This is about the places where we live and gather, as individuals and as a community. As we look at the future of technology and AI, these community gathering spaces are going to be more important than ever to offer a sense of belonging.

From the ‘Community’ lens, libraries, community centers, nature centers, park structures, and civic buildings all contribute to shared experiences and values. From a ‘Live’ side, mixed-use development combining retail, housing, work, and hotels, likewise brings people together as a community. 

So much of our life is experienced through a computer screen today, and that’s why creating a physical presence is important. Architecture and design can nurture belonging—and that is what our Community + Live practice is about. 

Interior design is all about how people interact with built spaces and connect with each other. This human connection first led me to interior design as a profession, and that is how I approached leadership. The primary reason I come to work each day is because I love the people I work with and the design solutions we create together. The one thing I appreciate most about HGA is the connections we make with our project teams, clients, and local communities. So, when I think about leadership, I think about fostering those connections. 

The opportunity is to tap our existing expertise across eight market sectors. We can pull team members from a broad spectrum of experiences, basically creating the best team based on subject matter expertise, project type, location, and client relationship tailored to each pursuit. And because Community + Live encompasses a range of project types, we can grow in areas where we are well positioned. 

That is the exciting part. But it is also challenging because we cannot be everywhere at once. The strategy is to be intentional about growth and position our expertise to best serve clients. That will lead us into the future. 

What’s interesting about Community + Live is that it is, primarily, regionally based. We have great national perspective that we then layer into local communities and municipalities working in collaboration with developers. Our team members across 12 offices know their communities—they live and work there. This is about focusing on individual regions. When we build those local and regional relationships, we also build our national profile as a firm that truly understands the communities it serves. 

I wish I had something profound to say, but the one thing I look forward to is learning. In just the few months since taking this role, I have learned so much from my peers. I feel excited to continue to develop professionally. And as I mentioned earlier, the reason I love doing this is the people and the potential to build more connections and relationships. It fills my cup.