Table of Contents
1 Cover
3 Coming to HOK Looking for My Place Closer to Home The Interview Big Dreams Impressions of HOK My First Assignment
4 SECTION ONE: THE FOUNDERS, 1955–1982 CHAPTER 1: The Problem with Traditional Firms Why St. Louis? Hellmuth & Hellmuth George Francis Hellmuth The Depression-Proof Firm Notes CHAPTER 2: A New Kind of Architecture Firm Starting HYL/LHY Gyo Obata George Kassabaum Forming HOK HOK's Early Years Notes CHAPTER 3: Innovate Early and Often Marketing Innovation Design Innovation Production Innovation Start-to-Finish Innovation Core Boards Innovation Staffing Innovation Ownership Innovation Notes CHAPTER 4: Company Culture Is Crucial Mutual Respect Considerate Communication Taking Care of Employees Family Atmosphere Storytelling The HOK Name St. Louis Office Fire Notes CHAPTER 5: Growth: Project Offices Planting a Flag in San Francisco Launching in Washington, DC Landing in Dallas Notes CHAPTER 6: Many Jobs, One Firm Going to Pittsburgh Settling in San Francisco Working in Alaska San Francisco Projects CHAPTER 7: Managing Versus Leading Becoming a Project Manager Managing Versus Leading Case Study: Moscone Center HOK as Matchmaker Note CHAPTER 8: Transitions: Succession Planning Naming Successors Adding HOK New York George Hellmuth Triumphs George Kassabaum Dies Note
5
SECTION TWO: THE OBATA ERA, 1982–1993
CHAPTER 9: A Designer Leads the Firm
Building Buildings Again
Rise of Project Specialists
The New Marketing
The HOK Matrix
Growing Pains
Signs of Trouble
Bringing in the Pros
CHAPTER 10: Run Toward Trouble
Becoming Managing Principal
Run Toward Trouble
Collecting Money
Working in the Middle East
CHAPTER 11: Growth: Project Specialists
Lessons