Workplace Design
Workplace environments designed to support performance, flexibility, and company identity
a trusted partner to brands since 1995.
Heitler Houstoun Architects partners with organizations to create workplace environments that go beyond standard layouts.
What We Focus On
At HHA, workplace design begins with how space shapes behavior. We design offices and studios as intentional environments which balance openness and focus, movement and pause, collaboration and individual work in order to support how teams operate today.
Our work goes beyond planning efficient layouts. We consider proportion, materiality, light, and sequence to create spaces that feel cohesive, perform well, and express a clear identity. Each project is an opportunity to translate culture into space, crafting workplaces that are both functional and experiential.
Whether delivering a new build-out, repositioning an existing office, or developing a flexible work environment, we integrate design thinking with technical execution, carrying a clear design vision from concept through construction Our approach integrates layout design, material selection, and project management into a single, accountable process.
years of expertise.
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brands supported.
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states worked in.
Common problems we solve
Inefficient Space Planning
Offices often prioritize density over experience, resulting in poor circulation and underperforming space. We design layouts that are deliberate by aligning spatial organization with how teams work, move, and interact.
Generic Office Interiors
Standard build-outs lack identity and fail to differentiate. We approach each project as an opportunity to create a distinct environment by using material, light, and form to express brand and culture in a meaningful way.
Misalignment Between Design, Budget & Timeline
Projects lose clarity when design ambition, cost, and schedule are not aligned. We develop design solutions with a clear understanding of their implications, supporting informed decisions and maintaining continuity from concept through execution.
Balancing Public & Private Functions
Workplaces that combine client-facing areas with day-to-day operations require careful calibration. We organize space to create a seamless experience, ensuring both functions perform without compromise.
Uncertainty in Real Estate Decisions
Selecting a space without understanding its potential introduces risk. We provide test fits and early design studies that translate requirements into spatial scenarios, informing lease decisions with clarity and confidence.
How we work with you
01
Pre-Lease Due Diligence
We engage early to support real estate decision-making by reviewing lease work letters for scope gaps and potential risks, and developing fit plans and programming studies that test how your requirements align with the space. This phase provides clarity before commitments are made.
02
Project Team Organization
We help assemble and structure the broader project team, including engineers, general contractors for bidding, and specialty vendors. Our role is to establish clear roles, align expectations, and create a coordinated framework for collaboration from the outset.
03
Documentation
We produce clear, thorough drawing sets that support both regulatory approvals and construction pricing. This includes coordination with consultants to meet applicable codes and filing requirements, as well as detailed documentation for contractor bidding, ensuring the scope is well-defined and minimizing gaps that lead to cost and schedule issues.
04
Construction Coordination & Design Continuity
During construction, we remain engaged to support the realization of the design: reviewing progress, responding to questions, and coordinating with the project team to maintain alignment with the approved documents and overall design intent.
Why clients choose Heitler Houstoun Architects
Our work integrates space planning with a strong design vision, coordinating architecture, interiors, and technical execution into a cohesive whole. We are equally focused on how a workplace functions and how it is perceived, by creating environments that are efficient, expressive, and enduring.
Clients value our ability to carry a clear design intent from concept through construction, supported by thoughtful documentation, disciplined coordination, and a structured, well-managed process.
Office & Studio Design
Office and studio design for small-to-mid-size companies focuses on creating functional workspaces that support collaboration, focus work, and company culture. We design open office layouts, private offices, meeting rooms, and support spaces that balance efficiency with employee experience. Space planning addresses circulation, acoustic control, and flexibility for future growth.
Showroom & Coworking Spaces
Showroom design requires balancing client-facing presentation areas with back-of-house work zones. We create environments that showcase products while maintaining functional workspace. Coworking space planning involves designing flexible membership areas, private offices, meeting rooms, and shared amenities that accommodate diverse users and evolving needs in a hospitality-first environment.
Space Planning & Test Fits
Test fit studies help companies evaluate whether a potential office space meets their needs before signing a lease. We provide space planning analysis showing desk capacity, meeting room allocation, and support spaces. Test fits inform lease negotiations and construction budgets, reducing risk during real estate decisions.
Recent Workplace Projects
Questions we often get
What level of support can be offered pre-lease, to make sure the space is the right fit?
We guide early-stage planning through test fits, lease review, and feasibility analysis by helping clients understand what’s possible, what it will take to deliver, and where risks may exist. This upfront clarity allows for informed decision-making and reduces downstream uncertainty.
Will this space truly work for us-and reflect who we are?
Our design process balances performance and identity. We create environments that support how teams function day-to-day while expressing brand, culture, and long-term vision through thoughtful, cohesive design.
Beyond design, how involved will HHA be in the full process?
We approach project management as leadership. By coordinating consultants, contractors, and stakeholders, we bring structure, transparency, and calm to a complex process, ensuring alignment from concept through construction.
What type of clients do you typically work with?
We partner with both tenants and landlords, tailoring our approach to each client’s goals.
Tenants: We support workplace strategy, test fits, and full design and build-out execution. We guide projects from early decision-making through construction.
Landlords: We design spec suites and common areas that enhance building appeal and help attract and secure tenants.
