HKS launches regenerative design team

Image: courtesy of HKS

HKS has launched a new Regenerative Design team, deepening the firm’s commitment to a systems-thinking approach to design that aims to create net-positive impact for people, planet and ecosystems across projects and practices. 

“Regenerative design reflects a necessary shift in how we think about the built environment—moving beyond reducing harm to creating places that actively restore and strengthen ecological and community systems,” said Tony Montalto, HKS Chief Design Officer. “We have an opportunity to design places that give more than they take. By establishing a dedicated regenerative design team, HKS is expanding our ability to create buildings and environments that help ecosystems recover, strengthen communities and generate lasting value for our clients and the people they serve.” 

The new HKS team brings together expertise in regenerative design, net-positive projects and nature-based solutions. With their HKS colleagues, they will continue the firm’s exploration of a holistic approach to design that considers how buildings, landscapes and communities can respond to climate, restore habitats, generate clean energy, balance water cycles, sequester carbon, support material health and circularity, and expand wellness, equity and access. 

“Regenerative design begins with asking better questions, those ‘what if’ questions that can lead to regenerative outcomes,” said Yasemin Kologlu, Director of Regenerative Design at HKS. “When we take the time to truly understand a place—its climate, ecosystems and communities—we start to see opportunities that traditional approaches or checklists often miss. Our goal is to translate those insights into designs that improve people’s lives while contributing to the long-term positive impact for people and the environments around.” 

Rather than a one-size-fits-all formula or checklist, the Regenerative Design team will collaborate closely with HKS project teams to shape strategies tailored to each project’s context and opportunities. Their approach begins with climate-responsive passive design and extends through design and delivery by strategically aligning vision, rigor and positive outcomes through the life of a project. 

Working across scales, disciplines and typologies, the team will help unlock connections between natural and built systems. With their expertise, HKS will continue to explore how design can create positive impact and contribute to healthier ecosystems, stronger communities and a more resilient future over time.