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| Cover Story |
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| Growing With Its Clients |
| Cover Story | |
| By Brian Salgado | |
| Thursday, 01 September 2005 | |
 HKS Architects Inc. has nine offices throughout the United States as well as three international locations as its repeat clients grow through globalization. In the 1970s, HKS grew alongside the boom in Texas business, especially in the real estate, banking and oil industries. In the 1980s, healthcare facilities needed the company’s services just as offices felt the brunt of a slow economy. The ’90s propelled HKS into a nationwide company as the education and sports markets grew. When another commercial bust hit in the late ’90s, healthcare was back, and HKS shifted its focus once again. Today, HKS has nine offices throughout the United States as well as three international locations as its repeat clients grow through globalization. HKS says it is the top provider of architecture in the world by square feet, and the company has held the same position in the United States for 12 years, according to Ralph Hawkins. Hawkins, who took over as president and CEO of HKS in 2001, ranks healthcare as the company’s most productive sector, followed in order by hospitality, commercial, sports, government and education. “We have about 2 to 3 percent of the whole construction market nationally,” Hawkins says. Harwood Smith and his wife, Kate, founded the firm in 1939. Smith moved up from homes to small commercial buildings, and took on design/build projects for the military during World War II, according to Hawkins. After the war, Smith began his commercial practice in downtown Dallas and attempted to diversify HKS’s portfolio of work. “He knew the more types of buildings he could design the stronger the firm would be through the economic cycles,” Hawkins says. In 1983, the second generation of the firm wanted to expand the company’s growth geographically and by market type. They approached Smith about expanding the company. Smith discussed it with his wife, who talked him into diversifying the firm. Soon after, Hawkins says HKS almost doubled in size to 450 employees and grew nationally with its repeat clientele. HKS has locations in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Los Angeles; Salt Lake City; Atlanta; Tampa and Orlando, Fla.; Richmond, Va.; San Francisco; and Washington D.C. “We have a lot of repeat clients, and we served them out of Dallas, but we wanted locally to continue servicing their needs,” Hawkins says. The company is growing globally as its clientele moves into the world market in various sectors. HKS has international offices in London, Mexico City and Macou, China. “We are being forced into globalization by our clients because they are being led into globalization,” Hawkins says. To nurture its growth, HKS invested in software that gives clients a 3-D image of its final product. Hawkins says the HKS Arch engine is 100 times faster than conventional 3-D programs. “Our clients are impressed that we can translate their architecture through this program, walking them through their facilities,” Hawkins says. HKS is working on retaining employees by becoming a preferred employer in its regions. Hawkins says the company is putting emphasis on training and education programs to facilitate loyalty to HKS. He adds HKS’s turnover rate has dropped in half since focusing on retention. “The longer we hold on to the staff and train them, the better the firm will be,” Hawkins says. “How do you staff projects? How do we train people on a project? We are addressing that.” The company currently trains its employees through three leadership programs. HKS offers weekly programs on building materials, brown bags on product presentations and also has a learning center in Dallas that seats 100 people for orientation and overall architectural and related training. HKS also has an intranet-based testing system as a refresher course for its employees. Hawkins says an issue or problem can be relayed from the field and placed on the intranet. All employees, including upper management, are asked to give their solutions. No one is required to take the tests, but, Hawkins says, it affects raises and bonuses. “I think it is a good way to educate the firm as a whole,” Hawkins says. Earning Honors HKS has been honored as a top company from an employee standpoint. In 2004, the Society of Human Resources named HKS as one of the top-25 places to work in the country. The Dallas Business Journal named HKS headquarters to its top-15 best places to work for a medium-sized firm, and in June it was a top-20 finalist for the “Best Overall Company” in the second annual American Business Awards in New York. “The firm is structured to allow its people to grow within the company, resulting in a better employee satisfaction rate,” Hawkins said in a statement. “On average, most of HKS staff has been with the firm for 10 years or more.” The American Business Awards, known as the “Stevie” Awards, is the first national, all-encompassing business awards program highlighting great performances in the workplace, according to HKS. The awards honor companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them with an emphasis on outstanding leadership, innovation, perseverance, creativity and integrity. Community Outreach For the last three years, HKS and the city of Dallas have hosted The Business of Design program to enhance the technical and managerial skills of minorities, women and small local consultants, Hawkins says. The interaction sessions, presented by professionals in their respective fields, have discussed effectively pursuing work in various sectors, planning and setting up a project management program, managing quality and controlling risk, and successfully closing out projects. “Many small firms can’t afford to host formal education services,” Hawkins says. “So we bring it to them.” Hawkins says HKS benefits from helping these firms just as much as the recipients of the assistance because of the networking capabilities. “It is benefiting the firms to show accounting practices and how to conduct business,” he says. “But we benefit because as large projects come along, we have strong relationships with these firms and we can bring them onboard. It works both ways, so it is a win-win situation.” This May, HKS reunited with a number of the graduates of The Business of Design at a reunion, which featured members of the 2003 and 2004 programs. “The conference series and this reunion serve as a win-win for all of us,” Raymond Basye, president of Basye and Associates and a seminar attendee, said in a statement. “It allows the city of Dallas to provide a platform of learning, HKS to share their experiences and attendees to meet and learn from both of these respected Dallas institutions. It also highlights that both entities care about small businesses and are proponents of their growth and profitability.” In a statement, Hawkins said more than 150 people have attended the Business of Design conference since it began in 2002. He also said HKS was already reaping the benefits of being involved with the program. “We are already forging relationships with many of the firms on projects that occurred during the previous sessions,” Hawkins says. “We hope that this program, working with the energetic City of Dallas Business Development and Procurement Services Management and Resource LINK teams, will continue to serve as a catalyst for cultivating new relationships and creating more work opportunities.” Forest E. Turner, director of business development and procurement for the city of Dallas, echoed HKS’ commitment. “We are committed to delivering innovative programs like The Business of Design that help develop local businesses and impact the local economy,” Turner said in a statement. “By partnering with HKS, we have provided valuable information to businesses that will help them increase their job opportunities and overall vendor participation.” Sending Help Overseas HKS also takes pride in helping the men and women who are stationed overseas. In January, Operation HKS Cares was launched to support U.S. troops. The company collected supplies including books, camper-style food, cards, stationery, toiletries and snack kits to send overseas. HKS also produced a 20-minute DVD with greetings from the HKS staff and sent one with each care package. The goods were then packed into large boxes and shipped to relatives of HKS employees serving in the military. “Working with the firm’s families and relatives located overseas, HKS employees were given the opportunity to say thank you to the brave troops while bringing the comforts of home a little closer,” HKS said in a statement. HKS also supports families through the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and the Children’s Medical Center Adopt-a-Family programs. Each family participating in the Adopt-a-Family program has a child who is being treated for a chronic, critical or terminal illness, HKS says. Every year, the hospitals identify the families who are most in need of this service. |
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