Women Working at HDR's Dallas Office

Women in Architecture & Design

Elevating Women in the Industry

From designers and planners to principals and directors, women in architecture and design at HDR embody a wealth of expertise and experience that enriches every aspect of our employee-owned firm. 

Individually and collectively, these women are catalysts for change. They inspire us to redefine our industry, reshaping how we approach business today and paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic future. Their dedication and ambition have not only led to their own paths of success but have helped lay the foundation for generations of women to thrive. 

Celebrating the diverse talents and achievements of the women in our architecture practice is a testament to their invaluable contributions as leaders, innovators and visionaries shaping the future of our industry.

Women Inspiring Change

Our Women's Employee Network Group provides an inclusive and empowering environment that fosters community, learning and meaningful dialogue to help us better understand how policies and practices can improve and grow our company for the future.

Women at the Helm Across Our Practice

professional headshot of lois wellwood
Global Interior Design Director
Kate Diamond
Civic Design Director
Cate Cowlishaw
Regional Managing Principal
Kaia Nesbitt
Urban Design, Planning & Landscape Architecture Director
Elizabeth Von Lehe, HDR
Design & Brand Strategy Principal

Transformative Projects Led by Women

Designed under the direction of Elizabeth Von Lehe, Turf Design’s Experience Center in downtown Chicago is a workplace, showroom, and event space custom-designed with their product: artful acoustics for welcoming spaces.

Yunnan Allen, Kate Diamond, Valerie DeLoach, Elizabeth Von Lehe, Adeline Morin and Susan Suhar led a design solution that engages the public through educational experiences, prioritizes employee well-being and returns value for public investment with cost-conscious, sustainability goals.

Valerie DeLoach's expertise helped enable an existing furniture showroom at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood to transform into an environment equipped with new, light-filled laboratories, clean rooms and offices to support the latest advancements in medicine. 

Industry Experts: From Design Conceptualization to Project Delivery

Jeri Brittin professional portrait
Social and Behavioral Sciences Director

Expanding the Practice: Winning Work and Elevating Brand Awareness

Barbara Miszkiel
Director, Health
Canada

Women Making Headlines

Meet Our Women Managing Principals

An action-oriented leader with a track record of providing excellent client service, Michelle is known for improving collaborative processes, mentoring staff and connecting with communities throughout the Southwest and surrounding region.

Marnie champions collaboration among a multidisciplinary team of architects, planners, interior designers and landscape architects to deliver inspired places and spaces in Seattle and beyond in the Pacific Northwest.

With deep industry knowledge and an extensive client network across numerous markets, not only has Cate forged a career focused on business development, architectural operations and practice leadership but she is passionate about advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. 

April leads by example to help her team meet their personal and professional goals while producing designs that improve communities. Her wide breadth of knowledge and keen design sensibilities enable her to orchestrate all team components.

With a deep admiration for design and how it contributes to creating spaces that inspire and delight, Elizabeth is particularly interested in synthesizing a building’s context with its programmatic needs to connect to its surroundings and foster interaction and collaboration.

Collaborating with a variety of principals and leaders to provide the highest level of quality and service to our staff and clients, Sangeetha focuses on all aspects of the delivery process to strengthen relationships across Canada and our company globally.

Grace delivers design excellence and technical quality to our clients in Chicago and beyond, and has a particular interest in how public-private partnership and interdisciplinary collaboration can help create meaningful spaces and experiences that often defy traditional building or landscape typologies.

Passionate about community-driven projects and the impact of design on communities, Julianne's focus on building strong relationships contributes to developing new business and increasing our presence in the greater Denver region.

Visionary Women Celebrated for Career Achievements

Sally Lee, an education and science associate principal based in Manhattan, was named to Building Design + Construction’s 40 under 40 Class of 2023, for her career achievements, passion for the design profession, involvement with industry organizations and service to her community. 

Jill Bergman, a senior health strategist based in San Francisco, was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows, one of AIA's highest distinctions, for her excellence in work and contributions to architecture and society at large. 

Melissa Moseley, a senior interior designer based in Virginia, was elevated to the American Society of Interior Designers’ College of Fellows, the highest honor bestowed on less than 1% of ASID membership, for embodying the organization’s core values of advocacy, community, design excellence and thought leadership.