Key Points
- HOK has named Peter Glasson as design principal for its Southeast U.S. practice based in Washington, D.C.
- Maren Moegel has been appointed regional leader of Planning based in San Francisco.
- Alex Burkholder has been named practice leader for HOK’s Seattle studio.
- The firm says the appointments are intended to strengthen design leadership, planning expertise and operational excellence across its U.S. studios.
- Susan Klumpp Williams, HOK’s co-CEO and managing principal for the Southeast U.S. practice, said the three leaders will help deepen client relationships and support innovative solutions.
Washington, D.C. (Evening Washington News) July 9, 2026 — HOK has announced three leadership appointments across its Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Seattle offices, naming Peter Glasson as design principal for its Southeast U.S. practice, Maren Moegel as regional leader of Planning and Alex Burkholder as practice leader for the Seattle studio. The firm said the move is aimed at strengthening its ability to serve clients through design leadership, planning expertise and operational excellence.
What did HOK announce?
HOK said the appointments cover leadership roles in design, planning and studio operations across major U.S. locations.
Peter Glasson will lead design direction for the Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Tampa and Miami studios as design principal for the Southeast U.S. practice.
Maren Moegel has been named regional leader of Planning across the western United States, while Alex Burkholder will oversee the Seattle studio as practice leader.
HOK said the changes are designed to support collaboration across its studios and improve how it serves clients nationwide.
Who is Peter Glasson?
Peter Glasson, AIA, NCARB, is taking on the role of design principal for HOK’s Southeast U.S. practice, with responsibility for the design direction of the Washington, D.C.,
Atlanta, Tampa and Miami studios. HOK says he leads multidisciplinary teams in delivering sustainable, design-forward solutions that turn client ideas into built projects.
According to the company, Glasson is known for a collaborative approach with clients and project teams, and his portfolio includes federal courthouses, justice centres, governmental headquarters, commercial offices, advanced manufacturing campuses, transit-oriented developments and complex transportation work.
HOK also noted his experience includes Brightline Miami Central, Denver Union Station and academic facilities for the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Naval Academy.
What is Maren Moegel’s role?
Maren Moegel, LEED AP, PMP, now leads HOK’s Planning group across the western United States. HOK said she brings more than 25 years of experience and works with diverse stakeholder groups to develop planning strategies that reflect local culture while supporting vibrant communities.
Her background includes mixed-use and transit-oriented developments, urban residential areas, cultural destinations and entertainment and innovation districts in the U.S., Europe, Central America and the Middle East.
HOK also said she is involved with the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association and KIT Link, and that she serves as a guest speaker, studio reviewer and thesis reviewer at UC Berkeley’s urban design programme.
Why was Alex Burkholder appointed?
Alex Burkholder, PMP and DBIA Associate, has been named practice leader for HOK’s Seattle studio, where he will oversee operations, business development and strategic growth initiatives. HOK said he is recognised for his collaborative team approach and has delivered sustainable design solutions across the Pacific Northwest and the western U.S. coast.
The firm said Burkholder’s project experience includes transportation and mobility initiatives, wayfinding systems and large-scale placemaking. His clients have included Sound Transit, San Francisco International Airport, Adobe, T-Mobile, Starbucks, the City of Bellevue and the Seattle Mariners, according to HOK.
What did HOK say about the appointments?
Susan Klumpp Williams, HOK’s co-CEO and managing principal for its Southeast U.S. practice, said the three leaders bring “exceptional leadership and expertise” to the firm.
She said their experience will help strengthen collaboration across studios, deepen client relationships and deliver innovative solutions that create lasting value for communities.
The company framed the appointments as part of a broader effort to reinforce leadership in key markets and across core practice areas.
HOK’s statement emphasised design, planning and operational strength rather than a change in business direction.
Why does this matter?
The appointments place experienced leaders in three important HOK locations: Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Seattle.
That matters because the firm is signalling that these studios will play a central role in its national work across civic, transport, planning and mixed-use projects.
For clients, the changes may mean more consistent leadership across regions and a stronger link between design, planning and delivery.
For the firm, the move appears aimed at supporting growth while maintaining a collaborative structure across its studios.
Background of the development
HOK is a global architecture and design firm with a long-running practice in major U.S. markets, including Washington, D.C.,
San Francisco and Seattle. Its leadership structure already includes co-CEO Susan Klumpp Williams, who has also been publicly associated with the Southeast U.S. studios.
The latest appointments follow the firm’s wider pattern of naming regional and practice leaders to support specific sectors and geographies.
That approach is consistent with HOK’s public emphasis on multidisciplinary work across civic, justice, transportation, planning and urban development projects.
Prediction
For clients working with HOK in the Southeast, western planning markets and Seattle, the appointments are likely to bring more focused leadership and clearer accountability at the studio level.
They may also help the firm respond more efficiently to larger, multi-market projects where design, planning and operations must be aligned.
For the wider architecture and development audience, the development suggests HOK is continuing to organise around regional expertise rather than a one-size-fits-all model.
That could support steadier project delivery and stronger client relationships if the new leaders carry out the roles as described by the firm.
