328: Facing Crisis (and Thriving) with Patrick MacLeamy

Today is the second half of my interview with former HOK CEO Patrick MacLeamy.

In this episode of the Business of Architecture podcast, you'll discover how to lead through crises and challenges, as well as the essential building blocks for a long-lived company culture.

MacLeamy spent 50 years at HOK, which grew into one of the largest architecture and engineering firms in the world during his time there.

MacLeamy rose from Junior Designer to CEO of HOK and witnessed the firm’s growth from a single midwestern office to 27 locations across the globe offering architecture, interiors, engineering, planning and more.

MacLeamy joined HOK St. Louis in 1967, after which he helped establish the firm’s San Francisco outpost in 1970 - later becoming managing principal of that office. He joined HOK’s executive committee in 1995 and was named COO five years later. In 2003, HOK shareholders elected MacLeamy Chief Executive Officer.

He led the firm for 13 years. In 2016, MacLeamy chose a new CEO for HOK, remaining as Chairman for one more year before retiring —or as he likes to say, “repurposing.”

In this episode of Business of Architecture, MacLeamy shares hard-learned business lessons from his time at HOK and the principles that led this company to be the success that it is today.