2015 Economic Impact Awards 6-15 Years in Operation Finalist: H Design Group LLC

H Design Group LLC doesn’t specialize, and it doesn’t want to.

“I really feel that’s what makes our firm unique,” says Brent Stevens, principal and architect. “We like to do a little of everything.

It makes us recession-proof, and it helps our staff not get pigeon holed.”

During the Great recession, H Design didn’t lay off a single employee and actually grew a little bit because the firm was able to work in industries where work was still available, Stevens says.

H Design was founded 15 years ago by Rob Haik in his basement, financed with $10,000 in personal savings. Haik tried to recruit Stevens – they had worked together at two other firms – but Stevens wasn’t ready to make the leap.

He soon changed his mind, however, and today the firm has three principals, 14 employees and annual growth of about 10 percent.

“It’s been a pretty steady growth over the years,” Stevens says.

“We definitely don’t grow (the firm) to accommodate workload. We grow as we find good people to hire.”

In 2002, H Design moved into its own building, creating a distinctive first impression for clients and a collaborative, relaxing space for employees.

The office is unplugged, allowing for ease of movement throughout the day and according to project.

 “We’re really trying to focus our efforts internally on our culture,” Stevens says. “We are a big family here. We probably have to kick people out of here just because we all have a passion.”

That passion leads to repeat business: About 90 percent of H Design’s projects come from clients with which the firm has already worked.

“We don’t like to settle for easy, standard designs,” Stevens says. “We’re designers, and we really pride ourselves on the designs we do. We’re always looking for fresh ideas in designs, and we try to carry that through.”

Those ideas are seen all over Springfield, from Springfield First Community Bank on South Glenstone Avenue to the O’Reilly Family Event Center at Drury University to the Fieldhouse Sportcenter on West Kingsley Street.

In 2008, H Design drew up southwest Missouri’s first Gold-certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building – the Discovery Center addition Stevens says.

H Design is also the prime architect behind the new and long-awaited City Utilities’ downtown bus transfer station going up along College Street on North Main Avenue.

The $4 million facility, which will replace the current building on McDaniel Street, has broken ground and is expected to be completed next year, Stevens says.

“This facility will be state-of-the-art. It will be pretty cool,” he adds. “It is truly exciting to assist in the continued growth and evolution of central Springfield. Together, we’ve designed a facility that serves not just its patrons but the environment surrounding them.”

With a concentration on the Queen City, H Design is working on about $100 million in construction projects, which, in turn, feed the local economy through all the associated jobs, Stevens says.

Last year, H Design brough in $2.3 million in revenue.

“Ninety percent of our projects are in Springfield right now. This is our home. This is our community,” Stevens says. “We have a focused, conscious effort on the development of Springfield.”
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