National employee-owned architecture, engineering and consulting firm RS&H has acquired Colorado Springs-based architecture and planning firm HB&A.
Colorado Springs Fire Station #23 opens doors
Colorado Springs, CO - Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) officials cut the ribbon on Fire Station #23 on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 during an open house event for the community.
The new station merges two city services into one building, radio repair shop for the entire city fleet (police, fire and other) and fire station coverage for the southeast part of the city.
This much-need station will respond to calls in the Knob Hill and surrounding neighborhoods, it has already made a positive impact, shortening response times in the area.
The event was attended by Mayor John Suthers, and three city councilmen, Wayne Williams, Tom Strand and Dave Donelson and hosted by Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal.
Welcome James H.
Say hello to James Hodges, the newest senior planner at HB&A. James is a retired Air Force Colonel and a Professional Civil Engineer with more than 30 years of engineering & management experience at all organizational levels, including the job as executive leader at several military bases and engineering organizations. He founded Hodges Consulting, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business engineering firm in 2017 and recently retired from that position to join HB&A.
When James isn’t at the office he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking and biking in and around Colorado Springs. Welcome to the team James! We’re glad you’re here!
Say hello to Tara!
Tara joined HB&A in April. She has a bachelor's degree of Interdisciplinary Studies in Business & Urban Society and a Master of Urban & Regional Planning, Land Use & Urban Design both from the University of New Orleans.
With five years of community planning experience for the Air Force, Marines, Navy and Defense Logistics Agency, Tara’s is ready to hit the ground running at HB&A. Her skills in charrette facilitation as well as stakeholder outreach and interviews make her a valuable addition to our planning team.
In her free time Tara enjoys kayaking the lakes and reservoirs of Colorado.
Welcome to the HB&A team, Tara!
Welcome Fernanda!
In February, HB&A welcomed architectural designer Fernanda to the team. She has a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Fernanda brings hands-on experience of working with clients and other architects to HB&A. Her people skills coupled with her technical savvy will be an asset for HB&A for government and private sector clients.
Currently she is working towards her NCARB certification and has already completed approximately 3,000 hours towards her architectural license. She’s excited to dig into projects, learn from others and share her knowledge with the team.
In her free time Fernanda enjoys baking and cooking for her family. She also has been known to participate in roller derby.
We’re glad you’re here Fernanda!
Don Higginbotham
Don L. Higginbotham
1929-2020
We are sad to announce that HB&A founder Donald Lee Higginbotham passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2020, in Bentonville, Arkansas at the age of 90. In 1971, Don started the architecture and planning firm Higginbotham and Associates, the precursor to HB&A.
Under Don’s leadership, Higginbotham and Associates worked on major architectural projects and urban planning and geospatial technology ventures around the world. Don was a cautious risk-taker and never backed down from competition. He would often go after jobs with his 30-person firm that only companies with thousands of employees could accomplish; crafting coalitions of specialty firms that complemented his design skills to bring in the work. That strategy served him well over the years resulting in a worldwide reputation for quality, on-time, and below-budget projects.
In 1991, Ron Briggs joined Don as a partner and changed the company name to Higginbotham, Briggs & Associates. Don retired from an active role in the firm ten years later, leaving a legacy of strength and dedication to his clients. After retiring, he set up shop at home to serve his friends and neighbors with architectural services on a part-time basis.
Don was charming, generous, and friendly, but he was also a tough negotiator. He knew the value of hard work and expected his employees to follow his example of long hours and achieving desired goals. Though he has been gone from HB&A for many years, his influence continues to drive our commitment to service, quality, and innovation.
We will miss him.
Adolfo Valles joins HB&A
Welcome to HB&A Adolfo!
Meet Adolfo, our newest member of the HB&A architectural design team. Adolfo joins HB&A from his home state of New Mexico.
In his new position at HB&A Adolfo will be creating renderings, preparing construction documents, recording field measurements, and more. His diverse work experience and natural design ability will be an asset to HB&A.
In his spare time, Adolfo looks forward to exploring Colorado on his road bike and getting to know the Colorado Springs community.
Welcome to the HB&A team, Adolfo!
The HB&A team portrait at Casa Mundi
The HB&A team walked over to the newly opened Casa Mundi in early March (before social distancing was required) for a staff photoshoot with Ethan of Flyby Aerial Imagery. Ethan did a great job capturing the staff, Pikes Peak, and the facade of Casa Mundi all in one 25-second video. Take a look!
HB&A now a certified Women-Owned Small Business
Pictured L-R, the owners of HB&A: Tino Leone, Steve Powell, Carrie Higgs, Amy Umiamaka, Andrea Barker, Mike Richardson, and Aaron Briggs.
HB&A was recently certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the U.S Small Business Administration. The new ownership structure builds on HB&A’s 48 years of designing and planning excellence and opens up new opportunities to compete for government contracts that have been set aside specifically for WOSBs as well as the potential for supporting larger firms on bigger contracts.
Principals Amy Umiamaka, Carrie Higgs, and Andrea Barker recently invested enough in the company for it to be qualified as a majority woman-owned firm.
“The transition to a woman-owned small business allows us to serve as role models in the architecture/engineering/construction industry - and more importantly here in our community,” says Andrea Barker, Principal and HB&A’s Director of Business Development.
Our commitment to diversity does not stop at the top. We have an equal number of women and men in technical positions. Compared to the 2016 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics nationwide average where women accounted for only 14 percent of full-time professionals in architecture and engineering.
According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), the number of women architects continues to grow. As of 2018, women account for nearly half of the students in architecture schools in the U.S.; they make up about 40% of those taking licensing exams, an increase of nearly 50 percent in 20 years.
All three women partners are actively involved in the day-to-day operations here at HB&A. Their leadership is apparent in their work and their involvement in the local community and beyond.
Amy Umiamaka started at HB&A in 1993, she was promoted to Principal in 2007. Notable work includes planning and architecture projects for the Air Force at Schriever, Peterson, Buckley, and FE Warren Air Force Bases, as well as the Air Force Academy. Most recently Amy has been working to document the requirements for the new USSpaceCom Headquarters Facility and will provide conceptual design once the location is finalized. Amy currently occupies the office of Secretary for the Pikes Peak Post of the Society for Military Engineers (SAME).
Carrie Higgs started at HB&A in 2002, she was promoted to Principal in 2014. Higgs has worked with the United States Air Force at Royal Air Force bases Croughton, Mildenhall, and Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, as well as the U.S. Department of Defense around the country and the world. Carrie’s current work includes projects for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Andrea Barker joined HB&A in 1992, she was promoted to Director of Business Development in 1998. In 2007 Barker became a principal. Andrea is part of HB&A’s management team and leads the effort to generate new business. Currently, Andrea is a member of the board at the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Council and Pike Ride. Andrea has also served on the following Pikes Peak area boards: The Culture Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR), the Greenway Fund, and Innovations in Aging Collaborative.
Housing in Colorado Springs
Our own James McMurray (representing the Urban Land Institute) and Casa Mundi's Darsey Nicklasson discussed housing in Colorado Springs with Shannon Brinias on KRDO Newsradio's "The Extra". Take a listen!
Darsey Nicklasson, Principal at DHN Planning & Development (Case Mundi and Blue Dot Place) and James McMurray, Executive Committee Member of Urban Land Institute and Senior Planner at HB&A.