A modern guide, 40 years in the making

For over 40 years, hcma has designed public buildings that inspire people and uplift communities. But these projects span years and for local government clients, the process can be overwhelming.

Faced with the same questions on each project—and witnessing clients make the same expensive mistakes—hcma wanted to guide clients through the process, help them avoid the common tripping hazards, and promote the importance of social value.

_{“This book truly captures the unique process that’s defined hcma as leaders in the public building design. It’s such a clear, effective format and reflects why we love working with your team so much.” - Chris Phillips, Principal, PFS Studio}

A helping hand, not a pointing finger

Designed to be as accessible and engaging as the buildings it inspires, Process offers advice on every stage of a project, from budgets and site planning to community engagement, accessible design, and measuring impact.

We worked closely with hcma’s leadership team and clients on every aspect of the book. We developed its overall structure, edited contributions, moderated interviews, and wrote supporting case study material. 

Built for life

Rather than feeling like a traditional coffee table architecture book, we wanted people to treat Process like a working manual. Keep it on your desk, take it to site, or thumb through when you’re deep into a project and stuck on a problem.

Going beyond the brief

While we created the book for elected officials and local government staff, it's equally useful for the next generation of architects. With that broader audience in mind, we then turned the book into an online course, taught by hcma's key leadership team.