Designing For The Next 100 Years

As Global Director of Sustainability at HOK, Anica leads the firm that designed Mercedes-Benz Stadium—the NFL's first LEED Platinum-certified venue. From a Texas architecture student told she'd "never find a job" in sustainability to becoming one of the industry's most influential voices, her journey reflects the evolution of green building itself. "It's not sustainable if it's not for everyone," she insists, explaining how voluntary certifications eventually create cost parity that allows practices to be codified, bringing equity to all.

The conversation delves into HOK's meticulous approach to carbon reduction—examining everything from concrete mix designs to nursery trays for landscaping. Anica reveals the economic logic behind sustainability choices: "If I optimize the design and use less material, that costs less." This practical mindset helps explain how HOK has been carbon neutral since 2022 while working toward net-zero emissions in its designs by 2030. With refreshing candor, she connects today's cutting-edge practices to the firm's 1955 Midwestern roots, where resource efficiency and durability weren't trendy—they were just good business. For anyone interested in how buildings shape our climate future, this Earth Day conversation offers both technical depth and surprising accessibility.