2025 Staff Promotions

We are pleased to share the following staff promotions:

Gavin Hughes is promoted to Design Director – EMEA

Gavin’s experience and creative global perspective elevates the design team’s ability to approach projects from multiple angles and reinforce the progressive thinking culture at HLW. Gavin has provided design leadership and guidance not only in London, but as a public advocate for design through speaking engagements, design juries, and in featured publications. He will continue to define and drive the future of design excellence at HLW.

Kate Caruso is promoted to Design Director – NJ Studio

Based in the firm’s New Jersey studio, Kate is known for her thoughtful design approach and ability to develop cohesive, holistic visions tailored to her clients’ unique needs. She is deeply committed to solving design challenges with creativity and clarity. Kate leads with empathy and insight, elevating the creative output of the New Jersey office while fostering a collaborative studio culture. As HLW’s Higher Education Practice Leader, she has expanded the firm’s footprint across the New Jersey market, building trusted relationships with key academic institutions

Lorene Frankel is promoted to Director of Ark

Lorene has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, whether leading complex engagements or offering support to her peers. Her deep knowledge of HLW and passion for workplace strategy and its impact on shaping our design solutions have been instrumental in shaping Ark’s culture. As the Director of Ark – HLW’s Strategy team – Lorene’s role entails meeting and understanding client needs prior to any design work through early engagement, active listening, and synthesizing information about how people learn, interact, and work.

Kirsty Angerer is promoted to Development Director – Specialty Studios

Kirsty Angerer has spent over 10 years working internationally in the Workplace & Real Estate sectors. Her experience lies in measuring and analysing the experience of employees in their places of work. She is a Certified Professional Ergonomist, a Fitwel Ambassador, and an active member in the WELL and CoreNet communities, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing people’s health and optimising their performance through evidence-based design and policy interventions. As Development Director, Kirsty will support our leadership in shaping the strategic direction and driving growth across all HLW’s Specialty Studios.

Additional Promotions

Congratulations to our new Senior Associates: James Petras, Jennifer Louis, Samantha Kane, Dana Gamliel, Seth Schopis, and Stephanie Haedrich.

Congratulations to our new Associates: Jeffrey Wong, Rhea Roy Thomas, Sophia Le, Valeriya Velyka, Jenifer Duong, Xinru Liu, Katrin Tigas Costa, and Erica Escobar.