HBRA Architects, Inc.

About Us

HBRA Architects was founded in 1961 by James Wright Hammond, who conceived of the practice as an opportunity to reach clients in a personal manner and to interpret their needs and desires through direct participation in all phases of the design and construction process. Thomas Beeby resigned from a large firm to join Hammond in the creation of a smaller, more interactive office capable of addressing a wide range of project types and scope. Directors Michele Silvetti-Schmitt and William Kinane continue this tradition, sharing the belief that collaborative engagement between client and architect produce the finest buildings. HBRA has maintained its offices in Chicago since its founding. In an attempt to bring the sophistication of a large firm to a more personal manner of practice, the firm designs buildings for a range of purposes and scales; these include museums, performing arts centers, libraries, academic buildings, religious buildings, residences, office buildings, urban and campus master plans, and renovations of historic buildings. We are recognized for designing projects that require sensitivity to existing contexts, as well as an ability to translate design challenges at any scale into meaningful and enduring structures that are responsive to client needs and specific site conditions.