HOK’s Houston Studio Expands Interiors Leadership Team

Amy Nicholson and Micki Washington, AIA, RID, IIDA, LEED AP, have joined HOK’s growing interiors practice in Houston.

The two will work closely with Jim Halloran, director of design for the Houston interiors practice. Nicholson will serve as director of interiors, while Washington will be regional leader of WorkPlace for HOK’s Gulf Coast region.

“Amy and Micki bring deep experience, strong leadership skills and a collaborative approach to design that will be invaluable in serving our clients in Houston and beyond,” said Tom Polucci, AIA, IIDA, the firm-wide director of HOK’s global interiors group. “As our practice in Texas continues to grow, their well-established industry relationships and passion for forward-looking design will be instrumental.”

Nicholson has dedicated her career to business development and marketing in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. She is heavily involved in the design community in Houston, serving on the board for CoreNet’s Houston Chapter, and is active in the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and the Association of Commercial Real Estate Professionals (ACRP). At HOK, she will be responsible for client development, operations and talent development for the interiors team.

Washington has nearly two decades of experience managing workplace design teams for large corporate clients. She has helped shape headquarters environments for companies including ExxonMobil, Shell, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). Washington also brings expertise in managing and leading healthcare, hospitality and civic projects. In her new role she will focus on collaborating with corporate workplace clients to streamline communications between client decision makers and HOK’s design teams. She will also lead HOK’s WorkPlace practice in the region and assist with operations. Washington serves in a variety of industry leadership roles, including as a board member and committee chair for the Houston Chapter of International Facility Management Association (IFMA). She is a cofounder and current chair of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) interior architecture committee.

“We’re excited to welcome Amy and Micki to our leadership team in Texas,” said Jay Tatum, AIA, managing principal of HOK’s Houston and Dallas offices. “As we continue to build momentum in the region, their vision and strategic understanding of the marketplace will help solidify a culture of innovation.”

Current and recent interior design clients for HOK in the Houston area include Hines, Chevron, Costello, Crossmark and Tidewater.