April HughesAIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+COWNER, MANAGING PRINCIPAL
April Hughes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C is President and Managing Principal at HPZS. A graduate of the University of Kansas, April was named 2014 AIA Chicago Dubin Family Young Architect of the Year, and in 2013 she was the recipient of the AIA Illinois John Wellborn Root Award. Hughes is leading her firm, starting a new chapter in its history as a woman-owned business by embarking on a path to design and preserve a sustainable future for the Chicago community. Most recently, April was named a DuPont Emerging Leader at the Design Futures Council Sustainability Summit and led the AIA Chicago Board of Directors as Board President in 2020.
As a champion of integrated design, April has extensive sustainable design experience, including four platinum-rated LEED projects and two net-zero energy designs in the City of Chicago – both firsts for the State of Illinois. Most recently, April completed the Midwest’s first certified PHIUS renovation, and is now leading the Midwest’s first full Living Building Challenge + PHIUS project. She also collaborated on the design of Chicago’s first greywater system for a single-family residence, and one of the first variable volume vent hood installations for a restaurant kitchen in the City. April has collaborated on the creation of the Smart Code Sustainability Module, the City of Chicago’s Public Building Commission Water Reuse Manual, and published Living Cities: Transforming APEC Cities into Models of Sustainability by 2030.
April’s award-winning work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and reviewed by architectural critic Blair Kamin, Chicago Realtor, Shore Magazine, the Living Well Network, ABC7News Chicago, Elle Décor and numerous other publications. She was a featured interview by Geoffrey Baer on WTTW-Chicago “Chicago Tonight,” and contributed to the best-selling Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature, as well as multiple editorials for Chicago Architect Magazine. April is currently a Director serving on the Board of Directors for Chicago’s oldest women’s domestic violence organization, Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), and is leading the committee building its new multimillion dollar shelter.
Henry ZimochAIASENIOR PRINCIPAL, DIRECTOR OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Henry Zimoch, AIA is a Senior Principal at HPZS, and is the firm’s Director of Historic Preservation. A Chicago-area native, he graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1975 while working for the firm of Dubin, Dubin Black & Moutoussamy. Leaving DDB&M in 1978 he spent three years working for Marvin Ullman & Associates, and another three years as a field superintendent for a boutique general contracting company. Henry opened his own office in the Monadnock Building in 1984 and in 1991 joined Wilbert Hasbrouck, James Peterson, and Jay Sirirattumrong to form HPZS.
In his 23 years with the firm, Henry has continued to develop his expertise in historic preservation, renovation, and restoration through his work on some of the Midwest’s most significant historic structures. These include the People’s Savings Bank by Louis Sullivan (winning both The President’s Historic Preservation Award and the Chicago Chapter AIA Honor Award), Soldier Field, the Civil War era Seneca Grain Elevator, and the John Christian Residence by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Henry Zimoch has been a member of the AIA for over 25 years. He has written several magazine articles regarding the firm’s work. He also accepts speaking engagements that focus on the architecture and history of Chicago.
Henry is an avid collector of Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School books and memorabilia that extend from the sublime (the rare 1972 Japanese book by Nobumichi Akashi Frank Lloyd Wright in Imperial Hotel) to the mundane (a box of matches from the Imperial Hotel with a faux FLLW design). He also enjoys backpacking and films, including the early history and development of film technology and the movie industry.
Kelly MoynihanAIA, NCARB, WELL AP, CPHC®, LEED GAPRINCIPAL
Kelly Moynihan, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP, LFA, CPHC®, LEED Green Associate, serves as a Principal at HPZS, a design leader that pursues the preservation and creation of carbon-free, equitable, high-performance projects.
A graduate of the University of Minnesota and Illinois Institute of Technology, she has been integrated in the Chicago Architecture Community for over ten years, making connections across communities. Kelly is a multi-faceted architect, licensed in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with experience in multiple project types and scales including affordable housing, K-12 and higher education, historic preservation/renovation, adaptive reuse, and commercial interiors.
Kelly is a certified Passive House Consultant and WELL Accredited Professional with an eye toward maximizing energy efficiency within building envelope assemblies and systems while creating beautiful, healthy places for humans. She has led projects that prioritize sustainability, achieving certifications such as LEED Platinum, Passive House Certified, and Living Building Challenge Petal Certification. Prestigious accolades include awards at the national level, AIA COTE Top Ten, the highest honor for sustainability (Keller Center, University of Chicago), and regional awards from AIA Chicago (Distinguished Building, Interior Architecture), Urban Land Institute (Vision Award – Excellence in Environmentally Sensitive Design and Community Engagement), AIA Illinois (Sullivan Award, Best Project of the Year), and Landmarks Illinois (Richard H. Driehaus Preservation Award, Adaptive Reuse).
Kelly is actively involved as a Director for the AIA Chicago Board, Co-Chair of the AIA Chicago Environment Knowledge Community, Board Member of the Passive House Alliance Chicago Chapter, and Illinois Green Alliance, developing educational programs/events focused on strategies for decarbonizing the built environment. Kelly reveres mentorship through AIA Chicago’s Bridge and WING programs, promoting the acceleration of women in architecture leadership inside and outside HPZS.
Travel and food are her passions; she is happiest sipping rose at her Wisconsin lake cabin or twirling Bolognese in the Italian Riviera.
Joseph JuhlAIA, NCARB, CPHC®TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
Joseph Juhl is Technical Director and Senior Project Manager at HPZS. With a wide-ranging portfolio and a strong emphasis on sustainability, he excels in residential, commercial, mixed-use, and historic preservation. Joe holds a Master of Architecture degree specializing in sustainable design from Judson University, complemented by a Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies from Moody Bible Institute. This unique blend of architectural expertise and cultural appreciation informs his approach to creating spaces that value history and society.
Understanding the profound impact of architecture on communities, Joe is committed to building meaningful connections between humans and their built environment. His dedication to sustainable practices is evident through his certification as a Certified Passive House Consultant, furthering HPZS’ commitment to designing energy efficient and carbon-free buildings.
Andrea SforzaAIA, CSIPRESERVATION PROJECT ARCHITECT, PROJECT MANAGER
Andrea is a Preservation Project Architect and Project Manager at HPZS with a specialization in existing buildings, more specifically renovations, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation. She has extensive experience in historic research, conditions assessments, and construction administration, bringing her creative vision and meticulous attention to detail to a wide range of projects, spanning institutional, commercial, residential, and religious buildings.
In addition to her role at HPZS, Andrea is an active member of the preservation community. She serves as Co-chair of AIA Chicago’s Historic Resources Knowledge Community, promoting preservation knowledge and best practice to architects in the Chicago region, is secretary for the Board of the Preservation Alumni of Columbia University, engaging with fellow alumni across the country, and is a member of Logan Square Preservation, engaging with preservation concerns in her local community.
SARAH PEIL WINSTEADAIAPROJECT MANAGER, PROJECT ARCHITECT
Sarah is an accomplished Project Manager and Project Architect with a passion for human-centric design and a unique blend of skills that make her an asset to the HPZS team. With five years of professional experience under her belt, Sarah is currently leading the Evanston Ecology Center renovation where she is applying her expertise in biophilic design to modernize a functional space for the community.
In addition to her work on the Ecology Center, Sarah is the Materials Specialist for the Yannell Conservation Habitat project: a first-of-its kind project on the shores of Lake Michigan that aims to be the first single family residence in the Midwest to achieve full Living Building Challenge and PHIUS certification. Recognized for her dedication to the architectural community, Sarah was named a 2018 Design Futures Council Scholar and is an active member of Chicago Women in Architecture and the American Institute of Architects.
Gwen StrickerAssoc. AIAPRESERVATION ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER, JUNIOR ASSOCIATE
Gwen is a gifted Preservation Architectural Designer and Junior Associate at HPZS, where she specializes in the restoration of existing buildings. With a keen focus on historical significance, Gwen excels in preservation, adaptive reuse, and master planning. She brings her expertise to a diverse range of projects, spanning institutional, residential, commercial, and religious buildings. Gwen’s skill set extends beyond design including architectural research, writing, thorough conditions assessments, as well as the preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations.
Additionally, Gwen has in-depth knowledge of preservation regulations at local, state, and national levels. Her commitment to the cause is further demonstrated through her active role as a Board member of the Calumet Heritage Partnership, in which she organizes and spearheads local preservation initiatives in the bi-state Calumet Region, located in Southeast Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, an area renowned for its rich industrial heritage.
Noelle KramerASSOCIATE AIAPROJECT MANAGER, PROJECT ARCHITECT
Noelle is a talented Project Manager and Project Architect at HPZS. A graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and Southern Illinois University, her experience spans a wide range of residential projects including single-family, multi-family, student, senior, and high-end housing. Furthermore, she has managed commercial interior, municipal, educational, and worship projects, from repositioning efforts in existing structures to ground-up constructions.
In 2020, she was selected to participate in AIA Chicago’s transFORM program that equips emerging professionals to be leaders. Noelle advocates for professional organizations, including AIA Chicago, Chicago Women in Architecture (CWA), and the Illinois National Organization of Minority Architects (iNOMA) and held various leadership positions, serving on the Board of Directors for AIA Eastern Illinois Chapter, Treasurer for iNOMA, and President for CWA.
Patrick VokatyAssoc. AIAASSOCIATE, PROJECT ARCHITECT
Patrick is an experienced Associate and Project Architect at HPZS, with a strong background in design and technical expertise gained from more than eight years in the industry. Beginning his career with assessing Chicago Public Schools for renovation, Patrick later specialized in medical and lab planning for healthcare facilities gaining extensive knowledge of operations. Additionally, he worked in various sectors including justice, education, aviation, and corporate interiors, while continuing to refine his skills from concept to construction administration.
With a passion for culture, Patrick leverages his artistic sensibility and interior design knowledge to create innovative and state-of-the-art design. He is dedicated to fostering inclusive and sustainable environments and has actively contributed to architecture firms’ office cultures through his involvement in social, mentoring, volunteering, and diversity committees.
Riya DesaiASSOCIATE AIAARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Riya is an accomplished Architectural Designer at HPZS. She obtained her Bachelor of Architecture degree with a specialization in Art & Architectural History and Landscape Design from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion, Riya actively serves as the Co-Chair for the AIA Chicago Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, demonstrating her commitment to advancing positive change within the industry. Her experience encompasses a diverse range of projects, contributing her talents to residential, institutional, educational, and community development endeavors.
With an appreciation for both the artistic and technical aspects of architecture, she combines her knowledge of art history with expertise in landscape design to bring a unique perspective to projects. Riya’s holistic approach enables her to create harmonious, sustainable designs, considering both the built environment and natural landscapes.
- 1
- 2