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.
Andrea SforzaAIA, CSIPRESERVATION PROJECT ARCHITECT, PROJECT MANAGER
Andrea is a Preservation Project Architect and Project Manager at HPZS. Andrea’s work primarily focuses on existing buildings, specifically renovation, adaptive reuse, and historical restoration and recreation projects. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University.
Andrea's work encompasses a variety of institutional, commercial, residential, and religious buildings, including most notably the award-winning restoration of Eero Saaranin's famed TWA Flight Center. She has contributed her expertise on several repair and restoration campaigns at the base of the Statue of Liberty for the National Parks Service. Additionally, she is an experienced architectural researcher and conditions assessment surveyor. Andrea is an active Board member of the Columbia University Preservation Alumni, engaging alumni throughout the country, focusing on the organization's mentorship efforts.
SARAH PEIL WINSTEADAIAPROJECT MANAGER, PROJECT ARCHITECT
Sarah Peil Winstead, AIA is an accomplished 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. Beyond her professional experience, Sarah brings a background in fine arts and literature to her work as an architect. Her thesis exploring the intersection between spatial design and empathy theory in psychology showcases her enthusiasm for creating spaces that evoke emotional responses and foster connection between people. Recognized for her dedication to the industry, 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.
Noelle KramerASSOCIATE AIAProject Manager | Project Architect
Noelle Kramer is a Project Manager | Project Architect at HPZS. She completed her undergraduate at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale with a minor in History and her graduate degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Her passion is influenced by her love for history and the relationship architecture has culturally.
She began her career in single-family/ multi-family residential that include student, senior, high-end, and mixed-use projects. After a few years, she transitioned to commercial interior and municipal projects that range from smaller repositioning efforts to ground up mid-rises.
In 2020, Noelle had the opportunity to be part of the AIA Chicago transFORM program. She encourages involvement in professional organizations such as AIA – Chicago (American Institute of Architects), CWA (Chicago Women in Architecture), and iNOMA (the Illinois National Organization of Minority Architects). Noelle previously served on the Board of Directors for AIA-Eastern Illinois Chapter, was Treasurer for iNOMA, and President for CWA.
When she is not volunteering, you will most likely find her cultivating her green thumb or enjoying the diverse cuisine Chicago has to offer. Pre-pandemic Noelle enjoyed traveling to one new country each year to experience the influences of the built world and observe the community developed around these buildings.
Riya DesaiASSOCIATE AIAARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Riya Desai is an Architectural Designer at HPZS. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree with a focus on Art/Architectural History and Landscape Design from Illinois Institute of Technology in 2021.
She previously worked at small firms focusing on a range of residential, structural, educational and community development projects in Chicago. Riya volunteered at Habitat for Humanity through a school club which gave her firsthand construction experience a way to explore different cities. She was a project manager for the SOFA Connect competition at Navy Pier in 3rd year of Architecture school which gave her an opportunity to lead a huge team through a competition that her team ultimately won.
Passionate about art, culture, and languages. Riya is self-taught N4-Level certified in Japanese and hoping to pursue it further, and likes to spend time in digital art/animation as a hobby inspired by film classes she took in IIT.
Sarah GodbeeAFFILIATE AIAMARKETING COORDINATOR
Sarah Godbee, Affiliate AIA, is Marketing Coordinator for HPZS. She graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2017 with her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Public Relations and International Studies. Her collective participation in UAB’s Public Relations Student Society of America resulted in the state-wide 2017 Chapter of the Year Award, in addition to a Public Relations Council of Alabama Award of Excellence and Medallion Award.
Recruited by an association management firm after graduation, Sarah unearthed her zeal for architecture through continuing education and fundraising events with AIA Birmingham and the Alabama Center for Architecture’s school-forward programs. Her time spent at the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust nurtured her belief that architecture reflects culture, as well as the importance of historic preservation. While she isn’t brainstorming new ways to advocate for HPZS, Sarah finds joy in collecting vinyl, camping, and attending concerts.
Lisa RossOffice Administrator, Accounting ManagerLisa Ross is HPZS’s Office Administrator and Accounting Manager and is an integral member to the team, responsible for efficient non-technical office operations. A graduate of Chicago’s DePaul University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Psychology, Lisa brings over 25 years of experience in owning three businesses, which varied from travel to fundraising. She has a passion for working with small business entrepreneurs and focuses on intricacies of daily operations at the firm.
Lisa is currently the owner of an Italian Ice and Gourmet Popcorn business in Park Ridge. She is married to her elementary school sweetheart, and has two teenage boys that keep her busy. She enjoys visiting different museums, going to concerts and dinners out with family, spending most of her free time attending her son’s musical performances, orchestra concerts and lacrosse games.
