At Hoefer Welker, we see architecture as more than just art and science – it’s about solving problems through innovative ideas, thoughtful concepts and purposeful designs. Our process begins by connecting with our clients, gaining an understanding of their needs and utilizing our team of experts’ knowledge and expertise to provide the best design solutions possible.
To execute this, our architects analyze various concepts, trends and solutions, allowing them to create customized spaces tailored to each specific client request. For nearly 30 years, our designers have embraced this process, while continuously innovating, integrating cutting-edge architectural strategies and adapting to the evolving needs of the times.
Join us for a Q&A with Steve Stokes and Mara Sabatini as we explore the design trends and solutions our teams expect to see throughout 2025 and beyond.
How do you see architecture evolving in 2025, and what skills or techniques will your team utilize most?
“Architecture in 2025 will evolve with the integration of new technologies and trends. Technologies such as virtual reality (VR), AI, 3D printing, kinetic geometry and sustainable building materials will be all the rage in 2025. Advancements in these visualization tools and techniques will allow the focus to be experienced in new ways long before construction. VR 3D digital models now allow for better design coordination, detection of design flaws and overall communication of the design’s ‘big idea,’ providing positive cost and schedule impacts for clients.
“At Hoefer Welker, one of the biggest skills we teach our architects is a comprehensive understanding of the social, economic and sustainable pressures our clients and projects struggle with daily. Our architects and designers consistently work to enhance their ability to be client-savvy, truly understanding what value and benefit mean to each of them. Enriched organizational and communication skills will greatly assist in the management of clients and projects. Client-centered architects and designers must see beyond the design of a building and offer a broader approach, embracing diverse client problems with creative holistic solutions.”
Name a design principle or trend that excites you.
“As we continue to do more with less, I am excited about regenerative architecture. Focused on the assurance that our creative problem-solving is not damaging the environment, regenerative architecture concentrates on the bonds between people and its guidance in healing damaged ecosystems. Prioritization of sustainable materials, minimizing construction waste, energy efficiencies and reducing our overall carbon footprints should continue to drive architecture. Reducing a building’s carbon footprint significantly contributes to mitigating climate change. This is accomplished by minimizing greenhouse gas emissions from construction materials, energy consumption during operations, and overall building life cycle impacts that result in eco-friendly design solutions.
“Simplicity of architectural expression is another focus that excites our teams. Clean lines, geometry and minimal palettes of timeless architecture follow the less is more methodology. Natural building materials and biophilic design unite with these other trends to motivate new creative solutions with environmental benefits. The benefits of this approach are architectural solutions that are more efficient, with space and materials leading to designs that can be built quicker, providing cost-effective solutions for clients.”
What do you believe clients will prioritize in their projects throughout the next 5 years?
“Sustainability, adaptability and flexibility. The integration of these will create positive impacts on the built environment. Clients will be poised to focus on the adaptive reuse boom. With a significant focus on capital expenditures, clients will seek out creative solutions on all types of conversion projects seeking to take full advantage of deeply discounted buildings. These aging buildings sit idle waiting for their new identity and function while giving clients in the industries of healthcare, civic, senior living, and science a value and benefit for the next five years and beyond.
“The next five years promise to be even more dynamic and transformative. With the rapid development of technology, awareness of environmental impacts and the economic focus of capital expenditures, architecture will strive to do what it has always done – evolve.”
How do you see architecture evolving in 2025, and what skills or techniques will your team utilize most?
“The ability to think and design adaptively and flexibly continues to evolve and become more important in architecture. Flexible design tactics in every sector became important during the pandemic and adaptability has remained a focus ever since.
“Technology is another major contributor to making a space adaptable. Our technology solutions group facilitates conversations to grasp the true needs of the facility, prioritizing the use case to determine what solution will be best, providing a balance of cost and value. The future is not just about technology, but integrating people and processes with technology to address evolving needs.”
Name a design principle or trend that excites you.
“Again, the ability to make a building as adaptable and flexible as possible is an exciting trend that continues to evolve. Adaptability is now an expectation as we know nothing is completely future-proof, but with flexible spaces, we can better prepare for an unpredictable future."
“We’re currently designing a new cellular therapy-focused cancer center, where we’ve been challenged to make the building as flexible as possible, specifically for clinical floors due to the unpredictability of healthcare. The Bone Marrow Transplant and Hematology exam and treatment floors will be designed identically to allow for flexibility for both specialties. This allows either discipline to flex with future growth or acuity levels. Developing spaces tailored for evolving needs will continue to be seen more as a must-have rather than a trend.”
What do you believe clients will prioritize in their projects throughout the next 5 years?
“Technology, flexible spaces, staff retention and combating staff shortages will continue to be a priority for many clients. Staffing shortages have remained a challenge for businesses nationwide, making it imperative to put staff retention and technology at the forefront of our projects. Robots and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are growing as crucial assets to facilities as staff availability decreases. AI is no longer the future but the present, and it has the potential to help combat staffing shortages, enhance patient care, reduce costs and improve business outcomes. Understanding the innovations available and early budgeting of these technologies is crucial so they can be prepared from the start of initial planning.”