HOUSTON’S 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF 2025

HRDD’s Heather Rowell has been named one of “Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2025” by Houston Woman Magazine.

Each of the honorees was nominated for inclusion on the “50 Women of Influence” list by a reader of Houston Woman Magazine and then selected by the staff of the publication. According to Beverly Denver, editor and publisher of Houston Woman Magazine, “Those selected as Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2025 have earned an enviable reputation for their expertise in a particular field or arena. They are knowledgeable and credible. The thoughts and actions of these women influence the thoughts and actions of others. It is our distinct pleasure to introduce these remarkable women to our readers and to others in our community.”

A celebration dinner, attended by the honorees and their invited guests, was held Thursday night, March 25 at the Junior League of Houston. The ballroom there was full, with more than 330 participating in the festivities. Included in the crowd were many past honorees, several elected officials and hometown celebrities.

View the digital copy and see all of the honorees here.

VoyageHouston Interviews HRDD

Eric and Heather recently responded to VoyageHouston as part of their “Inspiring Conversations” series — highlighting Houstonians’ unique stories, cultures, and experiences. The interview shares a bit about how Eric and Heather started their partnership, their design ethos, challenges along the way, and how Houston’s “stickiness” keeps them rooted:

VoyageHouston:

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?

HRDD:

What we like best: It’s sticky.
When we arrived in Houston for graduate school at Rice University, we were certain we’d collect our degrees and head somewhere else. Houston, from a distance, is hard to decode. It doesn’t offer a tidy postcard version of itself.

People often say Houston lacks a single identity. And they’re right—it refuses to be just one thing. It’s art and refineries, live oaks and concrete, rodeo boots and experimental cuisine, Art Cars and Ferraris. It’s humid, generous, contradictory, and completely unbothered by categories.

That’s the magic. Houston makes room. For ambition. For experimentation. For reinvention. For everyone. You can build a life here that fits you precisely because the city doesn’t insist on defining you first. Over time, that freedom has a way of holding on to you. It’s what makes the city, and the work we do here, feel both deeply personal and endlessly expansive.
It’s sticky in the best way.

What we like least: It’s sticky.
Spend one summer here and you’ll know what we mean.

Read the full interview here.

Hollywood Bayou Trail

Part of Houston’s vast bayou network - the Hollywood Trail proposal envisions reconnected communities, protected natural ecologies, enhanced flood mitigation.

HRDD is proudly supporting a small team of volunteers working to champion and accelerate the creation of a new continuous trail system along Hollywood Bayou (aka Little White Oak Bayou). The project recently received generous funding from Adrian Garcia’s Harris County Precinct 2 to start planning. Backed by numerous civic groups and Houston leaders - the trail aims to connect Woodland Park in the Heights, to the Near Northside’s Moody Park, eventually extending north into Independence Heights and the bayou headwaters in the Acres Homes neighborhood.

The Precinct 2 funding grant supports five main project development components for the Hollywood Trail:

• Community Engagement with communities up + down the bayou to hear what they’d prioritize in such a trail

• Trash Abatement Pilots + Planning, exploring trash weirs + other devices to minimize the impact of litter in flood events

• Conceptual Design of Parks / Trails Elements Linked to NHHIP Section 2, to factor into detailed design by TXDOT in 2026

• Detailed design development for a trail between Moody + Woodland Parks, since most of this section can proceed to construction independent of TXDOT’s work

• High-level Mapping of land use + ownership along the full ~15 mile watershed, all the way up to Acres Homes

Working with the community, Harris County, TxDOT, Harris County Flood Control, and the Houston Parks Board, and more - the project aims to be a transformational, natural connector for Houston neighborhoods divided by major highways.

Learn more about the project, share your thoughts, and sign up for updates on the Hollywood Trail website. The Hollywood Trail Coalition is co-organized by Taylor Chapman, Kelli Fereday, Jonathan Trujillo, Heather Rowell, Pat Rutledge, Gregorio Flores, Will Kuehne, and Suzanne Simpson.

Special Thanks to Alliance Reprographics for generously donating signage materials to the Hollywood Trail Coalition!

Karin Broker's beautiful rage

Don't miss Karin Broker's newest body of work, beautiful rage (a real and concise history of the female gender). Opening this Saturday, Sept 6th at Heidi Vaughan Fine Art, her intricate large scale drawings chronicle the emotional and physical labor women carry daily. 

Karin's drawing process is both messy and methodical - fitting work to take place in her studio that was once an auto mechanic's shop. Today her powerful portraits of womanhood tower above the ghosted outline of car lifts on her studio floors. Organized drawers of vintage oddities, pencils and wires have replaced wrenches and lug nuts. The award winning 6,000 sf warehouse was renovated into her studio and home in 2016 while we were at Content and again in 2020 by HRDD.  

Heidi Vaughan Fine Art is located at 3510 Lake St., Houston, TX 77098 in Houston's oldest Gallery Row. The doors open at 11. The artist's reception and party will take place from 5 to 7. 

Exhibition Dates: September 6 - October 11, 2025

Exhibition Opening: September 6, 11 to 5, HVFA

Artist Reception and Party: September 6, 5 to 7, HVFA

Read more about the exhibition in Art Houston magazine. Photo credits: Paul Hester (Karin’s portrait), Peter Molick (Delz Residence)

More images of Karin Broker and Mark Witte’s home are on our website.

Antonio's House in Brenham

This weekend, Eric and his family visited Antonio’s House in Brenham, Texas. Inspired by classic, early Texas pioneer homes, this gem was designed by Leslie Elkins in 2011.

As one approaches the property from the road and the house comes into view through the trees on the other side of two small ponds, one can imagine how Texas looked 150 years ago. — Leslie Elkins

Over the years, Eric was asked to design the utilitarian interiors, and the pedestrian gate - a minimal intervention on axis with the home’s dog trot. Just last year, HRDD designed a new entry canopy. The simple shed is supported by a steel post and lintel that echoes the earlier entry gate threshold.

Houston Snow Day

Last week we experienced the rare Houston joy of waking to a snowy blanket covering our roofs and lawns. The storm slowed our normal routines and gave way to a day of snowmen, hot chocolate, and winter wonder. Here’s a few images that capture HRDD projects on that special day! Casa Topo images by Peter Molick, Avondale Residence captured by Divya Pande, Joyce Residence by Emily Hughes, and Menil ADUs sent to us by Melissa Lujan.

HRDD Receives AIA Houston Design Awards

HR Design Department was awarded two AIA Houston Design Awards on August 15! The AIA Houston Design Awards recognizes design excellence in architecture, residential architecture, interior architecture, restoration/renovation, and urban design. Projects are evaluated based on quality of design, resolution of the program idea, sustainable responsibility, innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique. This year’s jury included Lori Ryker, Ph.D. (Studio Ryker), Jack Murphy (Architects Newspaper), and Jesus Robles, Assoc. AIA (DUST).

HRDD’s Joyce Residence was awarded in the Renovation category:

“The project is at a wonderful scale and has an overall coherency. We liked this idea of the connecting the new with a mirroring of the previous. It’s such a lovely space that gets carved into the roofline.” - Lori Ryker

The Menil Bungalows and Accessory Dwelling Units received recognition in the Residential category:

“We appreciated the architectural diagram of the intervention of the light well through the spaces, as well as the ADUs nod to the bungalow typology but with a subtle restraint and twist into a new form. We appreciated all that it was proposing for the neighborhood - aesthetically, formally, spatially.” - Jesus Robles

Here’s a link to all the night’s award winners!

Heather Rowell Receives Ben Brewer Young Architect Award

On Saturday at the 2024 Houston Design Gala, AIA Houston awarded HR Design Dept’s Heather Rowell the Ben Brewer Young Architect Award. Named in honor of Ben Brewer, FAIA, the award recognizes excellence in ability, exceptional work, and significant contributions in the practice of architecture by architects who are in their first 10 years of practice.

The jury, made up of members of AIA Louisiana, made the following comments on their 2024 award decision:

“The resumes and portfolios reviewed showed a bright future for AIA Houston’s future leaders. Heather Rowell stands as a clear example of the type of dedicated individual who is the future of the Architecture profession. Her ability to overcome challenges through her professional career, some of which would have pushed many others out of the profession, shows a perseverance that stands out. Her portfolio presents a diversity of aesthetic expression that leads to a fully developed design direction for both herself and her firm as a whole.

Lastly, her engagement with professional, educational institutions and larger community demonstrates that she sees herself as serving the profession as a whole. Her focus of fostering the future of her students, building opportunity for women architects through her work establishing the WIA for AIA Houston reinforces her focused approach to the betterment of the whole.”

In late 2023, Heather spearheaded the creation of the Women in Architecture Professional Development Fund at Architecture Center Houston. Today, the Fund finances two new, annual scholarship opportunities for WiA Houston. In Saturday’s program, Heather encouraged others to contribute to the tax-deductible Fund to ensure a successful inaugural year.

HR Design Dept at the AIA Houston Gala: Feyza Mutlu, David Schneider, Eric Hughes, and Heather Rowell.

Dwell Feature: Joyce Residence Budget Breakdown

We’re thrilled to share the story of the Joyce Residence - and this one is personal! Rachel Gallaher interviewed HRDD’s Eric Hughes and his wife Emily to learn how they transformed their 1000 sf bungalow into a home that worked for them and their son Clark.

Living with the original plan worked for a while, but once Clark came along, Eric and Emily decided it was time for more space. "We all shared a bathroom for the first five years of Clark’s life," Emily says. "When we talked about renovating we asked, ‘How can this design help us love each other more?’ Part of that was creating spaces that give us time to retreat and come back together to have meaningful moments."

— Rachel Gallaher for Dwell

The 2023 design expands and modernizes the structure while maintaining the scale and vernacular of its quaint northside neighborhood. The quiet restraint of the exterior is juxtaposed with unexpected, playful spatial experiences within.

Special thanks to Leonid Furmansky for the beautiful images. You can read the feature on Dwell+!

WiA Houston's 7th Annual Equity Series

HRDD is proud to sponsor this year’s AIA Houston Women in Architecture Equity Series.

This year’s panel discussion explores how Houston, a dynamic metropolis, grapples with "JUST Design" amid rapid growth and climate challenges, prioritizing social and environmental justice. Shaped by a history of urban sprawl and redlining - the panel explores projects and policies with conscientious approach to urban development, balancing economic prosperity, social justice, and sustainability. Amidst the global discourse on climate change and social equity, Houston's embrace of "JUST Design" becomes a beacon, showcasing design's transformative power for a more just and sustainable future.

Now, in it’s 7th year, the Equity Series was started in 2017 through an AIA College of Fellows grant and was one of WiA Houston’s first initiatives as HRDD’s Heather Rowell served as Chair. The Series aims to take on bold, often uncomfortable, topics to create awareness, discussion, and cultural change within the profession. Previous topics have included unconscious bias, workplace collaboration and recognition, and the hidden costs of workplace inequities.

Sponsorship opportunites are available and your valuable contributions helps support new WiA scholarship initiatives.

AIA Houston Home Tour

Join us October 21-22 for the AIA Houston 2023 Home Tour! We’re excited to share the Joyce Residence in Houston’s Lindale Park. The Home Tour is a nonprofit fundraiser and supports various AIA Houston initiatives throughout the year. Open to the public, the AIA Houston Home Tour showcases the finest residential architecture in the Houston area, as designed by licensed architects. Houses are chosen to showcase a variety of design styles demonstrating that excellence in design is not limited by size or dollars.

The Joyce residence is an addition and renovation to an existing 1938 one-story bungalow. The design expands and modernizes the structure while maintaining the scale and vernacular of its quaint northside neighborhood. The quiet restraint of the exterior is juxtaposed with unexpected, playful spatial experiences within. Learn more about the Joyce Residence here!

In addition to our project - this year’s tour features homes by Collaborative Design Group, 2 Scale Architects, Dillon Kyle Architects, Intexure Architects, Inflection Architecture, m + a architecture studio, and studioMET Architects. A very special thank you to the Joyce Residence home sponsors: Dungan Miller , Frich Investments, Grogan Building Supply, and Toner Home Matters!

Please stop by and say hello!

Rice Architecture Civic Forum

Each year Rice Architecture’s Civic Forum looks at urban and design topics that are of particular relevance to Houston and its region. The civic forums look to provide an open forum to discuss and analyze timely topics that are affecting Houstonians, but which also have a larger national and international relevance. HRDD’s Heather Rowell serves on the Host Planning Committee to develop this year’s forum:

This year, we are exploring the ever-increasing influence of the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) as a tool of planning governance. TIRZs are zones the Houston City Council created to attract new investment in an area. They help finance the costs of redevelopment and promote growth in areas that would otherwise not attract sufficient market development in a timely manner. At its inception, this tool was promised to pull the underserved and thus underdeveloped neighborhoods to a common, higher standard of urban infrastructure. This civic forum program seeks to gather stakeholders in a workshop format to engage in a public conversation about TIRZs, their importance, relevance, and future. — Learn more about Rice Architecture and the Civic Forum here.

Discussants

Andy Icken, Chief Development Officer, City of Houston 
Barron Wallace, Partner & Group Co-Head, Bracewell LLP
David W. Robinson, City Council Member, At-Large Position 2

Respondents:

Anna Deans, Vice President, Investment and Development, Midway
Zion Escobar, PE - Founder & CEO, Freedmen’s Town Community Investment Project
Ryan LeVasseur, Principal, LaVass Ventures LLC
Kris Larson, President & CEO, Central Houston, Inc.

Moderated by Troy Schaum, Rice Architecture

The Civic Forum takes place Oct. 21, 2023 at 1:00pm at MATCH: Midtown Arts and Theatre Center Houston, 3400 Main St

Building a Dream Home on a Houston Bayou

Houstonia Magazine features the Watonga Residence this month! Writer, Melissa Dalton, shares the story of how homeowner Regina Adams worked with HRDD to create a custom oasis along Watonga Boulevard in Houston’s Garden Oaks community. Read the feature here!

“I love living here. It’s very peaceful and calming. I find myself wanting to be here way more than anywhere else. It’s really nice to know that I’m coming home to what is truly my home.”

— Homeowner: Regina Adams

Preservation Houston: Good Brick Award

Preservation Houston has presented the Good Brick Awards since 1979 to recognize outstanding contributions to the preservation, restoration and enhancement of Houston's architectural and cultural heritage. Nomination categories include the renovation, restoration, or adaptive reuse of a building; new buildings or sympathetic additions that enhance the existing historic fabric of Houston; recognition for the craftspeople who continually maintain, build, and restore our important buildings and cultural fabric; preservation-related programs or activities; project planning; publications; and outstanding service or leadership in preservation.

We’re thrilled to announce that Divya Pande and Nakul Gupta were presented with a Good Brick Award for their Avondale Residence at Preservation Houston’s annual Cornerstone Dinner.

You can see the full list of this year’s recipients here.

Crestview featured in HÄUSER

HRDD’s Crestview Residence is featured in the Feb/March issue of HÄUSER!

The German publication presents the most beautiful houses in the world, designed by well-known leaders in the architecture scene as well as young talents. Their features highlight clever solutions, new products, and tell the stories behind great designs.

The issue may be purchased here.

Dwell Feature: Avondale Residence

Photo: Divya Pande

This month, the Avondale Residence is featured as a Dwell+ exclusive. “Before & After: A Houston Photographer Casts New Light on a Historic Craftsman” shares the story of how Divya Pande and Nakul Gupta fell in love with the 1910 Craftsman home while on neighborhood walks. They courageously commited to restore the home and hired HRDD to help. Together, with an amazing team including Park Lane Builders, Santee Engineering and XO Design Group, we were able to help Divya and Nakul realize their dream.

"My favorite thing about our house is the timelessness of the design," says Nakul. "It brings the tempo down to a certain level of calm and peace, which I appreciate." Divya agrees. "It brings me so much joy seeing how the light changes in every room during different times of day and over the seasons. I find the spaces simply enchanting."

Big thanks to writer Lauren Gallow and the Dwell team for sharing this special project.

NCSU Design Mentorship Program

The North Carolina State University Design Leaders Council kicked off their innagural Mentorship program this fall. The program was spearheaded by the Leaders Council DEI committee and serves to connect student career aspriations with design professionals working in their chosen field. HRDD’s Heather Rowell, a BEDA graduate of the College of Design and Leaders Council Member, is proud to serve as a Mentor this year.

AN Interior's Top 50 Architects & Designers

HR Design Dept was named to AN Interior magazine’s Top 50 Architects and Designers of 2022, which recognizes the best North American architecture and design companies working in interiors today.

Each year, AN’s editors assemble a lineup that attempts balance—from smaller, emerging practices to larger, established firms; from design centers in New York and Los Angeles to cities across the continent; from high-end projects to budget-conscious commissions. What matters is the attention and creativity these teams deliver, and what follows is fashioned from the images and words they use to describe themselves. These outfits demonstrate a commitment to both craft and materials, and their efforts result in spaces that combine richness with comfort. Above all, this diverse listing aims to recognize talent known and about-to-be-known: While these pages contain many familiar practices, about half are new to this list. We are watching their work—and you should, too.

- AN Interior

We’re honored to be placed amongst such inspiring company.

AN Interior is a design and culture magazine that examines the vanguard in architect-designed interiors, furniture, and objects. The magazine—a sister publication of The Architect’s Newspaper.

You can view the publication in its entirety here.

ArCH Film Festival: Revolutionary Architecture

HRDD’s Marcel Merwin has been instrumental in curating this year’s Architecture Center Houston film festival: Revolutionary Architecture. The films in this year’s lineup focus on architecture, city, and space to spark a political discourse or change the development of the film’s political narrative. Buildings and space are inherently political, built by capitalism yet considered a universal right by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as adopted by the United Nations. Consistently, the largest issues of our time are shaped by the spaces we inhabit, whether by the space’s value as a social space or by its geographic significance, or by other political means. Just as revolution has opposing sides, design and space can be narrated from opposing views. This film program explores the paradigms of revolutionary space and architecture through a multitude of perspectives, with the hope to cultivate discussions of voice, authority, and subjectivity of revolution and change.

HRDD is proud to sponsor the series’ opening reception on Thursday, September 1 at MATCH.

The film festival starts Thursday, September 1 - Sunday, September 4, 2022

Avondale Residence Receives AIA Houston Design Award

We’re excited to share that the Avondale Residence received an AIA Houston Design Award last night. The jurors were Sharon Johnston, FAIA of Johnston Marklee, and Andrea Love AIA LEED Fellow, of Payette. The AIA Houston Design Awards program recognizes design excellence in architecture, residential architecture, interior architecture, restoration/renovation, and urban design. Criteria to be used by the jury include quality of design, resolution of the program idea, sustainable responsibility, innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique.

A big thank you to all those who contributed to the success of this renovation including Todd Santee of Santee Engineering, the amazing team at Park Lane Builders, XO Design Group’s landscape, Toner Home Matters, Divya Pande’s photos and Lambrakos Studio’s support with styling — and most importantly, Divya Pande and Nakul Gupta for trusting all of us with their home!

Our team is also thrilled that Content Architecture received an award for the Will Rice Magister’s house on Rice University’s campus. HRDD’s Marcel Merwin, Gail Chen, Eric Hughes, and Heather Rowell all contributed to the design while at the firm.

You can see all of the award winners from last night here!

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