Five years ago, a client asked us about accommodating neurodiverse staff in the workplace. Though we had answers, we knew we could do better. So, we embarked on a journey of research and exploration, determined to formalize our approach to designing office space for neurodiversity.

A year later, we published a research report on “Designing a Neurodiverse Workplace.” Our research has won numerous awards, and we have since published or contributed to over 100 articles on the topic. Our WorkPlace team has incorporated the findings into our design process for every workplace project, and we have presented our approach hundreds of times to various audiences. HOK’s teams also are designing products, contributing to building standards and even creating a neurodiverse-friendly workspace for the metaverse.

But the need to design for neurodiversity extends far beyond the office. The chapters in this issue of HOK Forward illustrate how designers in our Aviation + Transportation, Healthcare, Justice, Science + Technology and Sports + Recreation + Entertainment groups are creating accessible and inclusive environments.

These examples show the power of empathy and the transformative potential of design. We hope you’ll join us in shaping a better future for people of all abilities.

Note: Neurodiversity is a term used to describe a broad range of conditions, some of which likely will be unresponsive to design solutions. HOK’s approach to inclusive design is based on our experience as designers and architects with the objective of providing a wide range of options for users with different needs. Any attempt to address the needs of neurodiverse individuals should also include review of human resources policies, implementation of technology solutions and building operations among other considerations. HOK does not represent that any design solution discussed in this article and series is capable of achieving any specific outcome for an individual user.