HED Welcomes Samantha McCloud to Strengthen Workplace Strategy and Development

CHICAGO, IL — HED announces the addition of Samantha McCloud, AIA, NCARB, RA, as Strategy & Development Leader for the firm’s Workplace sector, reinforcing its continued investment in thoughtful, purpose-driven growth across key markets.

McCloud brings a perspective shaped by both strategy and lived experience across environments where people work, learn, live, and heal. Her approach is grounded in listening—drawing out the underlying questions that define a project’s purpose and aligning teams around a shared direction. In this role, she will focus on translating insight into clear opportunities, helping clients navigate complexity with confidence and intention.

Workplace, in McCloud’s view, carries both influence and responsibility. It reflects cultural values while shaping how organizations evolve, connect, and innovate. Her work positions these environments not as static backdrops, but as active participants in broader transformation.

“Workplace has the power and responsibility to activate transformation,” said McCloud. “Our places of work speak to our values beyond the present—amplifying aspirations, shaping a better future, and creating meaningful impact. When we design with care for human well-being, we strengthen not only the work itself, but the positive change it can create.”

Her leadership reflects a consistent throughline: strategy as a form of empathy, and design as a shared act of discovery. By aligning mission, vision, and decision-making early, she helps teams move with clarity through competing priorities, whether navigating complex stakeholder groups or adapting to evolving program needs.

McCloud holds a Master of Architecture from Kansas State University and is a licensed architect in Kansas and Missouri. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects.

Her addition advances HED’s positioning in the Workplace sector through three distinct contributions: a strategic lens that connects purpose to performance, a collaborative mindset that builds trust across teams, and a commitment to thoughtful design that elevates both human experience and organizational outcomes. This aligns with the firm’s integrated approach, where early collaboration across disciplines supports more informed decisions and stronger results.