We have over 375 professionals working coast to coast, and licensure across all 50 states, so we can collaborate no matter where you’re based. We seek to deliver the right balance of simplicity and innovation to align teams and technology around what matters most—your customer.
licensed in states
5 COUNTRIES
2
10,000+ projects permitted across OFFICES
1900+ communities
who we are
Our Vision
Amplify our Solution Suite to clientpartners through securing vital talent and harnessing advancing technologies.
Our Purpose
Leading clients to fulfill their vision while building lasting partnerships.
Our Culture
HFA aspires to be a people first culture of empowerment where talent thrives.
single-source studio
At HFA, we unite the expertise of your multi-discipline team of architects, engineers, permitters, and other industry professionals, so you can: Bring your whole design team together.
+ Maximize coordination across disciplines
+ Streamline communications and gather feedback earlier
+ Create higher quality documents that can be delivered sooner
fully integrated disciplines
Architecture
Electrical Engineering
Fire Protection Engineering
Civil Engineering
Landscape Architecture
Fueling Design
Mechanical Engineering
Plumbing Engineering
Structural Engineering
Interior Architecture
Refrigeration
specialized partners
Full Concept Development Services
HFA leads a broad team of specialized partners supporting clients with fully developed venues.
Golf Tech
Golf Equipment
Gaming - Arcade
Batting Bays
Kitchen
Pool Designers
Vendor Lighting
Branding
Signage
focused on design
A concept design service with a simple mission: Bring storytellling to life through the built environment.
Our Formula
+ Understand your identity
+ What do your patrons value?
+ Create a narrative tailored to your interest
+ Transform the story into the built environment
The Power of Thoughtful Design
Keeping your patrons at the center of our design process helps us create environments that are not only functional, but also create the most positive interactions between your space and your customers.
meet the team
Nicole Poole, aia, ncarb, leed ap
vice president of hospitality + entertainment
Nicole is a licensed architect in multiple states, LEED AP, and is always looking for ways to bring sustainability into her current projects. She graduated from the Fay Jones School of Architecture where she received a Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Art. She’s been involved with a variety of projects, and one of her independent projects, One Fifty One, won the IIDA Red Award for the best new design in the Hospitality category. She’s spent over 10 years working with the TopGolf account and developed the concept from three venues to over fifty nationwide with multiple prototype buildings.
Matt Tillman, aia
team lead / architect
Matt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Science from the University of Illinois in Chicago, IL. He has more than 13 years of industry experience, with a strong background in technical detailing and production, technical development and permitting, and construction administration coordination. Matt is most passionate about getting to know the people behind the projects so he can ensure to satisfy both the client and end-user. Matt has worked with Top Golf prior to joining the Matchstick team.
Kevin Hayre
team lead / designer
Kevin has more than 10 years of experience designing and managing numerous types of projects involving commercial and retail clients. His primary responsibilities as Team Lead/Designer include investigations of existing structures, design development, coordination, and supervision of construction documents and coordination with clients, consultants, and staff to produce projects on time, within budget, and sensitive to the client’s needs. Kevin currently manages a team that serves one of the nation’s largest retailer’s remodel program.
Landon Foster, ncarb, aia
architect
Landon has more than 12 years of experience and has a diverse range of design and project management experience. His industry experience includes civic, commercial, retail, educational, health care, industrial, and residential projects. Landon enjoys finding creative inspiration for projects from within their physical, organizational, or cultural context. He finds ways to incorporate those inspirations at all scales, from campus pedestrian connections to the design of custom door pulls and light fixtures.
Tessa Connors, leed ap
designer / client lead
Tessa Connors is an experienced professional in the architecture and engineering industry, with 14 years of experience. She has spent many years working on Sam’s remodels at HFA and has also served as a project manager for Walmart remodels. In 2019, Tessa transitioned to the local team where she currently works as a client manager for Dept. 18 under the hospitality and entertainment umbrella. She is actively involved in local and regional projects. Tessa’s important skills include maintaining strong relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, and coworkers, as well as producing high-quality documents. She is proficient in Revit and AutoCAD. Tessa’s expertise and attention to detail make her an asset to any project.
Miranda Sawyer, aia
architect
Miranda Sawyer is a Architect at HFA with a diverse background in mathematics and architecture. With more than 7 years of experience, Miranda has worked on various projects, including retail remodels and expansions, a local project, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, restaurant work, and even a personal project that found her remodeling a historic home. Currently, Miranda is a Architect on the Hospitality + Entertainment team at HFA, where she collaborates with multiple disciplines and external consultants to meet client expectations. Miranda’s most important skills include strong communication, strategic and analytical thinking, and excellent organization. In her past as Client Lead for one of HFA’s most profitable teams, Miranda ensured that her fellow designers understood and upheld client expectations and outlined efficient processes for completing accurate deliverables.
Egle Gornick
interior designer
Egle has more than nine years of experience within the hospitality and entertainment industry. Egle graduated with a BFA in Interior Architecture from Columbia College in Chicago, IL. Egle prides herself on being a strong concept designer with a host of industry-specific product knowledge, so she thrives when she can collaborate closely with her clients, to get in their heads and understand how they want to be perceived so she can provide the right solutions. Some prominent clients that Egle has worked with in the past include TopGolf, Shake Shack, and Che Figata.
meet the team
designer Chuong Pham
Chuong is a skilled architect, holding a BARCH degree from the New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan, NY. Before joining the Matchstick team, Chuong spent six years working as a concept designer for an award winning architecture firm in Dubai, where he was involved in designing high-end residential apartments, villas, resorts, hotels, and commercial hospitality entertainment centers. One of the prominent projects Chuong worked on in the past was the Bay Residence in Hayat Island, which won the Golden Nugget award for best international commercial/ residential project in 2017.
designer Taylor Peters
Taylor Peters is a Designer II at HFA. She brings more than three years of industry experience to her role assisting with construction documents, putting together design packages, and providing construction administration services for clients when needed. Taylor has worked with clients in various industries throughout her time at HFA, including national retailers, government/military, tenant infill, and clients within the hospitality and entertainment field. She enjoys getting to showcase her technical knowledge within her day-to-day work and thrives on learning more about programs she uses often, primarily AutoCAD, Revit, Sketchup, and Enscape.
Quan Nguyen
designer
Quang Nguyen is a Designer at HFA, bringing over six years of experience in Architectural Design, and three years of product management and development. At HFA, Quang plays a key role in new project initiatives, leveraging his expertise in CAD and BIM standards to develop and update the latest Revit templates for the firm’s D&B projects. His current work includes collaboration on the Dave & Buster’s projects, where he applies his technical skills and design insight to support project development.
Prior to joining HFA, Quang contributed to several notable projects across a range of sectors, including hospitality, entertainment, and residential. His portfolio includes work on Topgolf, Shake Shack, luxury condominiums, casinos, restaurants, storage units, and residential homes. During his time at previous firms, Quang helped streamline processes by developing CAD and BIM standards, and he was instrumental in creating one of Topgolf’s prototypes.
Celia Padilla is a Designer at HFA, specializing in retail and commercial projects that range from 5,000 to 100,000 square feet. With a background in design, Celia brings a wealth of experience in developing innovative solutions to complex design challenges, ensuring that her projects not only meet client expectations but also enhance user experience and functionality.
At HFA, Celia plays a pivotal role in designing dynamic environments for Dave & Buster’s projects. Her responsibilities include collaborating with clients to understand their vision, developing creative design concepts, and overseeing the implementation to ensure successful project outcomes. Notably, her work has included the Dave & Buster’s location in Cary, NC, with current involvement in the Gainesville, FL project.
Celia’s proficiency with a wide range of architectural design programs allows her to seamlessly translate client expectations into actionable design solutions. Her adaptability with various software tools and her strong communication skills enable her to collaborate effectively with clients, ensuring that each project is tailored to meet specific needs while delivering impactful results.
Brent Tweedy
designer Celia Padilla vice president
Brent Tweedy joined HFA in 2006 and currently oversees the engineering services for multiple c-store and restaurant clients.
His primary duties are client management and development, working within the integrated A+E team, and maintaining quality control for project and prototype documents. Brent brings more than 20 years of experience, including mechanical and plumbing design, code compliance, and construction administration over several project types, including convenience stores, commercial retail, and quick-service restaurants. He has worked on several building types ranging from new construction, renovations, tenant-infill, building expansions, and multi-tenant.
Josh Clark, pe
fire protection engineer / team lead
Josh Clark is a Fire Protection Engineer and Team Lead with over seven years of experience in the industry. Since graduating from the University of Arkansas in 2016, Josh has honed his attention to detail and adaptability skills. In his current role at HFA, he oversees various projects from Walmart and Sam’s Club remodels to new store designs and has played an integral part in driving the design for the retailer’s micro-fulfillment center projects.
meet the team
Arthur Pursell, set
discipline lead / sr fire protection designer
As a Discipline Lead/Senior Fire Protection Designer at HFA, Arthur provides 26 years of industry experience and mentorship to the people at HFA. He is dedicated to making each individual successful, and in turn HFA as a whole. Arthur oversees the fire protection team and is a certified Senior Engineering Technician in nine states. He is certified by NICET as Level Four in Fire Protection Engineering Technology, Water Based Systems Layout. He oversees several national accounts ranging from ground-up construction to remodels involving fire protection. Arthur currently oversees the HFA fire protection team, which consists of nine highly qualified designers.
John Mullins, pe
sr mechanical engineer
John Mullins is a Senior Mechanical Engineer at HFA. He brings more than 25 years of mechanical systems design experience to his role and has worked in the commercial, industrial, military, and institutional facility industries. John is a licensed professional engineer and is proud of his proficiencies in HVAC design, energy analysis, hydronic piping and air systems design, fuel gas and compressed air systems, project management, and construction administration and management. He supports several teams and programs at HFA, acting as a technical resource who monitors a project’s process and performs quality control. He also assists with proposal development and training for fellow mechanical engineers throughout the studio.
Tim McCabe, pe, leed ap
team lead / electrical engineer
Tim McCabe is an Electrical Engineer at HFA. With more than 15 years of experience, Tim leads HFA’s MEP Industrial Team which primarily focuses on Industrial and DC Logistics projects. A large part of his role includes coordination and management between internal teams, external departments, and clients, as well as the electrical design for many of their projects. His engineering portfolio includes projects spanning various markets, such as Industrial, commercial, entertainment, retail, EV charging, and cannabis, among others. He is passionate about engineering and lighting design, and prides himself on his ability to create strong cross-discipline relationships among his teams and with his clients. Tim earned his P.E. license in 2011 and is LEEP AP.
Giancarlo Botazzi, pe, secb
vice president
As the Vice President of Structural Engineering at HFA, Giancarlo spearheads a dynamic team of engineers and designers, bringing nearly four decades of extensive experience in diverse building structural engineering projects across the United States. With a profound understanding of design standards and codes encompassing structural steel, concrete, precast concrete, masonry, and wood, Giancarlo is well-versed in the International Building Code (IBC) and specific state building code requirements. Giancarlo’s portfolio showcases his proficiency in designing intricate new structures and addressing challenging structural rehabilitation and renovation projects. His collaborative approach enables him to effectively partner with project design teams and building owners, devising creative and cost-efficient solutions that align with architectural design criteria and client objectives. Licensed in 23 states and Puerto Rico, Giancarlo is also an esteemed member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
Jaime Castañeda, pe
mep program lead / electrical engineer
Jaime brings 20 years of experience to HFA in lighting design, power distribution, short circuit analysis, voltage drop analysis, load diversity, life safety, and communication systems, and design of back-up emergency and critical power systems. Jaime is responsible for various commercial facilities’ electrical design, including retail, grocery, maintenance, and manufacturing facilities. Jaime’s primary roles at HFA include responsibility for accuracy, constructability, code compliance of overall electrical designs and calculations, and electrical staff training.
Maggie Langston, pe
team lead / structural engineer
Maggie Langston is a Structural Engineer at HFA. She is primarily responsible for analyzing and designing buildings, coordinating and finalizing construction documents. Maggie runs multiple programs from a structural perspective, coordinating with architects, clients, and other disciplines involved. She also helps to establish and maintain project budgets and proposals. Maggie is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Arkansas and brings more than four years of experience to her role.
project experience
Home Run Dugout
client | home run dugout
location | katy, tx
sq. footage | 40,000
HFA was honored to lead the concept design for Home Run Dugout in Katy, TX. The 40,000-squarefoot sports and entertainment complex includes 12 simulated hitting bays, a music stage, and a Wiffle Ball field. Our Hospitality + Entertainment Team used the Matchstick process throughout concept design, schematic design, design development, and construction administration. The collaborative process with the client led to spaces where the enduser feels comfortable and engaged with sports amenities throughout the facility that appeals to patrons looking for a destination experience, as well as those wanting a neighborhood feel. Our team was serious about the mission to make anyone at Home Run Dugout feel like they can hit a home run.
WorldSprings is a recreational wellness and social experience mineral spa at the Grandscape in Colony, TX. We enjoyed leading all aspects of architecture for this nine-acre project. Our Hospitality + Entertainment Team provided support for concept design, schematic design, design development, and construction documents for the buildings on the property. The Matchstick process uncovered patron needs and expectations that led to experiential features throughout the building including a food and beverage component, spa with treatment rooms, retail spaces, and a luxurious locker room. Our design team was mindful of the need for comfortable and efficient flow in each space and fulfilled the vision of a lodge-like, authentic natural hot springs experience.
project experience
Blue Jeans Golf
client | blue jeans golf location | various sq. footage | various
Our collaboration with Blue Jeans Golf began with the transformation of driving ranges into Golf Lite Ranch, a novel concept welcoming both golfers and non-golfers. Following the success of the Golf Quest renovation in Connecticut, we expanded this unique ambiance to Dallas and Kansas City. Each facility, sharing the Golf Lite Ranch feel and Toptracer technology, offers distinct amenities such as mini-golf and vibe bays tailored to the location. As a bridge between entertainment golf and traditional experiences, Golf Lite Ranch provides a casual, inclusive environment with offerings like food, drinks, private classes, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Our services, evolving with BJG’s growth, covered concept design, schematic design, design development, and construction administration. From brand and program development to the use of shipping containers for versatile purposes, each aspect focused on enhancing the customer journey. The inviting patio, characterized by crushed granite ground cover and diverse seating options, epitomizes the relaxed, fun, and inclusive atmosphere of Golf Lite Ranch—a place for everyone to belong, chill, and enjoy a less formal golfing experience
project experience
Smash Park
client | smash park location | roseville, mn; la vista, ne sq. footage | 30,000 (indoor); 15,000 (outdoor)
Our journey with Smash Park began by understanding the brand identity, translating it into a guiding narrative for the design process—from concept to visuals. In collaboration with passionate clients, we created a vibrant, inclusive space featuring outdoor pickleball courts, courtyard games, and a covered patio with diverse seating. Indoors, we incorporated four pickleball courts, an arcade, axe throwing, duckpin bowling, and a private paddle club for adults, complete with a DJ booth, karaoke room, and versatile event space. Balancing creativity with cost-effectiveness, we delivered a budget-friendly design that captures the dynamic synergy between pop art and Smash Park’s unique identity, ensuring a uniqueness within pickleball culture.
project experience
Icons
client | icons
location | nassau, bahamas
sq. footage | 10,000
Our renovation and rebranding project at ICONS, part of The Pointe property near Margaritaville Beach Resort in downtown Nassau, involved transforming the existing entertainment center with amenities like a movie theater, bowling lanes, and a sports VR simulator. In collaboration with the client, our Hospitality + Entertainment team optimized the layout to improve traffic flow and operational efficiency, while also introducing a new arcade element to diversify offerings and enhance revenue. Despite challenges such as low ceilings and a limited budget, we implemented bold, cost-effective design solutions, including vibrant abstract murals and energetic colors. The integration of multifunctional seating areas maximized space usage, and we proposed distinctive yet budget-friendly design solutions for the exterior entrances to complement the interiors. Our comprehensive services covered concept design, floor plans, interior and exterior renderings, and a detailed FF&E and finish spec package, ensuring a cohesive and standout transformation for ICONS.
Partnering with Arco Murray, we undertook a design/build project for Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in the heart of central Florida. The venture involved renovating an existing golf facility and adding a 7,000 square foot entertainment building. This expansion included open seating, a covered patio, and an indoor/outdoor bar. A connecting teeline, equipped with TopTracer technology, caters to both professional and amateur golfers. Our services encompassed the production of construction documents and the seamless execution of construction administration for this 13,700 square foot project in the vibrant locale of central Florida.
project experience
Zion Canyon Hot Springs
client | arco murray, world springs location | laverkin, ut sq. footage | 13,150 (4 buildings)
In collaboration with Arco Murray and World Springs, our team played a key role in a multi-building project for a new hot springs resort just outside of Zion National Park in LaVerkin, Utah. Encompassing 38,150 square feet across four buildings, our services extended from concept design through construction administration. The architectural vision included a main entry, office and locker room building, a food and beverage facility for the outdoor venue, and two mechanical support buildings. Designed to seamlessly integrate into the arid hillside surroundings, the structures provide a unique and relaxing experience. Our contribution covered architecture, interior design, and the meticulous execution of construction documents, ensuring a successful realization of this distinctive hot springs resort.
