HBRA was founded in 1961 by James Wright Hammond, who conceived the practice as an opportunity to work personally with clients through all phases of the design and construction process. Mr. Hammond believed that collaboration between client and architect produces the finest buildings. This approach has been developed over thirty-nine years and a range of building types by Thomas Beeby, who joined the firm in 1971, and his partners Dennis Rupert and Gary Ainge. Today the tradition begun by Mr. Hammond continues under the leadership of Aric Lasher, who joined the firm in 1985.

HBRA has maintained its offices in Chicago since its founding. In an attempt to bring the sophistication of a large firm to a more personal manner of practice, the firm designs buildings for a range of purposes and scales; these include museums, performing arts centers, libraries, academic buildings, religious buildings, residences, office buildings, urban and campus master plans, and renovations of historic buildings. We are recognized for designing projects that require sensitivity to existing contexts, as well as an ability to translate design challenges at any scale into meaningful and enduring structures that are responsive to client needs and specific site conditions.