HR&A supported the historic transition of County Judge Lina Hidalgo of Harris County, TX, the youngest—she was just 27 years old when she ran for office—and the first Latina to serve as the chief executive of the third-largest county in the U.S. Our transition support enabled effective governance from day one through strategic staffing, policy framework development, and unprecedented community engagement that reached over 11,000 residents.
HR&A developed a comprehensive strategic plan for BioDistrict New Orleans, leading a team of specialized local firms to create a framework for inclusive innovation district growth. Through systematic stakeholder engagement and market analysis, HR&A delivered prioritized investment strategies and a governance structure that leverages the district's institutional strengths while ensuring equitable community development and economic opportunity.
HR&A served as strategic partner and development advisor to Rice Management Company for The Ion and broader 16-acre Ion District in Houston, overseeing real estate and programmatic development. This comprehensive advisory role has successfully transformed a former Sears building into a thriving innovation hub while laying the groundwork for a 3-5 million square foot mixed-use innovation district that fosters an inclusive tech ecosystem and creates equitable economic opportunities.
HR&A supported San Diego State University to develop the vision and business plan for a 1.6 million square foot Innovation District at SDSU Mission Valley, a transformative mixed-use development on a 165-acre transit-oriented site. We guided master plan refinement and are supporting procurement of a developer for up to 500,000 square feet of research space, positioning SDSU to expand career opportunities for its 35,000 students while growing its $5.7 billion annual regional economic impact.
HR&A has supported the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) since 2017 to drive investment and strategic partnerships across Los Angeles County to realize its goal of reaching 600,000 green jobs by 2050. HR&A’s collaboration with LACI began with a Green Jobs Study to quantify and characterize the green economy in Los Angeles County, essential for setting workforce goals and strategies.
HR&A guided the Moffitt Cancer Center in master planning and implementing SPEROS FL, Moffitt’s transformative 775-acre innovation campus outside of Tampa, Florida. This strategic advisory work supported Moffitt, Florida’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, in expanding its clinical, research, educational, and treatment activities, directly advancing its mission of preventing and curing cancer through a cohesive, purpose-built campus environment.
HR&A is working with Sacramento County's Office of Economic Development to create a comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan that will guide the County's approach to job retention, business growth, and innovation over the next five years. Our inclusive stakeholder engagement process and analytical framework will inform strategic priorities and implementation approaches for addressing regional economic disparities.
HR&A guided the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in developing and implementing a comprehensive innovation district strategy that bridges research capabilities with industry collaboration. We delivered a strategic roadmap with clear governance structures, partnership frameworks, and phased real estate development priorities that position MUSC to accelerate healthcare innovation while generating significant economic impact for the Charleston region.
Working with Destination Crenshaw, HR&A developed a comprehensive strategic plan that establishes a roadmap for building a global cultural destination celebrating Black Los Angeles while countering displacement pressures. The resulting framework provides clear strategies, initiatives, timelines, and metrics to guide inclusive economic development while preserving the community's rich history and culture.
The Knight Foundation engaged HR&A to evaluate their philanthropic investments in downtown revitalization across nine U.S. cities. Through comprehensive data collection and analysis, HR&A assessed the effectiveness of the Foundation’s priority grants, investigated the sustainability of supported organizations, and identified critical revitalization levers that could be applied to any city. This evaluation provided Knight Foundation with essential insights to guide future investment decisions and promote equitable economic development.
HR&A is working with Sacramento County's Office of Economic Development to create a comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan that will guide the County's approach to job retention, business growth, and innovation over the next five years. Our inclusive stakeholder engagement process and analytical framework will inform strategic priorities and implementation approaches for addressing regional economic disparities.
HR&A Advisors serves as the retained executive team for the Rowen Foundation, orchestrating the creation of a 2,000-acre innovation community in the Atlanta Metro Region that will connect research, education, and industry across agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. As the operational leadership for this transformative project, HR&A directs all aspects of development including real estate strategy, foundation operations, tenant attraction, board governance, and public-private partnerships spanning Georgia's higher education institutions and government entities.
