In 1969, three young classmates from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, launched a firm with their mentor, Walter Hill, a well-known school architect. The new firm, Hill Miller Friedlaender Hollander was soon known for its innovative approach to school design, winning awards for the iconic Brewster Elementary School and Charlestown High School.
The young firm’s projects were quickly distinguished for their humanizing scale, invigorating use of color, and the incorporation of natural light and fresh air. Their work expanded to include other public building types, such as the East Cambridge Fire Station, commercial facilities, and housing that revitalized urban neighborhoods.
Known since 1984 as HMFH, the firm was reorganized to reflect the leadership of John Miller, Stephen Friedlaender, Mario Torroella, and George Metzger. And through major projects like Penn High School in Indiana, HMFH established a national reputation for thoughtful educational design, avoiding trends and instead, creating lasting buildings that continue to delight new generations of students.
Today, with Laura Wernick, Pip Lewis, and Lori Cowles invigorating and expanding the leadership, HMFH has broadened its focus to include a range of academic and institutional clients. Not surprisingly, the same innovative design, tenacity, and exacting attention to detail and client service that distinguished its early practice, continues to guide the firm as it embraces new models of practice, technology and sustainability.