San Diego Studio Named One of the Best Places to Work
HBG Design is proud to announce that our San Diego studio has once again been recognized among the Best Places to Work in San Diego by the San Diego Business Journal, earning 21st place in the Medium-Sized Firm category at this year’s awards program. This achievement marks the third time our San Diego office has received this distinction, reinforcing our commitment to building a workplace where people thrive.
Celebrating Culture and Collaboration
The Best Places to Work awards highlight organizations that excel in creating supportive, engaging, and high-performing environments. For our San Diego team, survey results reflected:
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88% agreement on overall workplace satisfaction
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95% feeling supported by managers
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Strong appreciation for our creative projects, high-quality work, and flexible work options
Employees consistently describe the studio as collaborative, communicative, and fun—values that define our culture and drive our success. The absence of ego and the emphasis on shared achievement are core strengths that continue to inspire both our people and our projects.
A Shared Success
We couldn’t be prouder of our San Diego team’s passion, purpose, and dedication. Their energy fuels our design excellence and makes our studio an environment where innovation and connection flourish.
Join Our Team
At HBG Design, we’re always looking for creative, driven professionals who want to be part of a culture where people and ideas thrive. Explore our open positions and discover why we’re one of the Best Places to Work.
👉 Explore Careers at HBG Design
Award-Winning Collaboration
HBG Design Wins Bronze Award for Collaboration in Design
HBG Design is honored to announce that we have been awarded the Bronze Award for Collaboration in Design by the ASID South Central Chapter, which represents Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
This recognition highlights the exceptional partnership between HBG Design and Schumacher Hospitality, a leading purveyor of fabrics and wallcoverings, on a current boutique resort project in development.
A True Collaboration
Over the course of a year, our interiors team worked side-by-side with Schumacher Hospitality to design custom wallcoverings and fabrics that bring artistry, craft, and durability to this boutique hospitality environment. The design vision draws inspiration from the area’s industrial heritage and surrounding woodland landscapes, blending the strength of forged steel and precision detailing with the warmth, texture, and flow of the forest.
Design Highlights
Through close collaboration, Schumacher’s iconic residential patterns were reimagined and transformed into hospitality-grade finishes—tailored in color, scale, and performance to suit the resort’s high-traffic spaces.
- Verdure: A reinterpretation of Verdure Tapestry fabric into a custom vinyl wallcovering for the lobby living room.
- Larissa: Scaled and adapted into Type II vinyl for dramatic impact on the lobby bar nook ceiling.
- Zenada: Customized with a fresh color palette for the bar nook bookcase wall.
- Public Restrooms: Vibrant vinyl wallcoverings designed in new project-specific colorways.
- Elevator Lobbies: A striking “zebra” pattern reimagined as an abstract feather motif.
- Featherfest: Saturated feather-pattern wallcoverings for the suite powder room.
- Zambezi Velvet: Digitally printed fabric in a custom colorway for the rooftop restaurant.
Why It Matters
This award celebrates the power of collaboration in design. By uniting HBG’s hospitality expertise with Schumacher’s craftsmanship, the team created one-of-a-kind finishes that capture the spirit of place while meeting the demands of modern hospitality design.
Congratulations to our HBG team and our partners at Schumacher Hospitality for this exciting recognition!
Top Hospitality Design Firm: HBG Design #2 in 2025
At HBG Design, our passion for hospitality design continues to shape the future of resort and hotel experiences across the country. We’re thrilled to announce that Hotel Business magazine has ranked HBG Design #2 on its 2025 list of Top Architects & Designers—marking our sixth consecutive year among the top
five hospitality design firms in the nation.
This continued recognition underscores our position as a top hospitality design firm known for vision, creativity, and technical excellence. At HBG Design, our integrated architecture and interior design teams work in close collaboration to create immersive, memorable environments that resonate deeply with guests and elevate our clients’ brands.
Milestone Openings in 2025
This year marks an exciting chapter for our hospitality studio as we celebrate the completion of three signature casino resort hotel projects:
- Gun Lake Casino Resort in Wayland, Michigan – A bold expansion of this established property, the new hotel and spa experience delivers upscale comfort and signature design tailored to the Gun Lake brand.
- Golden Mesa Casino Hotel in Guymon, Oklahoma – This project introduces new overnight accommodations and hospitality offerings to an area rich in culture and gaming excitement.
- Rain Rock Casino Hotel in Yreka, California – Nestled at the base of the Siskiyou Mountains, this new hotel brings boutique luxury and elevated guest amenities to the region’s premier gaming destination.
These milestone openings showcase the creative and operational strength of our team, and reflect the level of quality that defines HBG Design’s work as a leading hospitality design firm.
A Legacy of Experience and Innovation
Over the past two decades, HBG Design has planned and designed more than 35,000 hotel and resort rooms across the United States, ranging from boutique and lifestyle hotels to large-scale integrated resort destinations. These include three-, four-, and five-star luxury properties that combine impactful design with operational insight.
Our longstanding reputation as a top hospitality architecture and interior design firm is built on our ability to create environments that are both strategically sound and emotionally engaging. We anticipate shifting traveler preferences and deliver solutions that exceed expectations for both owners and guests.
Designing What’s Next
As we look ahead, our team continues to focus on delivering bold architecture and interior design solutions that reflect a strong sense of place and story. Every project is a reflection of our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence in hospitality design.
We are proud to be recognized once again as one of the top hospitality design firms in the country. Thank you to Hotel Business for this national recognition, and congratulations to our team members, clients, and creative partners who continue to drive our success forward.
The best is yet to come.
Nathan Peak Named to GGB’s 25 People to Watch in 2025
HBG Design’s President Honored for Shaping the Future of Gaming and Entertainment Design
At HBG Design, we’re thrilled to celebrate our President, Nathan Peak, AIA, LEED GA, for being featured in Global Gaming Business (GGB) Magazine’s prestigious "25 People to Watch in 2025" list. This annual recognition highlights individuals who are shaping the future of the gaming industry through innovation, leadership, and impactful contributions.
Nathan’s journey at HBG Design exemplifies dedication and growth. Starting with two internships in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he has spent the past 23 years shaping our firm and the broader gaming and entertainment design landscape. Since becoming President in 2022, Nathan has guided HBG Design through a transformative period of strategic growth and regional expansion.
Driving Growth and Innovation
Under Nathan’s leadership, HBG Design has doubled the size of its San Diego office and solidified its presence in Dallas with the appointment of a new location leader, Ray Mabry. These expansions are part of a cohesive strategy to enhance client service and project execution across the Midwest and West Coast—regions that account for the majority of the firm’s client base.
Nathan is also spearheading efforts to expand HBG’s capabilities, ensuring the firm delivers exceptional quality on projects of all scales. This includes creative approaches to design and construction, such as cost-effective framing methods that maximize client ROI while maintaining a premium guest experience.
Beyond project delivery, HBG Design is investing in master planning and land-use planning services, positioning the firm to provide value at the earliest stages of project development. From environmental impact studies to visioning long-term investment opportunities, Nathan and his team are focused on helping clients realize their goals from the ground up.
A Vision for 2025 and Beyond
Looking to the year ahead, Nathan is particularly excited about HBG Design’s involvement in landmark projects like the Gun Lake Casino expansion in Michigan. The centerpiece of this project, the Wawyé Oasis, exemplifies innovation, transforming from a resort pool by day to a performance complex by night within a six-story glass-enclosed structure. 
Nathan also recognizes the importance of evolving gaming floor designs to enhance customer experiences. His vision incorporates streamlined layouts for improved flow and wayfinding, while integrating sportsbooks with other entertainment amenities—a trend that blurs traditional boundaries and creates immersive environments.
Recognizing Leadership in Gaming Design
Nathan’s inclusion in GGB’s "25 People to Watch in 2025" underscores his significant contributions to gaming and entertainment design and his forward-thinking leadership at HBG Design.
As Roger Gros, GGB Publisher, notes, “As usual, our 25 People to Watch reflect the best the industry has to offer. Every one of our choices [this year] has made an impact on the industry already, and we feel the sky’s the limit to what they’ll achieve next.”
For more updates on Nathan Peak and HBG Design’s innovative projects, follow us on social media or explore our website.
HBG Design’s Interiors Team Recognized as a 2024 NEWH Top ID
We are excited to announce that HBG Design’s Interior Design Team has been recognized as a 2024 Top ID by the NEWH Midsouth Chapter! This prestigious honor celebrates firms that showcase design excellence in the hospitality industry while supporting NEWH’s mission of scholarship, education, and the advancement of the hospitality design community.
About the NEWH TopID Award
The TopID Award is an exclusive recognition given by NEWH chapters and regional boards to firms that demonstrate innovative design, leadership, and meaningful contributions to the hospitality industry. This honor reflects not only our team’s creative design achievements but also our continued involvement and commitment to the NEWH mission.
“HBG Design is honored to be recognized again as a Top ID by the NEWH Mid-South Chapter. The HBG interior design team is passionate about creating transformative hospitality design experiences. We greatly appreciate this acknowledgement of our achievements by the NEWH organization.” Emily Marshall, Interior Design Director, HBG Design
A Four-Time Honoree
This year marks the fourth consecutive year that HBG Design has been recognized as a Top ID by NEWH Midsouth—an achievement that underscores the dedication, talent, and expertise of our incredible Interior Design Team. Through award-winning projects across the hospitality sector, our designers continue to deliver distinctive and engaging guest experiences that set new standards in the industry.
Supporting the Future of Hospitality Design
At HBG Design, we are proud to align with NEWH’s mission to support the next generation of hospitality design professionals. Through active engagement, mentorship, and sponsorship, our team remains dedicated to fostering education and opportunities for emerging talent in the field.
Honoring Our Interior Design Team
This recognition is a testament to the passion, creativity, and hard work of our Interior Design Team. Their innovative approach to hospitality spaces—from luxury hotels to immersive resort experiences—reflects HBG Design’s commitment to delivering transformative environments that elevate the guest experience.
Thank you to NEWH Midsouth for this incredible honor, and congratulations to our talented Interior Design Team for this well-deserved recognition!
Caption by Hyatt Wins AIA Memphis Merit Award
Caption by Hyatt Wins AIA Memphis Merit Award for Excellence in Design
HBG Design is proud to announce that Caption by Hyatt has received a 2024 Merit Award for New Construction from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Memphis Chapter. The award was presented on November 16, 2024, at the AIA Memphis Annual Awards Gala, held at Collage Dance in Memphis.
The project, located in the heart of Memphis, was recognized for its innovative design approach, successfully merging contemporary architecture with the neighborhood’s historic fabric. The jury, comprised of distinguished design professionals from AIA Arizona, praised the project for its thoughtful revitalization of the existing streetscape, balancing modern construction with historic preservation.
Jury Comments:
"This project successfully revitalizes a historic facade by thoughtfully layering new construction with the existing structure. The reuse of the original mechanics shop, combined with a setback modern addition, preserves the street's human scale and creates unique urban spaces, including a charming semi-outdoor courtyard. The well-scaled brickwork provides a welcome departure from typical contemporary hotel aesthetics, resulting in a balanced and authentic character."
Designing an Authentic Urban Experience
Caption by Hyatt
is a one-of-a-kind hospitality experience that prioritizes connection—both to the surrounding community and to its guests. The design integrates the adaptive reuse of an early 20th-century mechanics shop with a sleek, modern addition, creating a dynamic blend of old and new. By preserving the original building’s scale and materiality, the design pays homage to Memphis’ industrial heritage while introducing a contemporary, vibrant hotel concept.
Central to the project is the thoughtfully designed courtyard, a semi-outdoor space that fosters interaction and serves as a gathering hub. The brickwork, carefully detailed to reflect the surrounding context, adds to the hotel’s approachable and timeless aesthetic.
A Testament to Excellence
The AIA Memphis Merit Award celebrates projects that demonstrate design excellence, innovation, and a meaningful contribution to the built environment. HBG Design is honored to have been recognized for Caption by Hyatt and is proud of
the impact this project has made in the Memphis community.
We extend our gratitude to AIA Memphis and the jury panel for this incredible recognition and to our clients and partners who helped bring this vision to life.
About HBG Design HBG Design is a nationally recognized architecture and interior design firm specializing in creating transformative hospitality, entertainment, and mixed-use spaces. With a focus on design excellence and innovation, we strive to bring meaningful connections to life through inspired architecture.
GOH Travel Scholarship 2025 Winner: Paul Patterson
HBG Design is proud to celebrate the presentation of our 9th GOH Travel Scholarship Award, honoring one of our founding partners, Greg Hnedak. This annual legacy award embodies Greg’s passion for immersive learning and transformative travel experiences, providing a unique opportunity for our staff to connect with new cultures, discover inspiring places, and explore the roots of design in meaningful ways.
This year, we are thrilled to announce Paul Patterson as the GOH Travel Scholarship 2025 winner. Paul’s concept for his journeys pushes the boundaries of the scholarship, presenting the idea of contrast in ways our jury had never seen before. His proposal exemplifies how design connects the familiar and the unfamiliar, inspiring creativity through juxtaposition.
Paul’s travels will take him on two transformative, week-long journeys to countries with similar cultures, design sensibilities, and awe-inspiring natural beauty – Iceland in the darkness of winter and Norway in the endless light of summer. This unique itinerary stretches the GOH Travel Scholarship’s purpose, exploring extreme contrasts in season, light, and environment to deepen our understanding of unity, adversity, and inspiration.
Experiencing Iceland in Winter’s Darkness
Paul’s first journey will lead him to Reykjavik, Iceland, a place where winter's darkness envelops urban life and natural wonders alike. His exploration will include:
- Visits to art and history museums showcasing Icelandic culture and traditions.
- Architectural studies of modern public and religious buildings.
- An immersive journey through the Golden Circle, a 190-mile route that highlights Iceland’s rugged landscapes, powerful waterfalls, geysers, and volcanic terrain.
- A hopeful glimpse of the Northern Lights, a natural spectacle that transforms the darkness into magic.
Paul’s focus on the stark beauty of Iceland’s harsh winter will uncover how design responds to extreme conditions, creating spaces of comfort amid adversity.
Experiencing Norway in the Light of Endless Summer
In stark contrast, Paul’s second journey will take him to Norway at the height of summer, where the midnight sun stretches the days into near-perpetual light. His itinerary includes:
- Visits to Oslo’s cultural hubs, exploring museums and contemporary Scandinavian architecture.
- Studie
Paul received his award at HBG's annual end of the year presentation. s of ancient stave churches, standing as historical counterpoints to modern design.
- Exploration of Norway’s breathtaking fjords, remote towns, and natural wonders through hiking and kayaking.
- Insights into how endless daylight influences urban living, culture, and the human experience.
Paul’s experience in Norway will showcase how light shapes life and design, revealing both similarities and profound contrasts to his time in Iceland.
Paul’s Vision for the GOH Travel Scholarship
In his own words, Paul expressed how this journey represents the ultimate contrast:
“The juxtaposition of seasons in these two places will beautifully represent the idea of comparison and extreme contrast; one in the depth of its harshness but also at the height of its ability to provide comfort along with some of the most amazing natural beauty a person can witness. The other, at the height of splendor that can only be attained with almost never-ending sunshine at the opposite of nearly endless darkness.” *
Honoring the Spirit of Exploration
Paul Patterson’s journey embodies the very essence of the GOH Travel Scholarship – exploration, learning, and inspiration through immersive experiences. We believe his travels will offer a compelling perspective on design, human connection, and the profound influence of environment and light.
Please join us in congratulating Paul Patterson, HBG Design’s GOH Travel Scholarship 2025 Winner! We look forward to sharing Paul’s insights and discoveries as he embarks on this extraordinary journey.
For more information on the GOH Travel Scholarship and to follow Paul’s journey, stay connected with HBG Design on our website and social media channels.
HBG Design voted a 2024 Top Workplace: Thank You, HBG Team!
We are incredibly proud to announce that HBG Design has been recognized as a 2024 Top Workplace by the Commercial Appeal for the 10th year in a row! This remarkable milestone reflects the dedication and enthusiasm of our team, and we couldn’t be more honored to receive this recognition.
In addition to this decade-long achievement, our San Diego office has been named a Best Place to Work for the second consecutive year. These awards are particularly meaningful because they are based entirely on employee feedback. The most significant aspect of these honors is not the awards themselves but what they represent: a shared commitment to fostering a thriving, inclusive, and inspiring workplace culture.
A Culture That Drives Us Forward
At HBG Design, we believe that people are at the heart of everything we do. This recognition speaks volumes about the strength of our culture, the dedication of our employees, and the visionary leadership that guides
us. It also highlights the bright future we are building together.
Here are some of the 2024 Top Workplace employee survey results that we are especially proud of this year:
- 97% of employees say their managers care about their concerns.
- Based on the Energage survey, HBG Design ranks in the top 20% of national design firms for caring and supportive managers.
- 92% of employees believe their managers and the firm support their professional growth and development. This also places HBG in the top 20% nationally for professional development opportunities within our industry.
- 94% of employees feel enabled to work at their full potential.
- 92% feel appreciated for their work.
These statistics underscore our commitment to empowering every team member to grow, thrive, and achieve their best.
Values That Define Us
This year, we were particularly thrilled to see these additional 2024 Top Workplace survey results:
- 92% of employees recognize HBG Design for its strong values.
- 91% of employees view HBG as an inclusive company.
These qualities are essential to our success and are at the core of how we operate every day. Fostering a Top Workplace environment of inclusion and upholding strong values isn’t just a goal—it’s how we achieve meaningful, impactful results as a firm.
Our Gratitude to the HBG Team
The Top Workplace recognition we’ve received over the years is a testament to YOU—our talented and passionate team. You are the heart of HBG Design, and your feedback drives us to keep improving, innovating, and delivering excellence.
Thank you for making HBG Design a truly exceptional place to work. Together, we will continue building on this legacy, shaping a workplace where everyone can thrive and making an impact across the industry for years to come.
Here’s to you, and here’s to the bright future ahead!
Ferran Espin Named 2024 HBG Employee of the Year!
Ferran Espin is the recipient of the 2024 HBG Employee of the Year legacy award. As Practice Leader Nathan Peak shared with fellow HBG employees during the award ceremony,
“Ferran is someone who embraces empathetic leadership, inspires others and positively impacts HBG’s culture. He is a champion of professional development, prioritizes mentorship, and demonstrates a passion for sharing knowledge and experience while capably directing project teams on some of our most complicated and multifaceted assignments.”
As the Senior Project Architect for the successful WinStar Tower 4/Lucas Oil Live project in Thackerville, Oklahoma, for The Chickasaw Nation, Ferran demonstrated exceptional ability in coordinating one of the firm’s largest and most complex undertakings to date.
“From our contractors to our clients and expansive consultant teams, the people who work with Ferran respect him as a great and knowledgeable leader,” added Peak, “His self-assured and zen-like personality emanates an unmatched level of experience and knowledge that comes across as authentic, professional, and thoughtful.”
HBG’s Principals recognized Ferran as someone who ‘moved the needle’ farther than anyone in 2024 and expressed confidence he will continue to be an integral part of HBG’s ability to ensure longevity in the years to come.
At the close of each year, the Principals at HBG Design uphold a cherished tradition: the Employee of the Year award. Originating nearly forty years ago, the firm’s founders intended this accolade to be the most prestigious honor bestowed upon an HBG employee, highlighting someone whose contributions leave a significant mark on the firm's practice or operations. Today, this vision continues to resonate powerfully. Congratulations, Ferran, 2024 HBG Employee of the Year!
HBG Design Recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work
HBG Design is proud to announce that it has been named a winner in the San Diego Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work 2024” awards. Being recognized as #14 (mid-size companies) out of hundreds of entries in the highly-competitive program underscores HBG’s commitment to creating a dynamic and supportive workplace culture that fosters innovation, collaboration, and employee satisfaction.
“Our team is the driving force behind our success, and we are dedicated to maintaining an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to achieve their best,” said Nathan Peak, HBG President & Practice Leader.
The San Diego Business Journal’s Best Places to Work awards evaluate companies based on their workplace policies and practices, growth potential and opportunities for employees, corporate culture, benefits and compensation, access to management, and corporate values. This accolade is a testament to HBG’s ongoing efforts to create a thriving workplace where employees are motivated and engaged. The evaluation process was based on an employee survey conducted by Workforce Resource Group, assessing topics like management effectiveness, employee perks, growth opportunities, and overall company culture.
“We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated and energized team,” said Joe Baruffaldi, Orange Group Leader, “their commitment to our shared values is such an important part of what makes HBG Design the kind of company where everyone is excited to contribute and be part of something really special.”
