HBGathers Ends Summer in San Diego
At HBG Design, we believe great design begins with great relationships—and that includes the connections we nurture within our own team. This summer, we brought our firm-wide culture of creativity and camaraderie to life with our HBGathers summer event series, celebrating our teams across offices in Memphis, Dallas, and—most recently—San Diego.
Our final event of the season took place at the stunning Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station, a local favorite in San Diego known for its expansive outdoor spaces, lush gardens, and bold craft brews. With its laid-back, inviting atmosphere, the venue perfectly captured the essence of our Southern California studio and the vibrant energy they bring to HBG’s collaborative culture.
A Taste of Southern California
The San Diego team embraced local flavors with a traditional taco bar featuring pollo asada, carnitas, and carne asada, topped off with fresh churros and chocolate sauce for dessert. And in true craft beer fashion, the Hazy IPA was the standout sip of the night.
Playful Energy, Meaningful Connections
The event was more than just great food and brews—it was an opportunity to step away from the workday and engage with teammates and their families. With bocce ball, cornhole, giant Jenga, and Connect 4, the casual outdoor setting sparked plenty of friendly competition, laughter, and storytelling. One of the most memorable parts of the evening? Seeing colleagues' kids jump in to play alongside the adults—a joyful reminder of the family-friendly spirit that drives our workplace culture.
Culture Beyond the Studio
The San Diego HBGathers event capped off a series of unforgettable summer gatherings, following events in Memphis at the iconic Levitt Shell and in Dallas at Chicken N Pickle. While each celebration reflected the personality of its location, all shared one common thread: connection. At HBG, we make space to celebrate our people—not just as designers, architects, and visionaries—but as teammates, friends, and family.
Why It Matters
For our clients and future team members, HBGathers is more than just a summer party series—it’s a reflection of how we work. We foster collaboration and creativity not only within our studios, but across offices and disciplines. These events serve as a powerful reminder of what drives our design process: trust, communication, and a culture that values both professional excellence and personal connection.
As we continue to grow and take on new, exciting projects across the country, we remain grounded in what makes us strong: a connected team fueled by shared experiences and authentic relationships.
We’re already looking forward to the next season of HBGathers. Until then—cheers from San Diego!
Interested in joining a firm that values design, creativity, and connection?
Explore careers at HBG Design → https://hbg.design/careers/available-positions/
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.”
