HOK Selects New Healthcare Leadership

ST. LOUIS, Mo.– Matthew J. Cotton, AIA has joined HOK in St. Louis as senior vice president and healthcare principal to co-lead the firm’s healthcare practice in its 17-state North Central Region. Cotton will partner with Sheila F. Cahnman, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, in HOK’s Chicago office in leading the practice. He has engaged in large-scale healthcare design planning nationally for 15 years, most recently at Tsoi/Kobus Associates, Inc. in Boston, Mass. He succeeds Paul Strohm, AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, who now has an expanded firm-wide role for HOK’s worldwide practice.

“Healthcare reform has accelerated the already swift pace of change in the healthcare industry, said Rebecca Nolan, associate AIA, IIDA, LEED AP, HOK senior vice president and managing principal for the St. Louis office. “In our nationwide search, Matthew Cotton’s experience and passion in driving that change became quite clear. He will advance and enhance our ability to fully capitalize on HOK’s investment in evidence-based research, and education and training of our design team.”

Cotton will oversee HOK’s 42-employee healthcare group serving its North Central Region which consists of Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Wyoming, Montana, Tennessee and Colorado.

A native of Boston, Mass., Cotton served Tsoi/Kobus Associates since 2001, most recently as associate principal. His portfolio includes more than 20 major healthcare projects spanning master planning, campus redevelopment, facility expansion and integration. He has extensive experience with national healthcare and academic medical institutions and has built a reputation for creating innovative strategies that align teaching, research and healthcare missions.

He has been a national guest speaker for the Association of American Medical Colleges, Tradeline Academic Medical Centers, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) International Conference on Healthcare Facility Design Technology Forum and the New England Healthcare Assembly and has authored numerous articles on health care design trends.

Cotton has a degree in architecture from Boston Architectural Center and a degree in physics from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He is a member of American Institute of Architects, ASHE, the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development and the Society for College and University Planning.

HOK is a global architectural firm that specializes in planning, design and delivery solutions for buildings and communities. Through its collaborative network of 23 offices worldwide, the firm serves diverse clients within the corporate, commercial, public and institutional markets. HOK is committed to developing resources and expertise to help lead the world toward sustainable communities and building environments. Founded in 1955, the firm’s expertise includes architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, lighting, graphics, facilities planning and assessment and construction services.