As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m in Portland, Oregon attending the 44^th annual SCUP conference.  There are 14 HOKers here from across the U.S. and Canada, and not only are we learning lots and meeting great people, we’re also sharing HOK greatness with the world.

To be specific, HOK greatness includes:

• 2009 National SCUP Campus Planning Award – District Category for the University of Alabama Science and Engineering Precinct Master Plan (Tuscaloosa, Alabama). Accepted by Crystal Barriscale and Paul Woolford (San Francisco) and our University of Alabama Clients, this award recognizes the University’s new precinct which focuses on science and engineering and creates a new pedestrian quadrangle and improved pedestrian and vehicular circulation.
• Presentation by Gordon Stratford (Toronto) – Vision to Lead: Edmonton Clinic North. With Jane Drummond,Vice-Provost and Professor of Nursing at the University of Alberta, and Leonard Oliver Rodriguez from Stantec Architecture, Gordon discussed the University of Alberta’s Edmonton Clinic North, an interdisciplinary facility that brings together integrated health education and research.
• Presentation by yours truly (Washington, DC) – Including a “Sustainable Framework Plan” in Your Campus Plan: With Beverly Wood and Chris Whitney from URS Corp, I will present tomorrow (Wednesday!) on how to develop a framework plan that takes sustainability on campus from a “low hanging fruit” model to a truly integrated model.
• Gorgeous booth designed by Julie Stein (St. Louis) – Six HOK projects were featured in the booth, as well as information regarding our sustainable consulting practice. We had lots of visitors (and they weren’t just coming for the free seedlings we handed out)!
• Amazing client dinner honoring our clients, particularly those from the University of Alabama. A good time was had by all – let’s leave it at “some things are better left unsaid” (and undocumented).

This has been an amazing conference.  I’ve met tremendous people from both universities and other consultant groups, and even ran into a name from the past.  The presenter from DEGW talking about Learning Landscapes looked very familiar to me.  After staring at him for most of the presentation (sorry Elliot!), I realized why.  He was a TA in one of my undergraduate courses.  At the end of the session, I confirmed this with him.  Even better, he has worked closely with one of our newest Advance Strategists and one of my new favorite people, Scott Francisco. Small world indeed!

Thanks to all the HOK folks that made this an amazing event, many kudos to the SCUP organizers, and all of our clients and friends attending the conference.