Hana Kassem FAIA NOMA WELL AP

Principal

Hana creates architecture that resonates with individuals’ and communities’ sense of belonging and addresses environmental and cultural sustainability. Whether working on state-of-the-art research and innovation districts, workplaces, or residences, she is acutely sensitive to how the design of buildings can positively shape the experiences of their users.

Experientially Driven Architecture

With sensitivity to place and culture, Hana leverages the iconic and experiential qualities of design to create architecture and interiors that foster a profound sense of belonging. Her design of key buildings at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), including the University Activity Center, the Administration Building, and the Energy Center, blends the university’s programmatic goals with the site’s environmental context; focusing on student well-being. At Meta Farley, she created a modern workplace inside an expansive historical landmarked postal facility, while at the NYCHA Red Hook Houses post-superstorm Sandy project, she and her team engaged residents to develop an infrastructural plan that provides for repairing damage and protecting against future flooding while also enhancing social resiliency and reinforcing a sense of place.

HKUST(GZ) University Activity Center

Guangzhou, China

Meta Farley

New York, NY, USA

NYCHA Red Hook Houses

Brooklyn, NY, USA

Program-Informed Synergy

A pioneer in creating cutting-edge academic, science, and research facilities, Hana takes a program-driven approach that emphasizes flexibility, synergy, wellness, and sustainability. Her designs, such as the AIA award-winning Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) at the City University of New York, offer inclusive environments that satisfy institutions’ immediate needs while addressing long-term adaptability and performance. In Detroit, the University of Michigan Center for Innovation (UMCI) is a world class, multi-disciplinary, academic facility that provides pathways to STEM education for the wider community.

CUNY Advanced Science Research Center

New York, NY, USA

University of Michigan Center for Innovation

Detroit, MI, USA

Southworks

Ithaca, NY, USA

Industry Leadership

Hana serves on the AIANY Board of Trustees as VP for Design Excellence and is Founding Chair of its annual Leaning Out | Women in Architecture panel. She also serves on the Van Alen Institute Executive Board of Trustees and was appointed to the Mayor’s Advisory Council for New York’s post-pandemic reopening. Hana and has taught at the Yale School of Architecture, The Cooper Union and the Parsons School of Constructed Environments, and been a guest critic at Pratt Institute, RISD, Columbia University, amongst others. She is an internationally sought-after speaker and lecturer. She is a published author in architectural reviews and is the co-editor of Architect d.b.a. | On Re-defining the Roles of the Architect Today, a book published by the AIANY.