History
HLS Architects, P.C. was originally founded as Henry Holle & Associates in 1962 by Henry C. Holle, AIA. Since then, the company has grown and flourished under the guidance of its dedicated principals and the aid of its exceptionally talented staff. The company’s current Principal, Steve C. Lin, AIA, has been a part of the firm since 1973, was appointed as one of the principal architects in 1983, and has been a Managing Principal since 1993. The company’s Vice President, Annie C. Song, AIA, was recently appointed as a Principal, after working with the company for over 15 years.

Expertise
From its very first project, “One Washington Circle” in 1962, HLS has shown an aptitude for designing multi-family residential buildings, but its extensive portfolio proves the company’s versatility, as well. In addition to specializing in large-scale residential structures, HLS’s architectural expertise ranges from small office buildings to total lifestyle communities, including the Leisure World of Maryland and the Leisure World of Virginia, as well as the intricate mixed-use design for Ballston Metro Center.

Reputation
With its distinctive combination of the most up-to-date technology, an innovative perspective, and fanatical dedication to the quality of its design, HLS has created a solid and long-standing reputation for reliability and success. The company is known for its priority toward the functionality of its designs, as well as its indispensable ability to maximize the potential of limited resources in a metropolitan environment. Based solely on the reputation of its past products, each of its collaborative projects has been 80 to 100 percent sold or leased even before the building’s completion.

Structure
HLS attributes much of its success to its flexible method of organization, which incorporates the work of its smaller-sized firm, whose current employees number less than a dozen, with outside consultants in order to offer comprehensive design services. The company’s close-knit office structure and the active participation and collaboration of all its principals ensure the constancy of its design and the superiority of its final product. Meanwhile, its close, long-term relationships with consulting companies give HLS Architects the ability to increase its work quality and efficiency.

Collaboration
One particular area of success is HLS’s partnership with The IDI Group Companies, the renowned Washington DC area developers with which HLS has maintained a close relationship for over 25 years. International Developers, Inc. is led by President and CEO Giuseppe Cecchi, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 from Finest for Family Living, and former President of the development company that introduced the Washington area to its first mixed-use project, the now internationally famous Watergate. IDI’s Executive Vice President Norman Dreyfuss, in charge of the development of the senior communities Leisure World of Virginia and Leisure World of Maryland, attributes the success of their building sales to the company’s “team approach.” What has proven to be the best form of advertisement for their collaborative projects is a solid reputation. The success of the company’s alliance with The IDI Group Companies has put HLS at the forefront of its field and developed its repute for creating innovative and unique building designs that provide their residents and patrons with high-quality, long-term living and working spaces.