James Black joined HRA in 2005 shortly after completing his Master of Architecture degree at UCLA. Over time he has demonstrated outstanding abilities in the execution and management of complex projects with high design and technical ambitions, initially in support roles and later as a senior Project Architect and Project Manager with overall responsibility for delivery of high-quality results.
James’ interests in Architecture are diverse. He co-founded the website Architecture Burger in 2003 to publish original design and research work, with particular focus on the intersections between design culture and popular culture. While he remains an avid student of 1960’s and 70’s modernism, James has developed a keen interest in the intricacies of building technologies and the craft of architectural materials, assemblies and details during his tenure at HRA. In addition, he has created and implemented a number of innovative project management and quality control strategies that have significantly enhanced our delivery of projects.
Prior to his graduate studies at UCLA, James earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in in English Language and Literature from the University of Chicago. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design, and he is an active member of the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter, in addition to being recognized as a LEED Accredited Professional by the Green Building Certification Institute.
Every day Diana manages the coordination of HRA’s finances, human resources, IT, maintenance, ESOPs, state regulations, taxes, and insurance. She is a critical component in the daily management of HRA behind the scenes. She was the only non-architect at HRA for many years and is thrilled have grown her team of fellow administrators.
Carl leads HRA’s Houston office, and is leading the design of a 60-story mixed-use residential tower, a 25-floor shell-and-core office tower, and is representing the firm to the Houston business, design, and real estate communities.
Carl’s experience includes 10 years of design-build experience, where he gained a deep understanding of construction, and an appreciation of the importance of coordinating trades and disciplines. His path to Houston included six years at the well respected Kendall Heaton Associates where he lead design teams on several high-rise office towers, corporate headquarters, and a range of other complex and fast-track projects before joining HRA as an Associate Principal in 2019.
He has assembled an all-star team of architects and designers in the Houston office who are managing collaborations with a number of top-flight firms including KPF from New York, MaRS and OJB in Houston, and Michael Hsu’s offices from Austin. In addition, Carl has strong relationships with quality builders, owners and developers and is always seeking to provide an elevated level of service.
Carl obtained his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Iowa State University.
Allison began her career at HRA in 2006 and gained experience in technical project execution, collaborative design and problem-solving approaches, and project management. Allison has been involved in Project Management at HRA since 2018 and has been integrated into a role with Managing Principal of the Culver City office since 2022.
Dave Hollister has a proven ability to manage and empower large complex teams using a variety of integrated project delivery methods to achieve design excellence within established budgets and aggressive schedules. In particular, his work in partnership with major contractors to realize large-scale projects under the Design-Build delivery methodology has been a hallmark of his distinguished career. With over 35 years of successful experience in all aspects of large-scale commercial office, healthcare, institutional and entertainment projects, Dave also possesses a deep technical expertise to complement his outstanding management skills.
Following a two-year stint at Leo Daly in Los Angeles, Dave joined Langdon Wilson in 1985. Over the following six years he worked with Jim House and Doug Robertson on several of the collaborative projects in the office at that time, including a high-rise office building project designed by SOM. Later Dave was a project architect at RBB Architects, then spent nearly 20 years in the Los Angeles office of the global firm HOK, rising to the positions of Senior Vice President and Managing Technical Principal. In early 2015, he joined House & Robertson as a Principal, re-establishing his working relationship with Jim and Doug, and enabling him to work once again on day-to-day projects as a hands-on architect.
Dave earned a Bachelor of Architecture professional degree from California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. He has been a member of the American Institute of Architects for over 30 years, a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional, and earned a certification from the Design-Build Institute of America. Dave has been active in the Central City Association of Los Angeles, the Southern California Development Forum, and the Los Angeles Headquarters Association.
Jim House is a founding Principal of House & Robertson Architects. He has over 40 years of successful experience in all aspects of large-scale institutional, office, hospitality, sports, residential, entertainment and interiors projects. His ability to lead large and diverse teams towards common goals within fast-track schedules, and his expertise in innovative project management and delivery strategies, have led to a number of long-term relationships with dynamic entertainment and commercial development entities.
Prior to co-founding House & Robertson in 1996, Jim worked for six years as a designer and, later, technical architect in the office of well-known modernist Gin Wong. Later, he spent eleven years in the Los Angeles office of the well-respected firm Langdon Wilson, where he became Senior Associate Partner, while working as a project director on large commercial projects in collaboration with a number of well-known design firms.
Jim holds Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture degrees from the University of Southern California, where he remains active as a member of the Board of Directors for the school’s support organization, the USC Architectural Guild. He is recognized as a LEED Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council, holds a Certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and has been licensed to practice architecture in California, Nevada and numerous other states. He has been a member of the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles Chapter since 1985, and was a featured speaker at the AIA national convention in 2006. In 2018 Jim was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects based on notable contributions to the advancement of the practice of architecture via HRA’s unique approach to successful collaborations with a multitude of different design firms and the many prominent projects the firm has completed.
Alma heads up House & Robertson’s San Francisco office, and has been instrumental in introducing HRA, and our signature executive architecture services to a range of clients and collaborators, new and old. Her current work includes a major new office tower in SOMA at the key intersection of 5th and Howard streets, innovative tenant improvement office interiors, and a range of retail and food and beverage projects.
Alma began her career with Swift Lee Office where she worked on the award winning LAUSD Net Zero Energy School Prototype. She later joined Totum Consulting, an integrated architecture, construction, and construction management practice in Sherman Oaks before joining HRA as a project architect and rising quickly through the ranks to become Associate Principal in 2019. In addition to being a leader in the office, Alma is a subject matter expert in the interpretation and application of the California Building Code and assists colleagues and collaborators with thoughtful code compliance strategies.
Alma is also active in the Urban Land Institute and Commercial Real Estate Industry Women (CREW-SF), and SPUR. Alma received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Woodbury University.
Doug Robertson has a proven track record in the leadership of multifaceted teams in the technical execution of complex projects in collaboration with noted design architects. His overall technical expertise is complemented by his deep understanding of information technologies and their innovative applications within the design process. Doug also possesses singular background and expertise in the resolution of intricate code and land-use entitlement issues.
Before co-founding House & Robertson in 1996, Doug spent two years as a planning intern at land-use firm Beland Associates in Pasadena. Later he worked with Langdon Wilson in Los Angeles for nine years as a project architect, rising to the level of Associate. He played a key role in the firm’s adoption of the use of CAD systems for working drawing production, and also helped lead the technical development of projects in collaboration with Kohn Pedersen Fox and Frank O. Gehry Associates.
Doug opened the San Francisco and Houston offices for HRA, and is currently actively supporting the two Associate Principals managing and expanding HRA’s reach in the Texas and Northern California markets.
He studied Art History with an emphasis on architectural history at UC Riverside before attending the University of California at Los Angeles in the Master’s of Architecture program. He is an active member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, serving as past chapter secretary and current member of the AIA California Council Advocacy Advisory Committee. Doug is a LEED Accredited Professional and has been involved for many years in the Construction Specifications Institute. He has served as a member and chair of the Planning Commission for the City of Pasadena. His leadership of complex collaborative projects has been highlighted in several publications including Architectural Record, and he has been a guest critic at a number of student reviews at his alma mater, the UCLA Department of Architecture & Urban Design.