Jim Vander Heiden is dedicated to his clients’ business success. As Principal responsible for HGA’s Corporate and Arts/Community/Higher Education Practice Groups in the Great Lakes Office, Jim is the primary conduit between the design team and the owner. He leads the client through the entire design/development process to ensure that the client’s business objectives are met, overseeing programming, planning and development. “We strive to understand the impact a building will have on a client’s business, understand their business in a deeper way, and then move their business forward.” Bringing a background in both architecture and engineering on projects of various scales, Jim is highly skilled at striking a balance between a building’s technical requirements and inspirational aesthetic quality.
With more than 20 years of leadership experience, Jim is the client’s strategic advisor. In Jim’s words, “I help shape the client’s expectations, and then work with them to discover the possibilities.” He views the most successful projects as growing from a collaboration with his clients that is highly interactive. Bringing the architecture, engineering and planning expertise of HGA to the firm’s clients enhances that collaboration and leverages the broader perspective of the interdisciplinary teams to address the challenges and opportunities that each project offers. As both a registered architect and engineer, Jim understands the power of applying an interdisciplinary team to a creative process, and the superior design solutions that result.
Additionally, Jim provides leadership toward HGA’s commitment to provide a highly integrated delivery of their clients’ projects. He is committed to working closely with construction partners, engaging this critical perspective to enhance the creative process. Jim is passionate about this team approach to design and construction. “I look for people who embrace collaboration. I encourage an open dialogue where all voices are heard equally, and are committed to working closely with our clients to tailor the right design solution for them, with the highest sustainable value to their organization.”