HFA Architecture + Engineering recently announced the promotion of Garrett Small, PE, to Vice President—further delivering on the firm’s commitment to a multidisciplinary approach to architecture and engineering projects, both regional and national in scope.
“This advancement highlights Garrett’s invaluable contributions at HFA, as well as our commitment to advancing our Civil Engineering team to provide further value to our clients. Garrett has consistently aligned teams, advanced project goals, and integrated our Civil and Landscape Architecture teams as a leader working within our OneHFA mindset. His deep industry knowledge and his proactive approach to solving clients’ unique challenges make him an indispensable asset to the enterprise,” said Ryan Ray, COO at HFA.
Due in large part to Small’s diverse background, which includes many years in the construction and engineering industry and business consulting, he can easily empathize with clients and the struggles they naturally face in a project’s lifecycle. With that empathy and experience to lean on, Small and his team of civil engineers, landscape architects, irrigation specialists, and planning team are often able to preemptively assuage those concerns, sometimes even before they arise.
One hot topic that has recently come to the forefront of many projects in the AEC industry? Climate change.
“Climate change is significantly reshaping the landscape of civil engineering. Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, transforming how we approach development, construction, and planning. One of the most directly impacted areas is stormwater runoff design,” said Small. “Jurisdictions are increasingly requiring us to account for larger, more unpredictable volumes of water—incorporating expanded detention basins, emergency overflow routes, and more resilient conveyance systems. At the same time, we’re seeing a shift toward more sustainable design practices, including improved water quality systems."
He continued, “Green infrastructure solutions—such as bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavements, and green roofs are becoming more prevalent for slowing runoff and enhancing water quality. This dual approach, combining increased system capacity with sustainable strategies, is critical to building infrastructure that can withstand future conditions.”
Addressing those challenges and more as a collaborative and multi-disciplined team is at the forefront of Small’s mind as he steps into this new role. Small and his team continue to work hard behind the scenes to ensure that the Civil Engineering + Landscape Architecture team can affect projects right out of the gate, providing an extra layer of due diligence that can cut down on costly change orders and RFIs later in the design process.
What legacy does Small hope to leave at HFA? He says it’s simple: advocate for and focus on providing psychological safety for his team.
“I want everyone to feel welcome, valued, and part of a collaborative group where we can achieve more, work in sync, and have fun doing it. Work is a big part of our lives, so I believe it should be enjoyable, and I expect my team to have fun while we grow together.”
About HFA Architecture + Engineering: HFA is an employee-owned, nationwide architecture and engineering firm with offices in Bentonville, AR, Fort Worth, TX, Franklin, MA, Springfield, MO, and Mexico City. With 35 years of experience, HFA has become a trusted partner for a diverse range of clients, providing comprehensive services that combine design innovation and project delivery excellence. The studio’s portfolio includes commercial projects in retail, industrial, mixed-use/office, restaurants, healthcare, hospitality and entertainment spaces. To learn more about HFA and their work, visit https://www.hfa-ae.com/
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Media Contacts:
At HFA Architecture + Engineering, Tanya Castella, 479-273-7780 ext. 166, tanya.castella@hfa-ae.com
