Kevin Allebach – HGA

In his 17 years at HGA, Kevin Allebach has found a home overseeing the firm’s Arts, Community and Education studio, also known as its ACE Group. Allebach’s first job at the architecture and engineering firm in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, was as a project manager. From there he progressed to being a principal, then to his current role as Practice Group Leader.

Some of the groups’ current projects include the renovation of the UW-Milwaukee Student Union and the construction of a new basketball practice center at the same campus, several projects at Marquette University, work at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, the Kathy’s House project – where out-of-town cancer patients can stay near Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin while receiving treatment there – and the PEAK Initiative project in Milwaukee.

Throughout it all, Allebach has been motivated not by a desire merely to put up buildings but rather to make sure the structures the firm is working on are perfectly fitted to clients’ needs.
“It’s always about the people,” he said. “And it’s the opportunity to make their spaces better, to make their spaces solve more problems.”

Allebach said the coronavirus pandemic has forced the firm to quickly re-think interior spaces should change in response to the need for social-distancing and working from home.

“It’s been an especially rewarding time to work with our clients and help them figure out how to transform their spaces for what is coming next,” he said.

Allebach said he often speaks to high school and college students who come to HGA to learn about careers in architecture.

“I tell them it is an incredibly satisfying profession,” he said. “To have the opportunity to help shape your community and work with the people who will work, live and play in our buildings is a pretty amazing job. It’s been really rewarding, and I try to pass that along.”