Academic

Our broad experience in STEM buildings and teaching and research laboratories is nearly unparalleled. We create learning environments that foster curiosity, experimentation and exploration.

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Clinical

In the every-changing world of healthcare, clinical laboratories play a central role in patient care. HERA understands that quality specimen processing and efficient flow take center stage in your lab operation. We design spaces that adapt to the people, process and technology at the heart of your work.

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Forensic

HERA’s forensic arm – Crime Lab Design – is recognized around the world as the industry leader in forensic laboratory programming, architecture and MEP design. Together with Harley Ellis Devereaux, CLD has provided integrated services for more than 20 years.

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Government

HERA understands how to navigate procurement rules, annual budgetary cycles and design approval processes for government projects. We have the experience to assist contracting officers in completing successful laboratory facility projects including research, testing, clinical, vivarium and support spaces.

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R&D

HERA understands key science issues for corporate clients: Safety first; recruitment and retention of staff through smart design; cost efficiency and flexibility for capital expenditures; and planning for future growth.

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About HERA laboratory planners

We love science. At HERA, we enhance scientific discovery and client productivity through the creation of optimal laboratory environments. That’s our mission.

As architects who are also lab planners and designers, we have a deep understanding of trends, issues and best practices that shape laboratory environments. We bring that knowledge and commitment to every project we touch.

What does that mean for our clients and partner firms? Together, we will innovate and explore ideas to ensure all your project needs are met.

With five primary markets – academic, clinical, forensic, government and R&D – our combined experience from hundreds of projects totals more than 25 million square feet in laboratory space alone. Our depth of experience allows us to examine new ideas in laboratory planning and design, while evaluating them against our previous experience for best practices.

Founded in 1996, we are a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB).

What’s Happening at HERA

HERAstory: Nolan Vinson Dalman is a licensed realtor

Q&A with Architectural Laboratory Designer Nolan Vinson Dalman You graduated in the fall of 2019 and your first architectural job was focused on healthcare design. How did Covid impact that market and the work you were doing? Did Covid impact what sort of architectural projects you wanted to work on? In college every semester I […]

HERA enables high school interns to experience an architecture and design career

The firm is again participating in the Partners in Education (PIE) summer internship program sponsored by the Rockwood School District in St. Louis. The program connects professionals with high school students interested in exploring those career fields. In our nine years of involvement, HERA’s staff have mentored budding lab planners, architects and engineers. HERA has […]

HERAstory: Greg Zipfel is a strategic thinker

Q&A with Senior Operations Manager Greg Zipfel, AIA, CSI CDT What are your responsibilities on the Crestwood (Missouri) Planning, Zoning & Architectural Review Commission? Let me start by saying that my wife and I are both proud, long-time residents of Crestwood – both born and raised here, now raising our family here, and we plan […]