Meet Lois

What brought you to Henning Larsen?

With over a decade of experience in architecture, I was seeking a studio that valued both creativity and technical rigor, crafting elegant buildings with innovative solutions that leave a lasting impression on people’s memory as well as a positive impact on their context and environment. 

Henning Larsen's legacy of people-centric placemaking deeply inspired me, utilizing natural light and healthy materials that result in a profound sense of space and well-being.

What do you enjoy most about working at Henning Larsen?

What I enjoy most is how our design philosophy translates into our daily work. Our collaborative, cross-disciplinary culture thrives on curiosity, and it’s a genuine delight to be surrounded by such a talented and diverse team that fuels new design possibilities and innovative ideas. This, combined with the exciting global projects we tackle and our growing presence in North America, creates a truly dynamic environment and rewarding opportunities.

What motivates you in your work?

I'm driven by the collaborative spirit and the idea of embodying stewardship. This mindset fuels my passion for creating a compelling narrative and unique vision for each project. It helps me strive to transcend beyond programmatic and functional needs, crafting innovative design solutions unique to each project with positive and lasting impacts on our natural and built environment.

Located at historic Nash Square, the project consists of a new 20-story tall, 420,000-square-foot civic office tower, including 16 floors of departmental office space and conference facilities for over 1,100 staff members, and public-facing government functions such as a public service area, council chamber, health center for staff, art gallery space, and a public facing coffee bar/grab-and-go station. Courtesy of Henning Larsen and RATIO-Design

Which projects are you particularly proud of? 

I took the lead on the East Civic Tower project in Raleigh, North Carolina at the peak of the pandemic in 2020. This was a challenging time for the industry with many projects facing an extremely volatile and fluctuating market and material shortages. A strategic shift in our project process was necessary in order to deliver the initial ambition and intent of this complex and iconic civic building design, and after years of collaborating with many stakeholders and internal and external team, going through rigorous pricing review and redesign.

The project broke ground last month and construction will be completed in 2027, featuring a centralized public service area and a council chamber open to public at podium levels. The efficient office spaces consolidate most of the city’s workforce, previously scattered across multiple buildings.

In 2023, I was also fortunate to work on a collaborative R&D project with the aim of developing a new type of terracotta façade that integrates vertical greenery. It was very rewarding getting the chance to hone in on a single building component, working across disciplines and together with a manufacturer. 

Looking back on your time with Henning Larsen, how have you grown in your role and developed your skills?

When I joined Henning Larsen back in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic, the New York office was a young player in North American market, operating as a small design studio. Contributing to business development by expanding my client-facing responsibilities and leading an R&D effort has allowed me to leverage a more diverse skillset. Witnessing the impact of these efforts in increasing Henning Larsen's visibility in North America has been incredibly rewarding.