SEATTLE (September 16, 2025) – Global design firm HKS is pleased to announce that Brian Zeallear, AIA, DBIA, NCARB, has joined the firm as a Principal and Health Studio Practice Leader. Based in the firm’s Seattle office, Zeallear brings three decades of experience leading complex health care projects and building high-performing teams across the West Coast and internationally.
“Brian’s arrival marks a significant step forward in our continued investment in health innovation and excellence in the Pacific Northwest and beyond,” said Doug Demers, Principal and Seattle Office Director for HKS. “He brings not only deep technical knowledge and practice-building expertise, but also a collaborative spirit that aligns perfectly with our culture. We are excited to see how his leadership will inspire our teams and elevate the impact we can make for our clients and their communities.”
A recognized leader in health care design, Zeallear is known for his servant leadership style and deep commitment to human-centered architecture. Throughout his career, he has championed design strategies that not only support operational excellence but also promote healing, connection and community wellbeing.
Zeallear’s passion for architecture stems from a lifelong curiosity about how space shapes the human experience. “As a child, I was fascinated by how the built environment could reflect how someone wants to live,” he said. “That early interest evolved into a deep commitment to designing environments that improve lives—especially in health care, where architecture and interiors play such a vital role in healing.”
As Studio Practice Leader, Zeallear will focus on growing HKS’s health practice in the Pacific Northwest and collaborating with firmwide leaders to drive innovation and deliver meaningful outcomes for health systems, providers and patients.
Before joining HKS, Zeallear held key leadership roles with a prominent architecture and design firm, where he successfully led large-scale hospital inpatient and outpatient facility projects from concept through construction, as well as Lean Design consultancy efforts. His approach centers on developing clear, actionable plans that guide multidisciplinary teams toward shared goals, ensuring every project is grounded in both technical rigor and the needs of the people it serves. Zeallear holds credentials from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
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