Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA

Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, LEED AP, is committed to helping establish standards of quality, reliability, and efficiency in the building and infrastructure industries. He advocates changing the fragmented nature of the industry into an integrated, highly collaborative system that emulates manufacturing. MacLeamy supports this vision as a founder of buildingSMART International, a non–profit organization dedicated to developing global digital standards for data exchange for building and infrastructure professionals.

MacLeamy is an active speaker at international forums to convey his vision for a digital future and the need for architects, builders, and owners to take leading roles in changing the industry. He has also testified before the US Congress’ High Performance Building Congressional Caucus on the imperative for digital standards in construction, and has authored numerous articles for media in the US and abroad.

MacLeamy participated in a Construction Users Round Table committee where he developed the Effort Curve, showing that overall project success is improved by contributing more effort early in the design process. He presented the Effort Curve at the 2005 AIA National Convention, which led to the formation of the AIA Committee for Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and subsequent development of the IPD form of contract, linking the owner, architect, and contractor into one team for the work. The Effort Curve has been shown by many others in presentations over the years and is now known as the MacLeamy Curve.

MacLeamy practiced architecture for 50 years at HOK, a global design firm specializing in design of a diverse array of large, complex projects. While at HOK he transformed delivery of design work from 2D CAD to Building Information Modeling (BIM) using advanced collaboration tools. HOK has become recognized as one of the most technologically advanced design firms in the world. MacLeamy was promoted to CEO and Chairman in 2003, positions he held until stepping down in 2017.

MacLeamy’s first book, Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories and Strategies Behind HOK, was published by Wiley & Sons in 2020. He launched a podcast series, “BUILD SMART,” in 2021 with Mark R. LePage, AIA, of Gābl Media. Season One was based on his book and featured interviews with HOK descendants, including architect Bill Helmuth, FAIA, and graphic artist Kiku Obata. Season Two focused on MacLeamy’s work with buildingSMART International, including interviews with an international roster of architects, engineers, and innovators. MacLeamy is currently at work on his second book, which will outline problems and solutions for the global building and infrastructure industries.