Pros
First the positives: Healthcare, insurance, matching 3% IRA contributions, summer hours. Very nice and hardworking younger staff who make the charitable events and Culture Club tick. I almost forgot, plenty of opportunities to drink and party if you like that kind of stuff (gotta give the younger staff a reason to stick around).
Cons
1. Large Corporate Healthcare in the 'burbs. Yes, there are commercial and judicial departments, but don't believe the hype. This is a healthcare firm first and foremost. The feel around the office is definitely that of a large corporate firm in the middle of a suburban concrete parking lot, not a medium-sized design firm somewhere vibrant. The corporate office culture is only going to get worse with even more small fiefdoms as the company tries to grow. 2. Design. If you think you are going to get ANY design experience please don't fool yourself. The "design pod" is the only group allowed to re-create the same design over and over again. Intern architects and PAs are just glorified Revit monkeys who do the real work of the firm.The PMs get to meet the clients, fill out the PIFs, kiss up to principals, and generally make themselves look busy when they are around. 3. FAKE positive reviews. I agree with one of the reviewers below- at least two of the positive mentions seem to have been written by the principals. Not surprised, since they keep lying to themselves about the amount of progress they are making. 4. Speaking of Management. in a word: Fractured. Each principal seems to be running in a different direction. Two of them seem aloof almost all the time, (think Mr. Bean). Not a very diverse group the KC principals: all white men except for the more progressive Dallas office. No women, no anything else. Also, I don't think any of the PMs on the architectural side (not counting the Interiors Dept) is a woman or person of color. 5. Lack of growth opportunities. If you are really talented and ambitious: Do not work here. That goes for all levels, but especially for Intern Architects and Project Architects. Intern Architects and Project Architects are really not cared for by the higher ups and the opportunity for promotion is practically none on both the commercial and healthcare side. The system at Hoefer Wysocki does not allow for growth; there are too many people ahead of you at the PM level, not all but definitely some who are quite frankly mediocre and not even that passionate about their job. They would rather play the long game by kissing up to management and keep Intern Architects and PAs in the dark, feeding an endless stream of redlines. 6. Final thoughts. Like I said, if you are really talented and ambitious: Do not work here.