As part of an ongoing strategy to invest in one of California’s largest and most successful PreK-12 practices and overall position in the Northern California region, HMC Architects is proud to announce that Sherry Sajadpour, AIA, ALEP, has joined the firm as a principal in charge.
Sajadpour is an experienced senior PreK-12 architect, thought leader, planner, and mentor who brings over 20 years of project management expertise and unique skillsets rooted in predesign, programming, and planning. Located in HMC’s San Jose office, Sajadpour will play a pivotal role in maintaining and continuing to establish lasting partnerships with the firm’s clients to create inclusive and equitable learning environments.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sherry as a valuable addition to our dedicated team,” said HMC PreK-12 Practice Leader Brian Meyers. “Her strong education background, unique planning process, and ability to provide technical oversight to solve complex problems will be an undeniable asset to our clients and our thriving PreK-12 practice.”
Sajadpour received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Science and Technology in Tehran and attained her architectural license in California. She specializes in programming and planning pre-design phases as an accredited learning environment planner (ALEP) through the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). She is known and highly regarded for her ability to master design challenges with clear explanations, connect with clients on a synergetic level, and lead multiple projects. As a client’s trusted advisor, she has a passion for making a difference in the lives of students and educators by designing inspiring and innovative spaces that challenge and support all learners.
Sajadpour brings to HMC clients an analytical and empathetic approach that consistently delivers high-quality solutions. She has led various projects that required consensus building at multiple levels, from internal design teams to larger communities. This has honed her ability to blend thinking with feelings, aiming to remove barriers, make people feel comfortable, and ensure all voices are heard.
Some of her noteworthy projects include the Evergreen Valley College Language Arts Building in San Jose, California, the King City High School Agricultural Science and CTE Building in King City, California, Mountain View Whisman School District Master Plan, Graham Middle School Performing Arts Center in Mountain View, California, and new elementary school campus in Sausalito to support the community’s unification goal of bringing together two highly diverse communities of Sausalito and Marin City and provide equitable opportunities for students throughout the district.
In addition to serving clients and ensuring that HMC is even more responsive to their needs as they look to the future of education spaces, Sajadpour will focus on business development and serving and expanding the firm’s PreK-12 client base in Northern and Central California. Her appointment comes when HMC has recently grown significantly in the PreK-12 sector and is designing projects for some of the state’s largest school districts.
As the current chair of the AIA Silicon Valley Women in Architecture committee, Sajadpour aims to inspire and empower women in architecture and work towards creating a more balanced and inclusive community. For HMC clients, the leadership moves to add depth and capacity to the firm’s PreK-12 practice by bringing in a proven leader to improve the quality of its deliverables and project approach and deliver progressive and resilient learning environments of the future in these regions.
