Shaping Raleigh’s next chapter

Raleigh is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing metropolitan hubs in the United States. With experience spanning the Southeast, our newest Principal, Laurent de Comarmond, AIA, LEED AP, is helping expand Hickok Cole’s presence in North Carolina’s Triangle region.

After spending the first decade of his career working on urban infill projects and complex developments from one of the firm’s first offices, a townhouse in Washington, DC’s Dupont Circle, Laurent views Raleigh as uniquely positioned between the dynamics of a larger urban market and the character of a growing city.

“Even though Raleigh is dense, it’s not yet urban – it is still a town,” he says. “It’s a blend between two parallel markets. There is an opportunity to introduce big-city lessons and adapt them to the smaller market and culture.”

This perspective is shaping Hickok Cole’s continued growth in Raleigh, where the goal is to ultimately thoughtfully apply outside ideas in a way that still respects the community’s character.

Designing with Context

As development increasingly attracts national investors and large-scale developers, maintaining a sense of place has become more important than ever. Too often, projects are approached through a transactional lens, driven primarily by broad market studies and generalized data. Successful places require a deeper understanding of the communities they serve.

“The responsibility is on us to help outside developers understand what makes Raleigh different,” he explains. “We have to tell clients that a certain street is important to the community and educate those who may not be familiar with the intricacies and uniqueness of a place.”

For him, architecture is ultimately about storytelling. Every site has its own character, history, and relationship to the surrounding neighborhood. The role of a design team is to help clients understand those distinctions and incorporate them into the final project. He believes architects must help clients make informed decisions through site-specific knowledge and insight that only a Raleigh local could provide. The result is a stronger partnership and more authentic places.

Bringing Innovation to a Growing Market

As Raleigh continues to mature, Laurent sees an opportunity to introduce proven ideas from larger cities while tailoring them to local needs and expectations. His experience in larger urban markets also brings exposure to emerging building technologies and development approaches.

Laurent has worked on projects such as Raleigh’s luxury residential high-rise, Maeve, involving a unitized, lightweight, prefabricated building façade system, demonstrating how innovation can improve the design and construction process.

Creating Work That Matters

Impact is a simple measure of success. “Work that matters” is not defined by the size of a project but by how it affects the people who experience it.

Throughout his career in urban infill development, Laurent has worked on highly visible projects that become part of people’s daily lives. Whether someone lives, works, visits, or simply passes by, architecture shapes their experience of a place. That same thinking applies across scales. A large mixed-use district, a small retail building, a building repositioning effort, or a community-focused public space can all have meaningful impact when thoughtfully designed.

Projects within the North Hills Innovation District, like St. Albans Lofts and Tributary, demonstrate how placemaking can create a lasting sense of identity.

Preserving Raleigh

One of the qualities that draws so many people to Raleigh is its connection to the outdoors. As growth continues, he believes that identity should not be sacrificed in pursuit of density.

He points to the “Urban Wild” approach as an example of how mixed-use development and nature can coexist. The idea blends apartments, retail, public spaces, greenways, native plants, and walkable environments into one seamless experience.

“Raleigh’s natural environment does not need to be sacrificed for greater density,” he says. “It can remain part of everyday life.”

That philosophy extends beyond preserving trees and open space. Residents consistently express a desire for active gathering spaces and quieter places for reflection. The strongest projects create room for both experiences.

Expanding our firm’s growth in Raleigh is about helping shape a city to continue growing while remaining connected to its distinct qualities.