by Stephanie Kalina-Metzger
For Mike Leakey, architect at Hoffman Leakey Architects (HLA) in Bellefonte, architecture is an extension of his love of art and why he pursued the profession. Bob Hoffman founded HLA in the early 1980s, opening the firm in Boalsburg before moving it to Bellefonte approximately four years ago. Leakey partnered with Hoffman in 2014. Since then, Hoffman Leakey has worked on a variety of recognizable projects around Happy Valley, from Penn State’s campus to Titan Energy Park.
Combining heritage with modern needs
Leakey said his love of art and client interaction is what propels him. Leakey, whose background is in construction, brings to the table the ability to understand what will and will not work for a project, while also understanding the architectural heritage of the Centre County region and the importance of preservation.
“Our architects have been called upon to help preserve historical structures and incorporate local history into new designs, ensuring that they are in harmony with the area’s heritage, while meeting modern needs,” said Leakey.
One of those modern needs is sustainability. HLA stands apart from some of the other firms in the area by focusing on the environment and energy efficiency. “LEED principles are woven into our practice now,” said Leakey.
“If we create attractive and functional environments for work, retail and community gatherings, the end result is ultimately positive for the community as a whole.”
All the while, he said that HLA hews to the idea that designing innovative commercial spaces can help local businesses thrive by pairing form with function. “If we create attractive and functional environments for work, retail and community gatherings, the end result is ultimately positive for the community as a whole,” he explained.
Penn State partnership
Pennsylvania State University officials have trusted HLA to work on many projects over the years — most recently, Findlay Commons.
“HLA helped expand the Commons Desk to provide more space for the 3,000 students living in the East Residence Halls. We also helped with the loading dock, which is used by both Mail and Parcel Services and Housing and Food Services. HLA studied different systems for receiving and organizing packages, and revised interior layouts for the loading dock,” said Leakey, explaining that a modern overhaul was overdue. “Because of email, the students receive fewer letters, but many more packages. We helped streamline things, modernizing the space to give it a fresh new look.”
HLA has proven themselves to be forward thinking and in tune with the college’s needs. PSU’s Krause Pedagogy Innovation Lab in the Chambers Building is just one example of that, according to Leakey.
“The project began with a deep dive into all the possibilities of a completed multifunctional and interactive student space and the end result is a lab that defies convention by merging all the main functions of teaching in order to offer students a space to create, demonstrate and perform their future lesson plans, all in one place,” he noted.
Other projects around the county
HLA is responsible for many other projects around the Centre County region, like the Axemann Brewery project, which transformed an abandoned factory into a contemporary brewhouse.
“We took an old, historic structure and modernized it with doors that open to reveal the Logan Branch Creek,” said Leakey, adding that they had a little more creative freedom with the project, too, since appearing before a historic review board was not a requirement in that instance.
Leakey said that the future looks bright for HLA and that the team is looking forward to many more projects within the Centre County community. In the very near future, HLA’s expertise in the education field has led to the design of a new physical plant building for the State College Area School District; completion of the project is slated for December 2024.
Stephanie Kalina-Metzger is a freelance writer whose work can be seen in publications across the United States. She can be reached at kalinacommunications@gmail.com
