Hord Coplan Macht (HCM) announces that founding partner Ed Hord, AIA will retire at the end of 2019. Hord, along with Lee Coplan and Carol Macht, founded Hord Coplan Macht in 1977. Since that time, the firm has grown to a nationally recognized, award-winning, multidisciplinary practice with 330 employees in four offices. The company is ranked among the top firms nationally in the markets it serves by Architect Magazine, Building Design and Construction and Engineering News Record, among others. In 2018, the firm reported more than $78 million in revenue, and at the same time was named as a best place to work by The Baltimore Sun, The Baltimore Business Journal, and The Denver Business Journal.

Hord has a particular focus in multifamily housing, and, with his guidance, the firm has created many award-winning projects, including the City Arts 1 and 2 affordable housing apartments and the Union Wharf apartments, both in Baltimore. He also initially led the firm’s senior housing and multifamily housing studios, and, under his leadership, HCM has designed more than 35,000 units of multifamily housing (with a construction value of more than $2 billion).

In addition to helping to create a firm of such significant size, Hord has had an influence on the design profession as a whole. He is a frequent speaker and author on industry issues and has delivered presentations at the National Association of Home Builders Seniors Housing Symposium, the International Builders Show, Urban Land Institute and the American Institute of Architects national convention. His articles have appeared in Nation’s Building News, Multi-Family News, and Senior Housing News.

He has also served as a board member for numerous nonprofit organizations, including:
• Baltimore Architectural Foundation, board member
• Morgan State University Advisory Board, chair
• Jubilee Maryland, chair
• Baltimore County Landmark Preservation Commission, Commissioner
• Baltimore County Design Review Panel, member
• Preservation Maryland, treasurer
• Beth Am Synagogue building committee, co-chair

Additionally, for the profession he served numerous roles, including:
• Chair of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Housing Committee
• Fellow of the AIA
• Chair of the AIA Risk Management Committee.
• Chair of the AIA Trust
• President of AIA Baltimore and AIA Maryland
• Board member and vice president of AIA National