heather rowell, aia rid

Founding Principal, Architect

CAREER + WORK

Heather Rowell grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina, where an appreciation for craft, resourcefulness, and community was woven into everyday life. She studied architecture at North Carolina State University and later came to Houston to earn a Master of Architecture from Rice University. Her path through architecture has been shaped by a persistent curiosity about how people, places, materials, and ideas come together—and by a belief that good design should be both ambitious and grounded in the realities of a project.

Heather began her career designing educational facilities in North Carolina before relocating to Houston. Following Rice, she spent seven and a half years as a principal and co-owner of Content Architecture, contributing to the firm's early growth and direction. She founded HR Design Department with Eric Hughes in 2018. Since then, the practice has developed a diverse portfolio of projects spanning residential, hospitality, retail, interiors, institutional, cultural, and master planning projects.

Heather was awarded the 2024 Ben Brewer Young Architect Award by AIA Houston, recognizing her leadership, design excellence, and service to the Houston community. She has taught graduate design studios at the Rice University School of Architecture and the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design. She remains active in student mentorship programs and is a frequent guest critic and lecturer. She was the inagural Chair of the AIA Houston Women in Architecture Committee and spearheaded the development of the WiA Professional Development Fund. Heather has served on the Rice Design Alliance executive board and currently serves on the North Carolina State Design Leaders Council Executive Board. She co-leads the Hollywood Trail Coalition in Houston, supporting neighborhood-driven public space initiatives along Little White Oak Bayou.