Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

HPM Announces New Director of Planning Services

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/20/22

Program management firm HPM, based in Birmingham, Ala., recently announced that it has named Scott Leopold as its new Director of Planning Services. A press release reports that Leopold has more than 17 years’ experience with facilities planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services and has worked on a wide variety of K–12 projects. In his previous role at Cooperative Strategies, he worked with school districts to spearhead facilities master planning projects and implement GIS programs, working on projects in 100 school districts, according to the press release.

In his new role at HPM, he will expand the firm’s partnerships with K–12 school districts across the U.S. Southeast, working in partnership with HPM Vice President of Planning Services Tracy Richter. He will also use his GIS experience to improve the ways in which HPM presents data to clients and create new strategies based on advanced technology to make the process easier and more collaborative for the district. The firm will use online mapping applications and dashboards to let clients visualize the kind of data that was previously difficult to convey.

“My passion lies in understanding the wants and needs of communities that often have strong emotional attachment to their school systems, and turning that into data that can be used to improve education facilities,” said Leopold. “As conditions continue to change across our industry and the need for adaptability increases, it is time to move into the next generation of interactive data presentation to make the planning process smoother for these communities. HPM has established a track record of excellence within facility planning, and I look forward to continuing this pattern of success and strengthening client relationships alongside Tracy.”

The planning services team offers guidance and oversight on district capital and operational building programs, helping clients grasp the full scope of the life cycle of services from planning to implementations. Leopold will lead client initiatives and meet with new K–12 districts looking to start planning future bond programs, according to the news release.

“In any facilities planning project, our end goal is always to have an informed community that supports its school system and is excited to implement improvements to make those schools function at the highest possible level,” said Richter. “I believe Scott’s drive to make the entire process as inclusive and community-driven as possible will only take HPM’s planning services capabilities to the next level. His knowledge combined with our experience in successful K–12 planning will continue to drive cost and time savings for our clients.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.