Eric Risinger

Eric Risinger, AIA, Managing Partner at Holabird & Root, brings a planning-forward approach grounded in collaboration, strategic clarity, and disciplined execution. He exemplifies the firm’s core values — rigorous programming, solution-driven design, and transparent process — ensuring that each decision is purposeful and aligned with long-term institutional goals. 

Eric’s leadership is defined by his ability to guide complex educational environments with structure and foresight. He establishes clarity around what decisions are made at each phase and why, identifies and tests risks early so they do not surface later, and continuously tracks and communicates costs to maintain alignment and avoid surprises. His approach prioritizes phasing strategies that protect daily instruction and operations while equipping institutions with clear, defensible narratives to communicate decisions to their communities. This disciplined methodology fosters a predictable cadence with stakeholders, maintaining transparency, momentum, and trust from planning through construction. 

His experience spans pre-bond planning, district-wide master planning, and the delivery of high-performance educational facilities. His work with Wadsworth City Schools includes pre-bond planning and a district-wide facilities master plan, alongside the LEED Gold-certified Wadsworth High School and Community Center, Isham Elementary School, and Overlook Elementary School. Additional experience includes master planning and new facility delivery for Crestview Local School District and Berkshire Local Schools in partnership with Kent State University, as well as campus planning for College of Lake County and repositioning work for Northwestern University School of Law. 

Across all engagements, Eric’s approach ensures that planning is not theoretical, but actionable, translating vision into clear decisions, controlled costs, and measurable outcomes that deliver lasting value for educational communities.