Q&A with Nate Hines: President at Hines Inc - WaterFirst Engineering & Design for Long-Term Water Conservation
In this Q&A, Nate Hines, President of Hines Inc, reflects on how his pro bono work with the Design Workshop Foundation on the Globeville I-70 Green Infrastructure Partnership deepened his appreciation for community-driven design. The project brought together residents, nonprofits, students, and city partners to advance green infrastructure and resilience efforts, including implementation projects like the 44th & Pearl Pocket Park. With expertise in irrigation, soil health, and long-term irrigation water management around the country, Nate and his team bring a practical, systems-based perspective to this work. His insights highlight the powerful role thoughtful design, carried through to daily water management, can play in building healthier, more resilient communities.
What first inspired you to collaborate with the Design Workshop Foundation on pro bono work?
Design Workshop Foundation’s action-oriented approach really resonates with me and the values our team has at Hines Inc. On the Globeville project in Denver, Colo., I saw a team that was rooted in community engagement and committed to moving meaningful work forward. There were complex dynamics to navigate, but the Foundation brought people together in a way that was direct, practical, thoughtful, and productive. When Sarah Konradi (executive director of the Foundation) invited us to meet with the action committee, it was clear that this was a group focused on doing the work, not just talking about it.
How do you see your skills and experience contributing to the Foundation’s mission of community‑driven design?
Our work at Hines is centered on WaterFirst systems thinking, especially when focused around landscape irrigation, which is one of the biggest areas of water use in many communities. Landscape irrigation systems waste enormous amounts of water, damage soil health, and reinforce uninformed choices that disconnect people from the living systems around them. I see a strong alignment between Hines’ expertise and the Foundation’s mission because community-driven design is ultimately about helping people care for their places in direct, hands-on, sustainable, informed ways. If we can help communities become better stewards of water, soil, and planting systems, we can support healthier landscapes and more resilient neighborhoods – without turning our cities into environmentally impoverished deserts.
Can you share a moment where the pro bono collaboration felt especially rewarding or meaningful?
One of the most rewarding parts of this pro bono collaboration with the Foundation has been the opportunity to learn alongside others while also sharing what we know. I value the chance to meet with the broader team, talk through design approaches with contractors and technologists, and exchange ideas about irrigation, soil moisture, and long-term water management. Those conversations are meaningful because they create space for teaching, mentoring, and practical problem-solving. We manage and monitor hundreds of irrigation sites around the country, so being able to bring that experience into a collaborative setting, and learn from others in return, has been especially rewarding.
What have you learned from working alongside the Foundation’s team and the communities they serve?
What has resonated with me most is the passion, curiosity, and commitment that local communities bring to shaping their own environments. I’ve seen how much people want opportunities to build competence and knowledge, strengthen their confidence, and have a real voice in decisions that affect their lives. Working alongside the Foundation has reinforced for me that community-driven design & implementation is about more than a finished project, it’s about helping people build agency, strengthen connections, and create positive change together. Being part of that process is very meaningful tome and our team.
Why is it important to you to dedicate time to pro bono design and planning work?
Giving back is built into who we are as a company at Hines. One of our core values at Hines is a commitment to giving back and charitable work, and we intentionally dedicate time each year to projects that can make a meaningful difference. For me, pro bono design and planning work is incredibly gratifying because it allows us to apply our expertise in ways that serve communities directly. It’s a chance to contribute to something larger than ourselves, support important local efforts, and help create places that are healthier, more resilient, and more connected.
