In 1975, four young architects in Orlando landed their first official job. It wasn't a skyscraper or a sprawling resort. It was a bench. They got paid $30 for it. That tiny commission was the start of Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock, a firm that eventually helped define the skyline of Central Florida and built massive projects in over 30 countries.
If you’ve spent any time in Orlando, you’ve likely walked through a building they designed without even knowing it. Known more commonly today as HHCP, the firm became a powerhouse by blending high-concept imagination with the gritty logistics of commercial development. They didn't just want to build offices; they wanted to create "guest experiences."
Honestly, the name itself—Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock—sounds more like a prestigious law firm from a 1990s legal thriller than an architecture studio. But that multi-barreled branding represented a specific era of partnership and prestige in American design.
Why Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock Still Matters
Architecture firms come and go. Most don't survive fifty years. HHCP did, and they did it by pivoting when the world changed.
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The founders—Alan Helman, Tom Hurley, Chuck Charvat, and Larry Peacock—weren't just drafting on vellum. They were entrepreneurs. They saw the rise of the "experience economy" before it was a buzzword. When Disney World put Orlando on the map, HHCP realized that architecture wasn't just about four walls; it was about the story the building told.
The Midcentury Mystery: "The Fortress"
One of their most talked-about residential works is currently back in the headlines. It’s a home known as "The Fortress" in Longwood, Florida. Built in 1979 for Harold Mertz, the billionaire founder of Publishers Clearing House, it looks exactly like what you’d imagine a prize-giving tycoon would live in.
It’s a brutalist-adjacent masterwork of concrete and glass. It recently hit the market for $10 million, proving that the designs Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock put on paper decades ago still hold massive value today. The house isn't just a home; it's a statement piece. It shows their range—from public infrastructure to the ultra-private whims of the world’s wealthiest people.
The Global Shift and the Orcutt | Winslow Merger
You might be looking for them today and notice things look a little different. In 2022, a major shift happened.
Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock officially merged with Orcutt | Winslow, a heavy hitter out of Phoenix. This wasn't a "folding under" situation as much as it was a strategic expansion. The new entity, often referred to as HHCP/an Orcutt | Winslow Company, combined the Florida firm’s hospitality and "themed entertainment" chops with Orcutt | Winslow’s massive footprint in healthcare and education.
It’s a smart move. In today’s market, you can't just be the "theme park architects." You have to be able to design a surgical tower and a luxury resort with the same level of precision.
Key Sectors HHCP Dominates:
- Hospitality & Resorts: They basically wrote the book on Florida vacation architecture.
- Themed Entertainment: Working with the biggest names in the industry to make "fake" places feel real.
- Retirement Resorts: They realized early on that "senior living" didn't have to look like a hospital.
- International Master Planning: From China to the Middle East, they’ve mapped out entire districts.
The Human Element of the Design
Tom Hurley’s own home in Winter Park, often called "Tom's Tinker Toy," is a perfect example of the firm’s spirit. It started as an abandoned 12-story bungalow in 1964. Hurley and his wife Rebecca slowly transformed it into a contemporary marvel that won American Institute of Architects (AIA) awards.
That house actually served as the firm’s first office. Can you imagine? A team of architects working out of a remodeled bungalow, dreaming up projects that would eventually span the globe. It's that kind of organic, "let's figure it out" energy that kept them relevant while other firms got stuck in corporate stagnation.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think HHCP is just a local Orlando shop. That’s a mistake. They have a Beijing office and have worked on massive international projects like the National Pulse Memorial & Museum (as part of a larger design team). They operate on a scale that most boutique firms can only dream of.
They’ve also managed to navigate the tricky waters of sustainable design. Back in the day, "green building" was a niche. Now, it’s the standard. HHCP adapted by integrating sustainable planning into their master plans rather than treating it like an afterthought.
Actionable Takeaways for Design and Business
If you’re looking at Helman Hurley Charvat Peacock as a case study for your own business or simply trying to understand their impact, here’s what you should take away:
- Brand Longevity Comes from Adaptability: They moved from a $30 bench to international resorts by saying "yes" to complex, narrative-driven projects.
- Partnerships Are Power: The merger with Orcutt | Winslow proves that even established icons need to evolve their reach to stay competitive in a globalized economy.
- Experience Over Everything: Whether it’s a house for a billionaire or a public library, the "guest experience" is the metric that matters.
If you are researching a project or looking for their current portfolio, you’ll find their most recent work under the combined HHCP/Orcutt | Winslow banner. Their headquarters remains a fixture in downtown Orlando at 120 N. Orange Avenue.
To see their legacy in person, you don't need a museum pass. You just need to drive through Central Florida. From the intricate layouts of world-class resorts to the striking residential designs that still fetch eight-figure prices, the fingerprints of Helman, Hurley, Charvat, and Peacock are everywhere.