Compression is the condensation of many forces into a potent architectural idea – a guiding philosophy evident both in Holl's writing and the firm's built work. In his 2019 book "Compression", Holl draws on neuroscience, literature, and philosophy to explore how “the condensation of material and social forces can yield meaningful and sustainable architecture. Rather than dilute or simplify a project’s influences, SHA often intensifies them into a concise concept. Compression in this sense is not about physical squeezing but conceptual richness. By distilling complex contexts into lucid architectural visions, SHA creates work that feels dense with thought, yet clear in form.