Perkins + Will Architects, US Design Studio, Merger, Architecture Office News
Perkins + Will Architects : Practice News
Casey Jones joins Contemporary American Architectural Practice
Perkins+Will Architects News
18 Mar 2019
With key hire, Perkins+Will’s London studio bolsters workplace strategy services
• Global architecture firm welcomes new addition to interiors team
• New hire Jason Turner brings specialism in workplace strategy and business growth
• Growing team indicative of firm’s continued success in the sector
The London studio of global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will has announced the appointment of a new associate principal, Jason Turner, who joined the firm in early March.
With over 25 years experience working in interior design, Jason brings to the firm expertise in strategic advice on workplace, culture and people. Jason has prior experience overseeing business growth and project delivery, having worked on interior projects for some of the world’s largest corporations, from Facebook and Microsoft to Rio Tinto and AstraZeneca. Other clients have included the Bank of China, SMBC, and Deutsche Bank.
The appointment of Jason comes at a time of continued growth for Perkins+Will’s London office and demonstrates the confidence of the practice in maintaining and expanding its business operations in the capital and the wider EMEA region.
Jason has experience working abroad in Asia, spending a number of years in the region overseeing large projects in Shanghai, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
He has also delivered Workplace Strategy and Concept Design proposals for the offices of a global management consultancy across five European capitals. Closer to home, Jason also oversaw base build modifications and fitouts for the London headquarters of the world’s largest publicly traded hedge fund company, Man Group.
With the appointment of a new associate principal specialising in strategic advice, Jason will bolster Perkins+Will’s reputation in project delivery, while expanding its expertise and capacity to take on new projects in related sectors. Jason will be joining the interiors team, which has overseen office fitouts for clients such as The Economist, Deloitte, News UK, Microsoft, and Linklaters.
Steven Charlton, managing director of Perkins+Will’s London studio said:
“Bringing Jason into our team will benefit us with his wealth of knowledge and expertise, built up from an international career in workplace strategy and business development. The depth and breadth of his engagement with FTSE 100 companies will be crucial as we continue to grow the practice here in London and the wider EMEA region.”
Jason Turner, associate principal of Perkins+Will’s London studio said:
“I am thrilled to join Perkins+Will’s London office at such an exciting time, helping to lead the interior team’s business development. Having worked across Eurasia for several years with large corporate clients, we have an exciting opportunity to apply this experience to continue Perkins+Will’s rise as a major player in the London market.”
About Perkins+Will’s London Studio
The London studio of Perkins+Will is one of the most successful in the UK and EMEA. It delivers over two million square feet of project work each year within the corporate and commercial sector, working alongside major developers, financial institutions, law firms, blue chip corporate brands, media companies, and public sector bodies. The practice’s projects include large-scale masterplanning and urban design developments, new build architecture, hospitality, cultural, corporate interiors, and strategic workplace consultancy services. Current projects include The Stage, a mixed-use residential project in Shoreditch that preserves one of Shakespeare’s oldest playhouses; the Financial Conduct Authority’s new headquarters in Stratford; and 150 Holborn, a 185,000 sq ft new build HQ corporate office building in the borough of Camden.
13 Feb 2019
Perkins+Will New Sustainability Director
Perkins+Will welcomes sustainability director to London studio
– Perkins+Will is consistently ranked among the world’s top green design firms
– New London hire will push Perkins+Will to the forefront of sustainable building practices in UK
– Proactive approach aligns with Mayor of London’s target to make London zero-carbon city by 2050
The London studio of global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will have announced the appointment of a new sustainability director, Asif Din, who joined in late January.
Asif will be leading strategic initiatives for sustainable building across the firm’s practice areas, including urban design, architecture, hospitality, and workplace design.
With over 20 years of experience working on a number of PassivHaus and Zero Energy Developments both in the UK and Asia, Asif brings both a unique expertise and perspective to the leadership team.
Perkins+Will New Sustainability Director Asif Din:
photo courtesy of architects office
Throughout his career, Asif has been dedicated to low-carbon building and development. From Exmouth Market in London to Jubilee Wharf in Cornwall, Asif’s involvement has taken a proactive approach to identifying and integrating energy-efficient building solutions into architectural design.
During his time in China, Asif supervised on internationally recognised design projects such as the London Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010. Here, Asif was responsible for developing energy solutions ranging from biodigesters, which produce renewable energy from waste products, to solar-powered cooling systems.
Following the Mayor of London’s goal of making the capital a zero-carbon city and at least 50 per cent green by 2050, Perkins+Will’s new appointment comes at an apt time. As London’s developers are facing increasing pressure to produce energy-efficient buildings, architects are taking a more proactive approach to future-proofing their designs.
The appointment of a dedicated sustainability director in London further cements the global practice’s reputation as a leader in green building, with expertise in sustainability, resilience, health and wellness, and mobility.
Steven Charlton, managing director of Perkins+Will’s London studio said:
“As a practising architect and environmental expert, Asif joins Perkins+Will at a time of growing global demand for leadership in sustainable design that looks at the entire lifecycle of a building. We are excited for our sustainability initiatives to have a strong director at their helm. Asif is perfect for the newly created Sustainability Director position, and I look forward to working with him to create designs that are economically and environmentally resilient, built to last, and focus on the occupants’ experience.”
Asif Din, sustainability director said:
“It is imperative that the architecture profession takes a proactive, not reactive, approach to tackling the realities of climate change through building design. I’m excited to join Perkins+Will to explore the range of sustainability opportunities in the London office, while also engaging with the firm’s breadth of research and expertise at a global level.”
About Perkins+Will’s London Studio
The London studio of Perkins+Will is one of the most successful in the UK and EMEA. It delivers over two million square feet of project work each year within the corporate and commercial sector, working alongside major developers, financial institutions, law firms, blue chip corporate brands, media companies, and public sector bodies. The practice’s projects include large-scale masterplanning and urban design developments, new build architecture, hospitality, cultural, corporate interiors, and strategic workplace consultancy services. Current projects include The Stage, a mixed-use residential project in Shoreditch that preserves one of Shakespeare’s oldest playhouses; the Financial Conduct Authority’s new headquarters in Stratford; and 150 Holborn, a 185,000 sq ft new build HQ corporate office building in the borough of Camden.
2 Feb 2019
Comment from Steven Charlton, MD of Perkins+Will, on £18 million UKRI funding
Steven Charlton, Managing Director of Perkins+Will’s London office, said:
For too long, architects have structured their processes around basic tools and technologies. But now we’re experiencing a sea change for the profession as architects begin to harness technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality. The government’s £13 million investment in R&D will fuel this momentum and open up a world of possibilities, not just for the way buildings are produced but ultimately, the way in which they are designed.
1 Mar + 28 Feb 2018
Perkins+Will Names New Managing Director for its New York Office
William Harris, a leader in interdisciplinary design ‘convergence,’ now leads one of the firm’s most visible and strategically significant practices
NEW YORK—February 28, 2017—Perkins+Will has named William (“Bill”) Harris, AIA, LEED AP, the new managing director of its New York office. Harris, who comes to New York from Perkins+Will’s Boston studio, is a preeminent leader in the design and planning of spaces for research and innovation. In particular, he brings unmatched expertise in designing for biopharmaceutical companies, laboratories, and tech start-ups.
“It’s an exciting time to plant my roots in New York City, where I’ve already been working with developers and other clients for more than a year thanks to the burgeoning life sciences and high-tech economy,” says Harris. “As our clients increasingly rely on design to support innovation and to attract and retain talent, we find that the best solutions integrate research facility and laboratory design with workplace, healthcare, and higher education—and those areas happen to be the strongest practices in our New York studio. The market here is brimming with opportunities for interdisciplinary design convergence, and I’m thrilled to lead the charge.”
Harris will relocate to New York; however, he will maintain close contact with his Boston-based clients, spending time in Boston as needed.
Known for his adaptable, future-focused designs that integrate workplace, art, culture, science, and technology, Harris’s portfolio includes projects in everything from academia, banking, and commerce to business, hospitality, and healthcare. He excels particularly at bridging the gap between the needs of research communities and the buildings and science center clusters that developers create for them. Examples include 1812 Ashland at The Science and Technology Park at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland; the recent expansion of United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, Connecticut; and the interior design of the new R&D Headquarters for Takeda Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harris succeeds Paul Eagle, who has served as managing director of the New York office for the last 13 years. Eagle will remain a key leader and active practitioner in the studio, focusing on strategic design and planning for corporate and commercial clients in the Northeast region.
“I’m delighted not only to be moving back into a role I know and love—as planner and strategist—but also to be passing the torch to one of most capable and talented professionals in the design industry,” says Eagle. “Bill’s positive energy and enthusiasm, which he brings to his work, his colleagues, and his clients, are surpassed only by his design rigor and commitment to design excellence. We’re so glad he’s part of our New York team.”
Harris’s projects have earned awards from the Boston Society of Architects, CoreNet New England, the International Facilities Management Association, and the Association of General Contractors. He is a widely published author and sought-after speaker. He holds a Master of Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania.
21 Feb 2018
Casey Jones, a National Leader in Design Excellence, Joins Perkins+Will
Jones to Lead the Firm’s Strategic Vision for Civic Architecture
CHICAGO—February 21, 2018—Global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will announced today that Casey Jones, former Director of Design Excellence at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S General Services Administration, has joined the firm.
For the last two decades, Jones’s advocacy for excellence in the design of public architecture and civic spaces has positively transformed communities, neighborhoods, and cities around the world. Jones will now lead Perkins+Will’s civic buildings strategy globally, and oversee best practices for the design of public spaces and buildings.
picture courtesy of architects
“Casey’s insights will be central to our firm’s continued evolution as we sharpen our focus on civic projects,” says Perkins+Will CEO Phil Harrison. “His comprehensive understanding of how these projects are achieved, from conception through procurement and delivery, will be invaluable to our clients in the civic sector. He knows this space better than anyone.”
“I’m excited to be part of a firm that has such an obvious commitment to improving civic life,” Jones says. “Perkins+Will’s global reach and resources present an enormous opportunity to strategize with clients and colleagues about how to create projects that improve communities and give more than they take. Civic buildings represent our collective aspirations and speak to who we are as a society. I’ve spent my entire career on this issue. For me, there is no more-important responsibility.”
Jones will work with design teams across the firm’s architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design practices—areas that he oversaw in his most recent role as the U.S. State Department’s Deputy Director for Overseas Building Operations. There, he led more than 800 professionals on the design, construction, operations and maintenance of hundreds of ongoing projects, ranging from new embassies and consulates to the renovation of existing properties. Prior to that, he served as the U.S. State Department’s Director of Design Excellence, during which he established the Excellence in Diplomatic Facilities Initiative to elevate the quality of embassy projects. This followed his service as the Director of Design Excellence at the U.S. General Services Administration. The program’s founder, Ed Feiner, heads Perkins+Will’s Design Leadership Council.
“Casey has a vision, which he backs up with skilled delivery,” Feiner says. “I’ve watched him thrive in governmental work, which can present some very exacting design and management challenges. His decades of contributions to architecture, taken as a whole, exemplify how well-designed public spaces can reflect the best of humanity.”
In addition to his experience in overseeing large-scale civic architecture projects, Jones has helped develop design and construction strategies for clients such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, Yale University, Motown, the Mexican Ministry of Culture, and the History Channel. He is a fellow of the Design Trust for Public Space, where his work helped lead to the 2002 decision to reverse New York City’s planned demolition of the High Line. He was also associate director of the Van Alen Institute, which explores how design can enrich our lives. Jones has taught courses on urban design at Columbia University, University of Michigan, and Parsons School of Design. He has a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Virginia.
25 + 25 Jan 2018
Schmidt Hammer Lassen bought by Perkins & Will
World-Renowned Danish Design Firm schmidt hammer lassen architects Joins Perkins+Will
Partnership expands Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s capacity for international growth; complements Perkins+Will’s design philosophy and strengthens the firm’s cultural practice
One of Scandinavia’s most recognized design firms, Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, has joined global architecture firm Perkins+Will in a strategic partnership that extends Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s international reach and reinforces Perkins+Will’s commitment to sustainability and design excellence.
Oct 4 2017
Perkins+Will Merger with Sink Combs Dethlefs
DENVER—October 4, 2017—Perkins+Will, one of the oldest and most respected interdisciplinary architecture and design firms in the world, announced today that Denver-based Sink Combs Dethlefs, a national leader in sports, recreation, and entertainment architecture, has joined the firm. Denver now becomes the home of Perkins+Will’s 24th design studio.
The merger, which significantly bolsters Perkins+Will’s visibility in the Rocky Mountain West region, is part of the firm’s strategy to meet growing global demand for design that promotes holistic human health and well-being.
“The biggest driver behind the union of our two firms is the increasing focus on designing for ‘full-circle’ health and well-being—that is, giving people the opportunity to be active, fit, healthy, and happy at every point on the continuum of life experience,” says Perkins+Will CEO Phil Harrison. “Together with Sink Combs Dethlefs, we can deliver creative, research-driven solutions to meet this demand, while providing superior client service—a shared hallmark of our practices.”
Founded in 1962, Sink Combs Dethlefs’ projects include the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse at the UCHealth Training Center, home of the Denver Broncos, in Englewood, Colorado; the University of Michigan Crisler Arena renovation and William Davidson Player Development Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan; the Chesapeake Energy Arena renovation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and the visitor and conference center at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.
Beyond Sports and Recreation: Converging Disciplines
The merger comes at a critical time in the architecture, design, and construction industry, where historically distinct project typologies, disciplines, and practice areas are now blending in both form and function, and where health and well-being are considered paramount. For example, academic buildings are adopting active workplace design trends; corporate interiors are borrowing design elements from health and wellness centers; healthcare facilities are taking design cues from the hospitality sector; hotels are incorporating aspects of sports and recreation; athletics and entertainment facilities are serving as community anchors in walkable, mixed-use urban developments; and so on.
By combining firms, Perkins+Will and Sink Combs Dethlefs can cross-pollinate services to meet these overlapping market needs.
“This ‘blurring of the lines’ is a powerful emerging trend in the world of design, so it’s an exciting time to be leading the way forward,” says Don Dethlefs of Sink Combs Dethlefs, now chair of Perkins+Will’s expanded Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment practice. “By blending our areas of expertise, we’re able to provide clients—no matter what sector they’re in—with fresh, forward-thinking solutions that prioritize fitness, health, and well-being.”
Expanded Range of Client Service Offerings
Known for designing arenas and event centers, collegiate athletic facilities, community recreation centers, civic centers, and spectator venues, Sink Combs Dethlefs naturally expands Perkins+Will’s range of client service offerings.
This is particularly true in the higher education sector, where Perkins+Will is an established leader in the design of student centers, research facilities, academic buildings, administrative centers, and residence halls, as well as in campus planning, and where the firm’s portfolio of athletic centers is now starting to grow.
It is also true within the urban design sector, where Perkins+Will’s Cities and Sites practice is global leader in creating dynamic, animated, health-conscious cities, and where sports and entertainment arenas are increasingly becoming catalysts for economic growth in downtown mixed-use districts.
“The addition of Sink Combs Dethlefs’ highly specialized talent and expertise will be a great boon to our clients around the world, and will certainly open new doors for us,” says Harrison. “Already, many of our most valued and long-standing clients have expressed their excitement about the merger and are eager to explore the possibilities.”
By the same token, Perkins+Will’s expertise across a dozen practice areas, combined with its worldwide network of talent, greatly diversifies the types of services that Sink Combs Dethlefs can offer.
“As one firm, we now have shared access to all of the talent and resources that meet our clients’ needs,” says Andrew Barnard, former president of Sink Combs Dethlefs, now managing director of Perkins+Will’s Denver office. “The client experience will be smoother, simpler, and more efficient. The quality of work and caliber of design, which have always been high, will be amplified. And the level of personalized client service, which has always been exceptional, will reach new heights. We see this as all very positive.”
Greater Geographic Reach, Greater Impact
In addition to new service offerings, the merger gives both firms greater exposure geographically. Sink Combs Dethlefs’ 50-person flagship office in Denver—now Perkins+Will’s 24th design studio—significantly strengthens Perkins+Will’s presence in Colorado and the greater Rocky Mountain West region. Perkins+Will’s projects there to date include the Lory Student Center at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado; the University of Colorado, Anschutz, Cancer Pavilion in Aurora, Colorado; and Intermountain Healthcare’s Alta Vista Hospital in Sandy, Utah.
Sink Combs Dethlefs’ 10-person practice in Chicago, which will soon operate out of Perkins+Will’s design studio in the iconic Wrigley Building downtown, establishes Perkins+Will as a new leader in sports and recreation in the Midwest. Projects there include the Joyce Center Fieldhouse and Rolf Sports Center, both at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and the Athletic Research Center at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All three, designed by Sink Combs Dethlefs, are under construction. Perkins+Will’s Ryan/Walter Athletic Center at Northwestern University is also under construction and scheduled to open in 2018.
The merger also enhances Sink Combs Dethlefs’ ability to win new work nationally and internationally, as well.
“It’s a tremendous advantage to be part of Perkins+Will’s constellation of 24 design studios around the world,” says Lindsey Peckinpaugh, an associate principal based in Sink Combs Dethlefs’ Chicago office. “We are now one firm with global reach and resources, and yet we remain totally committed to and invested in our local communities.”
Continued Leadership in Sustainability, Health, and Well-Being
Finally, the fusion of the two firms is a natural extension of Perkins+Will’s legacy in health, wellness, and sustainability leadership, which has long been one of its greatest differentiators. Perkins+Will is a trailblazer in the movement toward holistically sustainable design, and is known for seminal industry innovations like the Precautionary List, the Transparency website, the resilient building rating system RELi, the development of Portico with Google and the Healthy Building Network, and the adoption Fitwel.
It is Perkins+Will’s belief that sports and fitness play an important role in the development of healthy lifestyles, and that healthy lifestyles play a commensurate role in the development of sustainable cities and communities.
“Human health and well-being are critical aspects of sustainability. With a growing body of research showing the link between physical fitness and overall health, it is our moral and ethical obligation to create places that prioritize health and promote physical activity—across all project types, market sectors, and disciplines,” Harrison says. “Posterity depends on it.”
Noteworthy Projects
Key sports, athletics, and recreation projects designed by Perkins+Will include:
• Ryan/Walter Athletics Center at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (under construction);
• Baylor Scott and White Sports Therapy and Research facility in Frisco, Texas—a first-of-its kind collaboration between the Dallas Cowboys and Baylor Scott & White Health (under construction);
• LA Lakers Headquarters and Training Center in El Segundo, California (with Rossetti);
• Meadowvale Community Centre and Library in Mississauga, Canada (2017);
• York Community Centre in Toronto, Canada (2017);
• University of Massachusetts Amherst Football Performance Center in Amherst, Massachusetts (2014).
Key sports, athletics, and recreation projects designed by Sink Combs Dethlefs include:
• Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse at the UCHealth Training Center, home of the Denver Broncos, in Englewood, Colorado (2014);
• University of Michigan Crisler Arena renovation and William Davidson Player Development Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan Michigan (2013);
• Chesapeake Energy Arena renovation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (2013);
• PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania (2015);
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Fertitta Football Complex (underway);
• University of Notre Dame’s Joyce Center Fieldhouse in South Bend, Indiana (underway); and
• Marquette University’s Athletic Research Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (underway).
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photograph : Nelson Kon
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image from architect office
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picture from SHIFTboston
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photo from architect
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About Perkins+Will
Perkins+Will is an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm established in 1935. Founded on the belief that design has the power to transform lives and enhance communities, we collaborate with clients all over the world to create healthy, sustainable places in which to live, learn, work, play, and heal. More than 2,000 professionals across over 20 Perkins+Will offices include some of the brightest minds in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture.
Clients consistently turn to us for our leadership and expertise in areas like sustainability, resilience, health and wellness, and mobility. Additionally, our research catalyzes innovative design technologies and solutions that result in better, smarter, more competitive built environments. The recipient of hundreds of design awards each year, and a progressive leader in corporate social responsibility, Perkins+Will is consistently ranked among the world’s top design firms.
The family of partner companies includes retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; healthcare technology planning firm Genesis Planning; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.
US Buildings
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Chinese Architecture
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