Perkins&Will

In case you missed it, exciting leadership transitions have taken place here at Perkins&Will, with key team members stepping into new roles. Please join us in our celebrations: Lindsey Peckinpaugh has now moved into her role as President of Perkins&Will full-time. For the last year, she wore two hats, serving as both President and Managing Director of our Chicago studio (the latter role to which she was appointed 2021). Now that she can refocus her efforts 100% on being President, she will partner closely with CEO Philip Harrison and our Board of Directors to drive excellence across the core business of our firm—management, operations, and design. Succeeding Lindsey as Managing Director of our Chicago studio is Margaret Cavenagh. A well-known and influential voice in the Chicago design community, Margaret brings 32 years of professional experience to Perkins&Will, including 20 years as a design principal at one of the nation’s leading woman-led design firms. Some of her most notable projects include the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Powerhouse at Beloit College. Cecily Eckhardt is now the new Managing Director of our Toronto and Ottawa studios. She succeeds D'Arcy Arthurs, FRAIC, who led our Ontario practice for 16 years and will continue with the firm as principal. Cecily has contributed to many high-profile projects across the country, including McMaster University’s 10 Bay Graduate Residence and Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine. In our Boston studio, Patrick Cunningham has been named Design Director. Patrick, who’s been with Perkins&Will for the last two decades, has led some of the Boston studio’s most successful projects, like Belmont Middle and High School and Stoneham High School. He’s worked on a wide range of typologies for clients across various sectors, and his work has earned national acclaim for its elegance, attention to detail, and sense of purpose. Stephen Sefton, another longtime design leader in our Boston studio, has relocated to North Carolina to become Design Director for our Charlotte and Durham studios. Stephen’s design approach blurs typologies, resulting in hybrid projects that meet evolving needs on campuses and in cities. His recent work includes Northeastern University’s new Multipurpose Athletic Facility and George Mason University’s Basketball and Academic Performance Center. Also in our Boston studio, Jennifer Williams AIA, IIDA has been appointed Northeast Regional Practice Leader for Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment, succeeding Stephen. Since joining our firm in 2010, Jennifer has played a key role in several significant projects. Her portfolio spans both built work and master planning and programming. Congratulations to each of these exceptional leaders on their new roles!

Join us for an intimate Bonfire Chat with the Healing Schools Project in honor of #InternationalWomensDay! Schools are more than places of learning—they’re workplaces for millions of women. This conversation will shine a light on the often overlooked ways school environments contribute to teacher stress and burnout. With 77% of K-12 teachers being women, leadership decisions and school design play a crucial role in educator well-being, school culture, and long-term staff retention. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies for creating healthier, more supportive teaching environments that uplift educators. From enhancing daily classroom experiences to reimagining teacher lounges, we’ll discuss actionable steps to build stronger school communities. Register for the Zoom: https://shorturl.at/CSdBE

We're excited to have Carl Knutson, Design Director of our Washington, DC studio, and Jesce Walz, Senior Research Lead for Carbon & Circularity, speaking at the International Mass Timber Conference in Portland, Oregon, from March 25–27. As the world’s largest gathering of mass timber professionals, the conference will be a hub for sharing knowledge on sustainable building practices and materials. The event will unpack the latest breakthroughs and challenges in materials including cross-laminated timber (CLT), nail-laminated timber, glulam, mass plywood panels, dowel-laminated timber, and laminated veneer lumber. Learn how mass timber is revolutionizing the building industry and become part of the climate change solution. Register now at https://lnkd.in/gs9qg6S7

Barbara A. Bichelmeyer’s great-grandparents lived within sight of a grassy hill called Mount Oread, which would later become home to The University of Kansas’ flagship campus. Bichelmeyer, now KU’s provost, displays an 1860s-era sketch of their log home in her office as a reminder that the campus is a relatively recent, and potentially fleeting, presence on the hill.   Like many large universities, KU has expanded since its founding to meet a seemingly endless demand for classrooms, research facilities, and office space. But Bichelmeyer and her colleagues recently realized that continual growth was unsustainable. Here's how they combined data and design expertise to blaze a trail toward a stronger university with a smaller footprint: https://lnkd.in/gx5RQDmV #connectionsilluminated #PWinsights #designinsights 

The Planning, Design, and Construction (PDC) Summit in Atlanta, hosted by American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE), brings together thousands of professionals in healthcare planning, design, and construction to exchange ideas and advance the field. This past weekend, our Director of Operations, Lara Kaiser, and Firmwide Design Principal, Manuel Cadrecha, accepted the Healthcare Environment Award at the summit, recognizing Sabará Children's Hospital as a winner in the Conceptual Design category. Poised to become the largest pediatric complex in Latin America, Sabará Children's Hospital is transforming Pinheiros, São Paulo, into a premier healthcare destination. The design integrates aesthetics, sensory experiences, and the healing influence of nature to redefine pediatric care. Congratulations to our team and partners on this well-deserved honor!

Healing is a holistic journey that nurtures both the body and mind. Increasing research highlights the profound impact of direct interaction with green spaces, natural elements, and living organisms in enhancing overall well-being. In Healthcare Design, our Director of Ecology, Juan Rovalo, explores the healing power of nature and its vital role in design: https://shorturl.at/5Ut8F

Our design for this French luxury holding company’s new São Paulo office is a seamless blend of sophistication, comfort, and Brazilian flair. Every detail matters—from natural wood finishes that add warmth and character to custom panels and furniture that enrich the space. A striking bookcase serves as the focal point, anchoring a design that marries elegance with functionality and celebrates modern Brazilian design. https://lnkd.in/g5CusJ3e

This magical California camp is designed by—and for—visually impaired people. Enchanted Hills Camp was originally built in the early 1900s for people with sight, but over the last 75 years, it has become a beloved retreat for the blind and visually impaired. After the 2017 fire destroyed more than a dozen of its buildings, the opportunity arose to rebuild the camp, this time tailored to the unique needs of the community that has been using it for decades. Our San Francisco-based team worked closely with the camp’s owner, the nonprofit LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, making accessibility a guiding principle throughout the design process. Key elements, such as cane-detectable paths, accessible trails, and acoustically refined rooms, help create an inclusive space where visitors can engage in outdoor activities and develop important life skills. Thank you to Fast Company for recognizing this transformative project: https://shorturl.at/oUqFj

With great excitement, we welcome Cecily Eckhardt as the new Managing Director of our Toronto and Ottawa studios. She succeeds D'Arcy Arthurs, FRAIC, who led our Ontario practice for 16 years and will continue with the firm as principal. “It’s rare to find a firm where design feels both deeply personal and globally impactful,” says Cecily. “Perkins&Will has the reach to shape cities around the world, but the heart of a studio that understands the nuances of each community it works in. What excites me most is knowing that the work we do improves the quality of life for people—and I want to be part of that.” Cecily will work closely with Design Director Andrew Frontini and Operations Director Robert van Lin to support continued growth and success of the studios. Learn more: https://bit.ly/43Xo0eK

We’ve been awarded $250,000 in co-investment for our research in modular timber housing systems! With recent building code changes allowing mass timber buildings up to 18 stories, we have a major opportunity to streamline mid-rise residential construction and help meet housing demand. This funding advances our proposal for the development of Modular Timber Housing Systems—an initiative leveraging mass timber prefabrication to accelerate housing production in British Columbia. “This investment will enable a shift from bespoke design thinking to modular, repeatable, and adaptable systems that address diverse human needs,” says our Director of Innovation, Yehia Madkour. Stay tuned as we advance this research and share our findings later this year! https://lnkd.in/dPxdYgNn