Perkins&Will is a global design practice founded in 1935. As of 2022, Perkins&Will had 28 offices and over 2,500 employees. In the same year, Perkins&Will generated $572.47 million in earnings, making it the second largest architecture firm by revenue in the United States.[1] Phil Harrison has been the firm's CEO since 2006.[2]
Perkins&Will attracted national attention in 1940 with the
Crow Island School in Winnetka, Illinois, designed in association with
Eliel Saarinen and
Eero Saarinen. In 1971, the American Institute of Architects named Crow Island School as the recipient of its
Twenty-five Year Award, which annually recognizes "a building that has set a precedent for the last 25 to 35 years and continues to set standards of excellence for its architectural design and significance."
In 1986,
Dar Al-Handasah (
Arabic: دار الهندسة), a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy, purchased Perkins&Will.[5] Together with global engineering, management, planning, and energy firms TYLin, Currie & Brown, Introba, Landrum & Brown, and Penspen, Perkins&Will and Dar now form the Dar Group, which is registered in Dubai.
Starting in 2000, Perkins&Will began to acquire other firms in the U.S. and abroad.
In August 2004, Perkins&Will merged with the Vancouver practice of architect
Peter Busby.[6]
In March 2014, Perkins&Will announced its planned acquisition of The Freelon Group, led by the late
Philip Freelon. Freelon joined Perkins and Will's board of directors and became managing and design director of the firm's North Carolina practice.[7]
In November 2015, Perkins&Will acquired London-based branding, retail strategy, and design consultancy Portland Design Associates.[8]
In May 2016, Perkins&Will acquired U.S. transportation planner Nelson\Nygard.[9]
In October 2017, Perkins&Will acquired sports and recreation architecture firm
Sink Combs Dethlefs. Sink Combs Dethlefs, founded in 1962, operated offices in Denver and Chicago.[10]
In February 2018, Perkins&Will acquired Danish practice
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Known for their extensive work in the cultural sector, Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects were founded in 1986 with offices in Copenhagen and Shanghai.[11]
In March 2018, Perkins&Will acquired Dallas-based interiors firm Lauckgroup.[12]
In March 2019, Perkins&Will acquired San Francisco-based Pfau Long Architecture.[13]
In November 2019, Perkins&Will acquired London-based firm Penoyre & Prasad.[14]
In July 2022, Perkins&Will acquired the Bainbridge Island, Washington, practice of architect Jason F. McLennan, creator of the Living Building Challenge. McLennan became Perkins&Will's chief sustainability officer.[15]
Sustainable design
The firm's website claims to have more
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accredited professionals than any other design firm in North America.[16] In 2011, Perkins&Will announced the LEED-ND (Neighborhood Development) platinum level certification for its 100th sustainable building, the Dockside Green Phase Two Balance project, located in
Victoria, British Columbia.[17]
Great River Energy Corporate Headquarters in Maple Grove, Minnesota - a LEED Platinum Building that is the first to combine Lake Source Geo-Exchange with displacement ventilation.[20] The building has an urban wind turbine.[21]
Discovery Health Center – 1st LEED NC Certified ambulatory care facility in the country.[22]
Arlington Free Clinic – 1st LEED CI Gold free health clinic in the USA.[23]
^Fixsen, Anna (October 2020). "Living Off the Grid: Perkins and Will Prototypes a Secluded Alpine Retreat with Lofty Sustainability Goals". Metropolis. 40: 54–62.