Perkins&Will

Bart Higgins describes the creative energy he and his business partner Katie Hillier have harnessed as lightning in a bottle. “We help clients spark business growth by reinventing them from the inside, creating new and catalytic ways of thinking," says Bart. “The questions we’re really trying to help them answer are more upstream, almost philosophical: ‘Who are we? Why do we exist?’” Bart and Katie, the two-person creative engine behind the powerhouse innovation and strategy consultancy Future Perfect X, have carved out a highly successful niche in organizational, cultural, and experiential design. And now they’re bringing their one-of-a-kind approach, coveted by executive leaders at brands as iconic as Google, CHANEL, Revlon, and Pfizer, to our firm. “More and more, our clients are wondering what to do in the future, how to address uncertainty, and how to manage major capital decisions. Bart and Katie are great at answering those questions in ways few others can,” says our CEO, Philip Harrison. “Plus, their hyper-imaginative use of AI—they call it a ‘co-intelligence partner’—has supercharged their workflow and project outcomes. We stand to learn a lot from them.” Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e4Q7mmf4 #CreativeStrategy #DesignStrategy #DesignThinking

What does it look like when design puts people, community, and well-being at the center? The American Society of Interior Designers - ASID’s National Awards recognize projects that advance health and well-being, foster more inclusive communities, and respond to environmental challenges. This year, we’re proud to have three of our projects recognized across two FOCUS categories.   Bowie State University, 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐉𝐫. 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝘍𝘖𝘊𝘜𝘚 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵  The Center provides customized, technology-rich learning environments for communication arts and humanities disciplines. Murals and gathering spaces celebrate Bowie State’s history as a diverse institution while honoring Dr. King’s ideals of empowerment, justice, equity, love, and community.   𝐎𝐚𝐤 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝘍𝘖𝘊𝘜𝘚 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 As North Texas’ first affordable housing development designed to be inclusive and welcoming to LGBTQIA+ seniors, Oak Lawn Place creates a strong sense of belonging and community. The 84-unit development also connects residents to public transit, the Resource Center’s Community Center, and its Clinic—all within walking distance.   Nemours Children's Health, 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭 𝘍𝘖𝘊𝘜𝘚 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴: 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 The ADU brings together advanced clinical capabilities and a supportive environment designed around the needs of families. Located within the existing children’s hospital, the unit provides calming spaces for expectant mothers during extended stays while allowing their babies to remain close following birth and newborn care.

It’s #HispanicHeritageMonth, and this year’s theme, “Unidos, Somos Más,” or “Together, We Are More,” celebrates the unity, resilience, and collective impact of Hispanic and Latino communities. In that spirit, Pat Bosch, Diego Rozo, AIA, Barbara R., and Lina Murillo answer one question: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦? Their reflections explore how culture, place, family, art, and lived experience inform the way they approach design—and how those influences shape the spaces they create. Read the piece here: https://lnkd.in/e9vS8zZG #LatinAmericanHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritageMonth #ItsNotAMoment #ItsAMindset #DesignPerspectives

We’re thrilled to celebrate the official opening of the MacIsaac Health Building at The University of British Columbia! Designed by our Vancouver studio and Danish studio (SHL - Schmidt Hammer Lassen), UBC’s first CAGBC | Canada Green Building Council Zero Carbon Building is an exemplary model of health, bringing together the MacIsaac School of Nursing, the School of Kinesiology, UBC Student Health Services, a teaching clinic, and other academic and research functions. The architecture is inspired by both the natural Pacific Northwest setting and the immediate context of the surrounding campus. The use of local wood is celebrated through an expressed timber structure throughout the building’s public spaces, centered around a skylit atrium that serves as its vibrant social heart. Learn how the design creates a new campus arrival experience while advancing UBC’s priorities for sustainability, Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) engagement, and student health and well-being: https://lnkd.in/e8qPG5CH UBC Properties Trust, RJC Engineers, Heatherbrae Builders, CREE BUILDINGS, Stantec, Peikko North America, Con-Force Structures Ltd., GHL Consultants Ltd, a part of J.S. Held, Smith + Andersen, Hapa Collaborative | 📷: Ema Peter #SustainableDesign #RegenerativeDesign #MassTimber #ZeroCarbonBuilding

Gabrielle Bullock,FAIA,NOMAC,IIDA,LEED AP has always known she wanted to be an architect—to help shape and design environments that better serve underrepresented communities. Today, as our Chief Diversity Officer, she brings that perspective to our work, emphasizing the importance of creating equitable spaces alongside the communities they serve. “We want to ensure that we’re not just saying that we believe in social justice and equity in design, but that it’s showing up,” she says. Watch The American Institute of Architects (AIA)’s Future Focused video featuring Gabrielle below. #AIAFutureFocused #InclusiveDesign #EquityInDesign

We were honored to be part of the celebrations at the clé tile townhouse in Manhattan on Wednesday night for the one and only Cindy Allen, editor-in-chief extraordinaire of Interior Design Magazine, as she celebrates 25 years at the helm of this iconic media brand. If you know her (and, let’s be honest, who in the design industry doesn’t?), you know she’s one of the world’s most ardent champions of our global design community, working tirelessly to give designers a voice and an expressive platform for their important work. In this month’s issue of the magazine, our 25th anniversary message to Cindy reads loud and clear: We see all that you do and have done for us over the years, and we are deeply and forever grateful. Thank you, Cindy, Helene Oberman, Adam I. Sandow, and the entire Interior Design Magazine and SANDOW team for a spectacular event—and, of course, for your unwavering support of our creative profession. #InteriorDesignMagazine #InteriorDesign #DesignCommunity

Ten years ago, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors to the public. Since then, it has welcomed millions of visitors, touched countless lives, and become a place where generations can come together to share, celebrate, and reflect on African American history and culture. That story extends beyond the museum’s exhibits, stories, and art—it’s embedded in the architecture itself. The building’s distinctive form was inspired by the Yoruba caryatid, a traditional West African column, while the pattern cast into the corona panels alludes to the ornate ironwork found throughout southern cities, much of it designed and fabricated by African American craftspeople. From its form to its details, the architecture is deeply rooted in heritage. “Ten years on, the enduring power of this museum is the community it serves and reflects,” says Zena Howard FAIA, our Firmwide Cultural and Civic Practice Leader. “Generations carried the dream long before there was a building, and today that legacy lives through the partnership between the Smithsonian Institution and the people whose stories give this place meaning. The museum continues to deepen our understanding of the American story with every person who walks through its doors.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gKqtwVwh

“Chicagoland gets its first architecturally distinguished stadium in over a century.” Northwestern University’s new Ryan Field officially opens this October, and it’s already earning praise as a worthy successor to the architectural legacy of Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park. The new 35,000-seat stadium draws from its Chicago context, pairing glass and limestone with an expressive steel structure and a series of curves that echo the character of the original Ryan Field. Inside, wide concourses, intuitive circulation, and accessibility-focused design create a more welcoming experience for every fan. Thanks to Edward Keegan for featuring the project in Chicago Tribune: https://lnkd.in/eDi3Hj2b 📷: Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune Ryan Sports Development | #SportsDesign #StadiumDesign #SportsArchitecture #BrandedEnvironments #NewRyanField

What will it take for cultural institutions to become the next civic commons? That question brought curator and art advisor Virginia Shore, artist Nekisha Durrett, Metro Chicago founder Joe Shanahan, and Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown together for a conversation with leaders from our global Cultural and Civic practice in Chicago. Moderated by our own Zena Howard FAIA, “The Next Civic Commons: Culture, Community, and Public Life” explored how the places that shape our cultural lives are evolving. We considered where public life is happening today, what people increasingly expect from cultural and civic spaces, and what the institutions of 2040 might become. The conversation also challenged us to look beyond traditional definitions of museums, libraries, cultural venues, and civic spaces—and consider how these places can become more connected, adaptable, and essential to public life. There are no simple answers. But asking better questions, bringing different perspectives together, and creating space for dialogue are important places to begin. Thank you to Virginia, Nekisha, Joe, Chris, and everyone who joined us around the table! #CulturalDesign #CivicDesign #PublicLife