ideas + buildings | People and Perspectives at Perkins+Will

May 31, 2018

That Vacant Building Has a Better Use

Vacant buildings have increased rates of arson and vandalism while reducing adjacent lot property values. Why let a building remain vacant when it could help ensure that No Child Sleeps Outside? Seattle-around not-for-profit Mary's Place is trying to change the way we think of underused spaces. Read More +

May 23, 2018

Good Design is a Safety Feature

When someone looks at a patient with a broken leg, they don't assume they have never before been able to walk. But often for psychiatric patients in crisis, they are treated as if that is who they have always been and will always be. Nothing could be further from the truth. And the design of mental health facilities must reflect our desire to ease a patient's recovery as humanely as possible. Read More +

May 18, 2018

If These Walls Could Talk…

Whether narrating a specific story or engaging in vibrant conversations with many perspectives, the story-telling power of buildings must not fall on deaf architecture. Derek Jones explores the impact of recent cultural projects. Read More +

May 15, 2018

Chicago’s Third Nature

This story begins with a canoe trip and ends with a transformative design proposal for a new beach along the Chicago River. What happened in between? Take a trip with us to discover Chicago's Third Nature. Read More +

May 11, 2018

How to Design a Better Lactation Room? Ask a User.

When Fast Company wondered about the ideal workplace lactation room, three Perkins+Will women leveraged personal experience to solve pain points through design. Read More +

May 09, 2018

Creating a Workplace of the Future in a Building From the Past

Choosing to occupy such a historic, landmark with a rich history like the Dallas High School building was a conscious decision to deepen our roots in the vibrant Dallas community. Read More +

Apr 23, 2018

Consolidation in 242 Pages: A Case Study for Minneapolis

Currently, Minneapolis’ city departments are scattered across seven sites. We were tasked to help unite 1,000 employees onto a centralized campus, improve efficiencies for staff, clarify public wayfinding and services, and, in general, create a setting that met everyone’s expectations for the highest possible quality of service. Read More +

Apr 20, 2018

What We’re Reading: Earth Day Edition

Once a month, we ask our colleagues to share what's on their nightstand, Kindle, or in podcast queue. This month in honor of Earth Day, we put out a call for anything and everything pertaining to creating a more sustainable, equitable planet. Read More +