Howard University Alum Damon Sheppard Appointed Managing Director of Perkins&Will’s D.C. Studio

Sheppard joins Perkins&Will after 12 years with another D.C.-based architecture firm, where most recently he oversaw its regional science and technology practice and co-chaired its Diversity Advisory Council. He also taught for three years in the School of Architecture at Howard University, his alma mater, and continues to be involved in shaping future generations of architects as a guest lecturer and design juror.  

“I think a lot about how much my background and other architects’ backgrounds inform the decisions we make, and believe the greater the diversity of our backgrounds, the better impact we can have on the communities we’re serving,” he says. “That’s why, in my new role as managing director, I want to nurture an environment where a broadly diverse staff of professionals can thrive. I know this is important to Perkins&Will, I know it’s important to Chris Morrison, and it’s important to me, too.”  

Morrison, who identified Sheppard as his successor, has long been a champion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In 2022, he was recognized by the Washington Business Journal with a “Business of Pride” award for having built a culture of LGBTQIA+ equity. Under his leadership, the D.C. studio has been celebrated for its inclusive and sustainable workplace, as well as its portfolio of healthy, inclusive, and environmentally responsible projects, including the recently opened Max Robinson Center for Whitman Walker Health; the D.C. Southwest Library; and the headquarters of the U.S. Green Building Council. 

“It’s been an awesomely rewarding decade leading our D.C. studio, and I’m so proud of all that we have accomplished together,” Morrison says. “Now that I’m returning to the practice of architecture as a managing principal, there’s no one I can think of who’s better equipped to usher us into the future than Damon. He is sharp, strategic, and kind. He means business, yet he leads with grace and empathy. I’m excited to pass the baton to him and work under his leadership going forward.” 

Sheppard joins operations director Renee Rodriguez and design director Carl Knutson on the D.C. studio management team. He’s a registered architect in Washington, D.C. and Maryland; a LEED Accredited Professional; and a frequent speaker on topics related to higher education and inclusive design, as well as mentoring and workplace culture. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University.