BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Washington—Perkins&Will and McLennan Design, the firm’s Bainbridge Island studio, welcome Juan Rovalo as the first firmwide ecologist. Rovalo will collaborate with project teams and clients to promote ecological thinking and best practices in “Living Design”—Perkins&Will’s approach to creating healthy, regenerative, and equitable places for all living things.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Perkins&Will at such a critical moment for the firm, the industry, and our planet,” says Rovalo. “We have a unique opportunity to refine conventional sustainability frameworks and fully embrace Living Design. This approach not only minimizes harm but actively seeks to enhance ecological health and community resilience. My goal is to guide our projects toward a healthier future for healthier people—to design for life and act as stewards of the places we inhabit.”
A highly regarded consultant, educator, and scientist with a passion for biomimicry—the practice of measuring and modeling human design solutions based on systems found in nature—Rovalo has over 20 years of experience contributing to hundreds of projects worldwide. His journey began in Mexico, where he was born and raised, studied, and eventually founded his ecological design consultancy, Environmental Operations Workshop (TOA in Spanish), along with InSite and Associates. In 2014, he relocated to the U.S., where he worked on a variety of projects, including nature-based solutions for a global aerospace company, coastal resilience guidance for a private island in Belize, and food and water protection plans in California. He has partnered with prominent industry leaders such as Jacobs, PG&E, the California Department of Water Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and its Engineer Research and Development Center. Rovalo also taught biomimicry and design at the University of Iberoamericana in Mexico, nurturing the next generation of cross-disciplinary environmentalists through public outreach and educational programs.
“We’re elevating our ecological performance on every project,” says Jason F. McLennan, chief sustainability officer at Perkins&Will and founder of McLennan Design. “Juan’s role will ensure that every project integrates ecological considerations from the very beginning, fundamentally transforming how a firm of our size approaches design.” McLennan and Rovalo have worked together for the last two decades on initiatives like wildlife-friendly housing master plans and conservation-focused real estate projects.
