SAN FRANCISCO—Architect Simon Persson has joined the San Francisco studio of global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will. Persson joins Perkins&Will San Francisco after more than a decade with Schmidt Hammer Lassen, Perkins&Will’s design studio in Shanghai. His recent work includes some of the firm’s most significant projects in China, covering various typologies, scales, and sectors, with a focus on civic and cultural venues such as libraries and performing arts centers.
Born in Malmö, Sweden, Persson studied at Aarhus School of Architecture in Denmark and has lived in Rotterdam, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, and now San Francisco. His work reflects a global perspective, blending a Scandinavian style that emphasizes simplicity and clarity with designs deeply connected to place and culture.
“We are excited to welcome Simon and look forward to the originality and world-class design experience he will bring to our studio and city,” says Peter Pfau, design director of Perkins&Will’s San Francisco studio. “Each of Simon’s projects is unique, but they are connected through bold forms, harmonious composition, and a sharp eye for beauty.”
International Design with Cultural Impact
Persson’s approach unites conceptual clarity with a deep sense of place, shaping ideas of landscape, community, and culture into architecture that feels both universal and local. His portfolio is rooted in cultural and civic work, but also includes projects for higher education, commercial, and utility. His approach remains consistent across building types, retaining clarity of design intent despite differences in function.
“Ultimately, I approach all buildings as cultural buildings,” says Persson. “My design process involves intense research, digging into the culture, history, and character of a place, and letting those connections form something new. You never know at the beginning how certain information will manifest in the final designs. My goal is to create places where people want to gather—environments that exude warmth, have a human scale, and are infused with a sense of surprise.”
