SEATTLE—In a move that reflects broader shifts in how people shop, socialize, and spend their time, Perkins&Will welcomes five acclaimed retail design strategists to advance the firm’s growing retail practice. Led by Matt Billerbeck in Seattle, the team—comprising Sophie Bramall in Dallas, Erich Dohrer in Chicago, Sarah Holstedt in Seattle, and James Mellor in San Diego—will work with Perkins&Will colleagues worldwide to design and deliver dynamic retail destinations that reenergize communities.
“I’ve always believed our greatest value is in how we think: the questions we ask, the ideas we test, and the creativity we bring to everyday problems,” says Billerbeck. “Perkins&Will approaches the work with that same mindset. Together, we can elevate the thinking behind retail and give clients solutions they can’t find anywhere else.”
Each of the retail team members comes to Perkins&Will from the same Amsterdam-based design and engineering firm, and collectively they are known for transformational work on commercial districts, experiential retail environments, and mixed-use projects. Their portfolio spans multiple continents and includes repositioned shopping centers, urban districts, stadium neighborhoods, airports, transit-oriented developments, hospitality interiors, and vertically integrated commercial hubs.
“Our goal is to build the most sought-after retail practice in the world, and the addition of Matt and the team represents a major step in that direction,” says Perkins&Will CEO Phil Harrison. “The group’s collective market intelligence and longstanding client partnerships will position us for success on virtually any type of project with a retail component.”