BOSTON—As worldwide demand for tech-driven research environments accelerates, Jeff Zynda has been appointed to lead Perkins&Will’s global science and technology practice. He succeeds Ed Cordes, who served as practice leader for 11 years.
Zynda—a sought-after expert in the planning and design of complex laboratories for both academic and corporate clients—will collaborate with teams across 32 studios to set strategy, expand into emerging markets, and drive innovation.
“We’re building on a strong foundation while embracing changes in the market from a global perspective,” Zynda said. “By sharing insights across studios, we can give our clients adaptable frameworks to facilitate discoveries that may not emerge for decades—spaces where high technology and high design intersect.”
Building on the Past to Shape the Future
Zynda joined Perkins&Will in 2015 and most recently served as the firm’s Northeast regional science and technology practice leader. During his tenure in that role, he shaped environments for some of the world’s most forward-thinking institutions—from Harvard University and MIT to the National Center for Atmospheric Research—blending design excellence with cutting–edge research needs.
Now in his firmwide role, Zynda plans to support design teams globally as they respond to an industry shift toward applied sciences and engineering—disciplines that include robotics and automation, energy systems and storage, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and machine learning. At the same time, he’ll ensure Perkins&Will continues to innovate in more traditional research and life science typologies.
“My goal is to ensure we engage in the design of agile, future-ready spaces that anticipate evolving research needs for our clients,” he says, noting that identifying a client’s needs for a built environment and anticipating how those needs will evolve over time is a challenge he embraces. “Our role is to act as a translator, turning ideas into environments that enable discovery and innovation. It’s not just authoring design; it’s a true collaboration that reflects our clients’ aspirations.”
Collaboration and Impact
Zynda’s leadership has resulted in the successful design and delivery of scientific research environments across North America and Europe. These include the Helen Edwards Engineering Research Center at Fermilab; The Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center at Barnard College; multiple laboratory environments for MITIMCo, including SoMa Site 3; the Biosciences Research Building at the National University of Ireland at Galway; several biocontainment laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and science and innovation cluster master plans for Columbia University, Northeastern University, and Trinity College Dublin.
Zynda graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Architecture and is Living Future Accredited. He’s a contributing committee member for the National Institutes of Health’s Design Requirements Manual, a regularly published author, and a frequent speaker on topics related to laboratory design.
“Jeff’s approach combines deep technical expertise with a client-first, team-focused mindset,” says Phil Harrison, Perkins&Will CEO. “We’re confident that Perkins&Will’s position as an industry leader in science and technology will continue to strengthen under his stewardship.”
