MINNEAPOLIS—Amy Williams, an experienced, award-winning architect of hospitals and medical office buildings for leading medical systems, has been named Principal and Midwest Regional Health Practice Leader for Perkins&Will. A key leader for the firm’s Minneapolis and Chicago studios, Williams’ appointment reflects the continued expansion of the global architecture and design firm’s healthcare practice and commitment to delivering highly sustainable patient- and caregiver-centered design.
She was previously with Perkins&Will’s Seattle studio from 2006 to 2008, an experience she recalls fondly, and was attracted back by the culture of collaboration and commitment to sustainability. Building on her strengths in planning, team building, and client focus, Williams’ homecoming is part of the continued broadening of the Midwest region’s health practice capabilities.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Amy back to further strengthen our healthcare leadership in the Midwest,” says Jennifer Christiaansen, Managing Director of Perkins&Will’s Minneapolis studio. “Among the many things that impress me about Amy is that she is very clear about our purpose and the importance of elevating people, projects, and design impact for our clients.”
One highlight during her time at the firm is the Sammamish Library—a facility where sustainability was a top priority. Recognized as a New Landmark Library by Library Journal, the building overlooks the Sammamish nature preserve and Olympic peninsula outside Seattle.
“I deeply admire Perkins&Will’s firmwide belief that design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community,” she says. “Both Midwest studios and the healthcare practice embrace an innovative, strategic, and inclusive leadership style that I’m drawn to and that fosters an environment that will allow us to do our very best work.”
Although she has worked across a range of practices—healthcare, education, science, advanced tech, and civic markets—she finds her calling in healthcare. “I enjoy the size and complexity the building type offers,” Williams says. “I believe my work and the work of my teams change lives for the better. Whether it is a replacement hospital, an expansion, or a medical office building I believe these projects inspire medical professionals to do their best work and provide the best care.”
“Amy’s return to Perkins&Will is an exciting milestone as we deepen our already impressive bench of healthcare design experts throughout the region,” says Chicago Managing Director Lindsey Peckinpaugh. “She will work closely with Scott Davidson, Jenny Riddle-Curley, Kristine Sallee, and other key leaders in the practice to ensure we’re leveraging our firm’s impressive research and innovative project delivery tools to meet the complex needs of our healthcare clients.”
With more than two decades of design experience, Williams’ project highlights include the Mankato (MN) bed tower expansion for the Mayo Clinic Health System; Mayo Clinic’s Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Building in Rochester (MN), winner of an Architizer award; the Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah, winner of the American Society for Health Care Engineering of the American Hospital Association Vista Award; the Intermountain Healthcare Bountiful (UT) Clinic; and, the Kaiser Permanente Chino (CA) Grand Medical Offices.
Williams is the mother of twin daughters, who enjoy ice skating, skiing, and running, and she has a growing interest in watercolor painting. She is also the founder of Star Stunning, an online site dedicated to providing support and advice to working mothers.
