Perkins&Will Welcomes New Strategic Leader for Advisory Services in Canada’s Capital

A native of Ottawa, Henderson has led strategic engagements with clients across a range of sectors—from financial services and technology to media and professional services—helping organizations align spatial, cultural, and operational needs with their broader business goals. At Perkins&Will, she’ll focus on expanding the firm’s capacity to deliver design solutions rooted in workplace research, sustainability, and human experience. She joins after more than a decade with another prominent international architecture and design consultancy.

Henderson’s notable work includes helping develop a comprehensive workplace strategy for a global media company’s EU headquarters in Amsterdam, setting a new benchmark for employee and partner experience. In London, she partnered with Paul Weiss to craft a visionary workplace, transforming a former tech office into a hospitality-inspired legal environment designed to strengthen client relationships and attract top talent. She also contributed to the real estate and workplace strategy for a Magic Circle firm, delivering significant space efficiencies and measurable carbon reductions. In Canada, Henderson co-led the workplace strategy for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), establishing a flexible model grounded in the practical and cultural needs of its workforce.

“After many years working abroad, I’m truly excited to return to my hometown of Ottawa and contribute to shaping its built environment,” she says. “It feels incredibly meaningful to give back to the city that shaped me.”

Henderson’s approach is grounded in data, research, and inclusive engagement. She co-authored the award-winning study Learning and Re-learning: Researching the Impact of the Pandemic on People, Work, and the Future Workplace, which received a Certificate of Research Excellence from EDRA in 2022. Her work consistently integrates sustainability, wellbeing, and cultural alignment into strategic recommendations that produce meaningful outcomes.

“In every project, I look to include our planet as a key partner alongside the people and organizations we serve,” Henderson says. “Perkins&Will is a leader in regenerative design, and it’s an honour to join a collective of design professionals who are reimagining the built environment with our planet at the heart of their thinking.”

“As our clients navigate increasingly complex and resource-constrained environments, Kerri’s expertise will be valuable in shaping the future of workplaces through advisory services to support evolving business needs,” says Cecily Eckhardt, managing director of Perkins&Will’s Ottawa and Toronto studios. “With Kerri’s insight and experience, I see our practice advancing to the next level, and we are excited for what comes next!”

Henderson holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Waterloo. She has worked previously in New York, London, and Toronto, and is known for her enthusiasm, deep expertise, and care for both clients and the planet.

###

About Perkins&Will

Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. The firm is committed to creating a better, beautiful, more equitable world through Living Design, an approach that integrates environmental, social, and design considerations to advance ecological health and well-being. Interior Design named Perkins&Will a “Sustainability Giant” in 2024; Architizer named it the world’s “Best Sustainable Firm” in 2023; and Metropolis named it “Firm of the Year” in 2022 for its industry leadership in advancing climate action and social justice. Fast Company named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture three times, and in 2021, it added the firm to its list of Brands That Matter—making Perkins&Will the first architecture practice in the world to earn the distinction.

With an international team of more than 2,500 professionals, Perkins&Will has over 30 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; McLennan Design; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).

About Perkins&Will’s Ottawa Studio

Founded in 2008, the Ottawa studio of Perkins&Will includes 21 staff members delivering architecture, urban design, and interior design services. Located in the core of one of the world’s coldest capital cities, the studio is brimming with warmth and creativity and is recognized for its interdisciplinary expertise and collaborative approach. It demonstrates a distinguished portfolio in higher education, sports and recreation, transportation, science and technology, and corporate/commercial design, delivering projects that integrate innovation, sustainability, and user-centered performance.

Ottawa-based clients benefit from the firm’s global reach and diverse knowledge through robust service delivery in both public and private sectors. The studio has completed dozens of projects in the National Capital Region and beyond, totaling more than 3 million square feet including the transformative Bank of Canada Head Office Renewal. Designed in collaboration with lead landscape architects DTAH, this project earned numerous awards including a National Award of Excellence from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The University of Ottawa STEM Complex amalgamated the faculties of Science and Engineering into a dynamic, interdisciplinary research community, earning an Award of Merit from the Ottawa Urban Design Awards. The highly anticipated Ottawa Confederation Line, a new 12.5 km (7.7 mile) electric light rail system, is poised to revolutionize transit in Canada’s National Capital Region.

For more information, visit perkinswill.com/studio/ottawa/.