Announcements March 25, 2026

Remembering Henry Mann, 1942–2026

A visionary leader in the business of architecture

Henry Mann on the phone at a cluttered desk with papers and a computer.

With heavy hearts we write to report that our former CEO, Henry Mann, who led Perkins&Will from 1999 to 2006, died on February 25, 2026. He was 84 years old.

During his tenure as head of our firm, Henry oversaw a remarkable period of growth, expanding the practice from 400 people to more than 1,200 in 14 studios spread across North America, Asia, and Europe. He also started several of our key initiatives, including our commitments to sustainability, diversity, leadership development, and technical excellence. A gregarious, boisterous personality, Henry established a culture of strong business fundamentals, design excellence, superlative client experience, and doing the right thing.

Henry was born in 1942 in McDonough, Georgia, and grew up attending public schools. He studied liberal arts at Emory University’s Oxford College, where he developed a deep humanist point of view, and then went to Georgia Tech, where he earned his architecture degree in 1969.

Despite his education and professional achievements, throughout his life Henry held tightly to his small-town roots. He liked to refer to himself as “just a country boy from McDonough.” While often said half in jest, there was no doubting his humble, hands-on approach to work and life. He didn’t keep a secretary, filled out his own expense reports, and it wasn’t uncommon to find him in the kitchen doing dishes, tidying up around the office, or maintaining the landscaping.

Henry was one of the most talented, visionary, and effective design firm leaders in the history of our profession. Perkins&Will would not be the firm we are today without Henry.

Phil Harrison, CEO, Perkins&Will

In 1977, after a tenure working at the Atlanta firm Abreu & Robeson, Henry and four other partners founded Nix Mann & Associates. They focused their business on healthcare. In the early days, Henry and his partner, Lewis Nix, would drive around the state of Georgia and, wherever they found a hospital or healthcare clinic, introduce themselves and offer their architectural services. Shoe leather and personal relationships were Henry’s preferred method of business development. He had an instinctual ability to read a room, spot the decision maker, and become that person’s best friend.

Henry’s innate business acumen was equaled and bolstered by his empathy. He fostered an environment where people thrived and good design flourished. More than colleagues, he saw his staff as a group of friends and encouraged work-life balance. There was laughter in the office, but also serious work. He brimmed with confidence and could infect others with his can-do spirit. When he gave assignments to people who felt uncertain of their ability to complete the task, he’d tell them: “You can figure it out. Just do it.” After a little prodding, they usually could.

In 1982, Nix Mann won the first AIA Merit Award given to a healthcare project in 25 years for the design of the Gwinnett Medical Center, which remains our client to this day. By the 1990s, the firm had become the preeminent healthcare practice in the Southeast U.S. In 1995, Nix Mann merged with Perkins&Will. Soon after, the board recognized the strength of Henry’s vision and leadership and named him CEO—a role he held until 2006.

Henry believed that a great firm could be great at multiple levels. It didn’t have to choose between business success and design or an uplifting culture. It could have them all at once. His vision continues to influence the way we work today.