Welcome to our London studio
The challenges of an ever-complex world require boundary pushing solutions. As a hub of collaboration, our London studio recognises that it is the combined knowledge and expertise of our multiple design disciplines that allows us to be greater than the sum of our parts; delivering whole places that are holistically responsive in both approach and activation.
Perkins&Will’s Living Design philosophy sits at the heart of our home in London’s midtown district. The framework has been central in 150 Holborn’s evolution as a living lab that supports our commitment to deliver research-driven, human-centric design. It is an empowering place designed with inclusion at the heart, driven by individual agency and self-organisation, where design is the common language for connections.
See our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy here.
See our carbon tracking and carbon reduction pathway here.
In this third installment of Technically Speaking, Moojan Kalbasi, a senior associate and project director in our London studio, shares her experience working on The Stage—a mixed-use scheme in the heart of Shoreditch that has revitalized a previously inaccessible part of London known for its vibrant urban culture and creative energy. As the design evolved over a decade to adapt to the changing cityscape and important archaeological finds, Moojan’s family also grew alongside its construction with the arrival of her two children. The centerpiece of the development is the Museum of Shakespeare, featuring a glass stage constructed to float above the archaeological remains of one of Shakespeare’s earliest theatres, predating The Globe.
At the start of June, we hosted our annual Skyline Soiree at The Stage Shoreditch, our recently completed studio project. We were thrilled to welcome so many friends from across the industry to the plaza atop the London Borough of Hackney’s only ancient scheduled monument – the remains of Shakespeare’s Curtain Theatre!
“It is surely common sense at this point, but it still needs to be said loud and clear: we need spaces that are as full of life as they are sustainable.”
In his latest opinion piece for Building Design, Principal Adam Strudwick spells out the need to radically rethink how we view green buildings.
Against a backdrop of growing demand for sustainably-certified buildings in the UK, but only 35% office occupancy in cities like London, Adam calls for a holistic approach to sustainable design – one that recognises the scale of under-utilised buildings across our cities, and ensures we are bringing spaces to market that will be cherished and bustling with activity.
Read the full article here.
Sustainable Leader of the Year – given for an outstanding contribution to the sustainable design agenda. Cesar Herrera, Sustainable Design Advisor, has refined our design review process to ensure that all projects are equally committed to improving health and wellbeing, focusing on nature and green infrastructure as key tools.
Sustainable Initiative of the Year – recognising exemplary approaches to sustainability. We designed the fit out of our client’s new City of London workspace for disassembly, so that when they relocated to a new building after a short lease, the majority of the existing components could be re-used, including furniture, carpets, light fittings, system partitions, meeting pods, joinery and floor boxes.
And finally, for Practice of the Year – an award that incorporates our performance, design quality, commitment to supporting the environment and circular economy design, our approach to diversity, equality, and inclusion, and how we’ve supported our teams in flexible and hybrid working over the last 12 months.
As announced on 22nd May by The Crown Estate, Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), and Pioneer Group, our London studio is gearing up to turn the site of a former Debenhams store in Oxford’s city centre into a bustling new life sciences hub.
Amidst the backdrop of limited options for suitable premises and infrastructure for the UK’s science, technology, and innovation sectors, particularly in areas like Oxford, this Debenhams project is poised to make a significant impact. With 100,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art lab and workspace, the redevelopment will reinforce Oxford’s status as one of the world’s premier science and innovation clusters.
Launched by Bristol Zoological Society to fund the creation of their new Bristol Zoo Project, the mixed-use masterplan repurposes the iconic Bristol Zoo Gardens site to provide public park, community and cultural spaces, and 196 sustainable homes.
For the first time in 186 years, access to the historical gardens and lakes will be free and the existing natural spaces enhanced to improve biodiversity, alongside new recreational amenities such as a nature-inspired play area and theatre.
The site’s listed historic buildings will be sensitively restored to house a conservation hub, cafe, exhibition spaces and community rooms, and the 196 sustainable new homes – 20 percent of which will be affordable –carefully designed to complement the existing architectural character of the gardens.
Acknowledging the site’s cultural significance, the plans have been developed though extensive public consultation, which has led to enhanced public access across the masterplan and the provision of a new pedestrian-only entrance on College Road.
Located in the heart of Edinburgh at the Haymarket Square Building, Deloitte’s new home is designed to be a workplace of connection and inclusion. The versatile space accommodates 450 employees and reflects the post-pandemic shift toward hybrid work models. Our team’s research-driven approach ensured that adaptability and intuitive design principles were prioritized at every step, with collaborative meeting areas, flexible workspaces, and biophilic elements seamlessly incorporated throughout the workplace. The open-plan layout, punctuated with various anchor spaces and breakout areas, creates a supportive, comfortable, and dynamic work environment, ultimately enhancing teamwork and camaraderie.
Thank you to Jason F. McLennan, Perkins&Will’s Chief Sustainability Officer, and Sunand Prasad OBE, Perkins&Will Principal, for a truly inspiring evening at #EveryStepMatters – hosted in our London studio to mark Earth Day.
Jason took us on a moving past-to-future journey through regenerative thinking, and in the fireside chat that followed, Sunand and Jason explored how human nature is reticent to change. They asked us: what are the biggest barriers to achieving meaningful, tidal shifts in the global green movement?
The answer was clear. What’s needed now is human, not legislative – it’s engagement, reconciliation, and above all, love. Far from a cliché, Jason’s call for love to be a greater part of the environmental movement urged the audience to embrace, and patiently bring on board, those whose perspectives differ from our own.
Visit Jason’s profile page here to read more about his work and calls to action.
On 21st February, Perkins&Will launched ‘Where, Matters’ – the latest piece of thought leadership from the London studio which seeks to explore the role of place and people in relation to the science sector.
‘Where, Matters’ asks the question: as the race for the top talent in the science market continues to hot-up, what role does place play in supporting organisations to attract and retain the best talent?
As part of the London launch event, our brilliant panel of speakers highlighted that place is undoubtedly of growing importance for the science sector, and that top talent today look beyond salary, career development, and job security, towards inspirational and sustainable workplaces that nurture innovation, creative exchange, and wellbeing.
The BCO Awards 2024 Shortlist is in! And four projects designed by our London studio have made the cut.
Our self-designed home at 150 Holborn has been shortlisted in the Corporate Workplace (owner-occupier) category, Cognizant’s hub for connection and co-creation is shortlisted in the Fit Out category, and North Cambridge’s catalyst for redevelopment, One Cambridge Square, is shortlisted in the Commercial Workplace category.
In early December we hosted our annual networking event Champagne and Chips! Thank you to all our wonderful guests that attended to make it such a great evening. Click here to see more photos from the night. 📷 @seenbyollie
Despite biblical rain, we hosted the first Perkins&Will Skyline Soiree on the stunning rooftop of our new home at 150 Holborn. The atmosphere was wonderful and the space filled with cherished clients, friends, and collaborators.
Click the link here to see more photos from the night from the talented @seenbyollie
Each person at Perkins&Will brings their uniqueness, experience, and creativity to the table, to help us create the most inspiring places and spaces. We’re excited to introduce Rafael Marks, one of the Architecture Principals in the London Studio! Rafi has a wealth of experience and has worked on a diverse portfolio of award winning educational and health projects, as well as expertise in client engagement, project management and championing sustainability. His inclusive and open approach brings out the best in our teams, ensuring everybody remains enthused. We think you will really enjoy getting to know him!
Being named ‘Practice of the Year’ is a true celebration of our collective achievements and reaffirms our commitment to the industry and our clients, whilst simultaneously nurturing a thriving and inclusive work environment. Together, we will continue to push boundaries and shape a brighter future.
Our clients, Shirley and Louise, from Grenfell Early Years Nursery joined us at the awards ceremony and said, ‘the nursery benefits, and will continue to benefit, so many children and their families, both now and in the years to come. It is a truly valued asset within our community, and we’re delighted to see that the space has been recognised for its positive impact through this prestigious award’.
If you are committed to design excellence, thrive in a collaborative environment, have a passion for sustainability and are highly creative, join us in changing the world through design!
We are recruiting for talented Senior Architects as well as Senior Interior Designers (at both Associate and Senior Associate level) for our notable Corporate Interiors team. If you interested in joining a world leading studio of designers and changemakers, and want to continue developing your career along side some truly talented individuals, then we want to hear from you!
Submit your digital cover letter, CV, and limited examples of your best work (maximum of four), to: [email protected], ensuring file sizes are below 10MB.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) had an ambitious vision from the start: to create a best-in-class workplace, setting the benchmark for office design, and challenging the status-quo in sustainability.
Their new workplace is functional, flexible and encourages full mobility to support their needs in a fair and transparent manner, reflecting the Bank’s cultural diversity.
Through a coco-creation approach, we worked with the EBRD to include everyone within their organisation in the creation of their new headquarters, fostering a culture of choice, collaboration, and innovation.
Designed by our London studio, this landmark project celebrates the meaningful work that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) undertakes, with design concepts inspired by the world’s geographies. The vision for Five Bank Street was to co-create and deliver a best-in-class working environment for the EBRD’s new headquarters, with an emphasis on wellbeing, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, while fostering a culture of choice, collaboration, and innovation. Through a co-creation approach, the project team collaborated with the EBRD to navigate the scope of the transition, involving all members of the organization on the journey to create the new headquarters.
King Charles III visited Five Bank Street in Canary Wharf, London, to officially open the EBRD’s new headquarters. Designed by our London studio, this landmark project is a celebration of the meaningful work that the EBRD undertakes and the design concepts were inspired by the geographies of the world. The vision for Five Bank Street was to co-create and deliver a best-in-class working environment for the EBRD’s new headquarters, with an emphasis on wellbeing, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and a community that fosters a culture of choice, collaboration, and innovation.
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