Welcome

welcome

At Perkins Eastman, we strive to impact people’s lives in positive ways, an effort at the heart of our Human by Design ethos. Our Summer 2025 issue of The Narrative reflects how we make this happen. In “Walk the Talk,” our story about the Just label, a measure of transparency (akin to a nutritional food label) we earned last year, we reveal where we stand in terms of DE&I and recognize where we can still grow. We are one of only eight large AEC firms in the world to achieve this designation. In “Kicking the Habit,” we calculate our progress toward reaching the goals of the 2030 Challenge. With fewer than five years on the clock, we must go full bore, and we implore the AEC industry to do the same—now. In “Roundtable: Accessible Cities,” a new feature we’re introducing with this issue, our PEople reimagine obstacles—the nationwide housing shortage and climate change, among others—as opportunities for new thinking with far-reaching effects.

“Project Scrapbook: Learning by Design” unveils an exceptional new high school in Alexandria, VA, that is a model of equity. “Aging with Dignity” explores how the silver tsunami requires a new way of thinking when it comes to housing. Intergenerational developments, affordable senior living environments, and sustainable spaces promise to be key. The building of academic libraries on university campuses surged following World War II, especially in the brutalist style. However, in 2025, clients are embracing biophilic design and the many positive benefits of natural light. See how our firm has applied its expertise in adaptive reuse to transform dark, midcentury libraries into light-filled learning centers in “Here Comes the Sun.” And while Perkins Eastman uses advanced software to create designs daily, little is more compelling than simple paper and cardboard models to communicate the potential of urban design projects. Read “Model Matters” to learn how a handmade model can clarify concepts during a presentation. In “Studio Spotlight: Los Angeles,” we celebrate a creative and energetic group of professionals who deftly design healthcare, urban planning, and arts and culture projects among their dozen practice areas.

“Wuxi Wonderland” provides a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into a scale model erected to perfect the acoustics of Wuxi Symphony Hall, the epicenter of the Wuxi Cultural Arts Center in Wuxi, China, due to be completed later this year. And don’t miss “Take 5,” where you’ll meet five fascinating designers, including a third-generation, Ecuadorian architect, as well as one whose work is inspired by poets’ “wonderful economy of words.”

Happy reading,

The Communications Team

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