MINNEAPOLIS, October 2, 2019 — AIA Minnesota is pleased to announce the Minneapolis Studio of Perkins and Will as the 2019 AIA Minnesota Firm Award recipient. Given biennially, this prestigious award is the highest honor bestowed by the association, recognizing an AIA Minnesota member firm that has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture.

The 65 professionals in the Minneapolis studio offer many areas of expertise in designing projects across many building types. The award-winning studio emphasizes a front-loaded, collaborative, and inclusive design approach, grounds their work in in-depth research, and puts sustainability front-and-center in their client work.

“Perkins and Will is charting positive new directions in how we engage our communities through design,” said nominator Meredith Hayes Gordon, AIA, Principal at HGA Architects and Engineers and 2017 AIA Minnesota president. “They exemplify a socially active and policy-engaged future profession that I fully endorse and embrace as an architect and an AIA leader.”

The AIA Minnesota Firm Award selection committee, comprised of AIA Minnesota board members and leadership, agreed that Perkins and Will met or exceeded all criteria for selection. Criteria include demonstrated depth and breadth of work impacting the profession in Minnesota; produced work that is a product of a collaborative environment; work that transcends specific areas of expertise; and work that is known by the profession and outside it for its quality.

  • Perkins and Will designs many types of public spaces, from museum and education facilities to government buildings and beyond;
  • The 65 architects and designers within the firm work in interdisciplinary and research-grounded teams, collaborating to produce innovative projects for clients;
  • Perkins and Will is active in sustainability and community causes, encouraging inclusive design and innovations to improve the lives of those who interact with their projects; and
  • Many Perkins and Will architects are engaged in the work of AIA Minnesota and of educating future generations of the profession.

“Not only does Perkins and Will Minneapolis innovate on their own projects and with their own clients, but they often convene and are always enthusiastic participants in the national dialogue on the sustainability of our built environment,” said Corey Brinkema, President of the Forestry Stewardship Council. “They are tireless innovators and advocates for making the built environment more ecologically and socially sustainable and leveraging the entire industry to meet larger global sustainability objectives.”

Jurors noted that Perkins and Will has great depth and breadth to the work of their studio, and that their goals match many of AIA Minnesota’s goals: to make architecture accessible, understandable, and highly valued, and to build and mentor the profession. They also noted Perkins and Will’s work in advancing sustainability in the built environment, and the level of innovative design and design approach that is part of the firm’s business model.

The architects of Perkins and Will are very active in AIA Minnesota and have won many AIA Minnesota and AIA national awards. Perkins and Will architects serve on AIA Minnesota and Minneapolis boards, contribute to the AIA Minnesota Leadership Forum and Intercultural Leadership Program, and both lead and contribute to numerous AIA Minnesota committees and knowledge communities.

“We are proud of the collective achievement of our studio and extremely honored to be recognized by our peers for our innovative, sustainable, inclusive, and research driven studio values. The AIA Minnesota Firm Award boasts a long list of dedicated and talented professionals; we are grateful to be counted among them,” said Tony Layne, AIA, Principal, Managing Director.

Perkins and Will will be honored at the AIA Minnesota Awards Celebration on December 6, 2019, at International Market Square, Minneapolis. Learn more about the Firm Award here.

The American Institute of Architects Minnesota, founded in 1892, is dedicated to strengthening our communities, improving our built environment and providing exceptional design. For more information on the organization and Minnesota architectural firms, reference our website, visit our Facebook page and pick up a copy of Architecture MN, our award-winning magazine.