Vaughan was the Director of the Oregon Historical Society for many years. I don’t know if you ever met him when you were in Portland, but he commanded a very strong presence; he was an older gentleman, and when he came into a room, he controlled that room. Big bushy eyebrows, booming voice. I was instantly intimidated.
And then he stopped me in the middle of my presentation and asked me if I wouldn’t mind slowing down a bit so that he could understand what I was saying. (laughing) My God. He said it very politely, he was so formal. And I remember having a completely cringing moment. I was looking for Bob; he was sitting in the back. He looked up at me, and without giving me the thumbs up, he gave me the thumbs up with his expression. “You got this, GO.”
That was a real gift. He wasn’t worried about me. He wasn’t worried about what the client thought. He knew that it was a learning experience, and he was going to allow me to have that experience, rather than try to control the situation and try to save me. He just let me learn. And that’s a testament to his greatness, for sure.
Bob also taught everyone he worked with, and everyone he came in contact with, that you need to stay humble. I remember one of the things he would say from time to time is “don’t fall in love with your own press clippings.” That’s all about staying modest. And I’m so glad to hear other people saying this in the office now, these little phrases and idioms are continuing the culture.
KS: What’s ahead for ZGF? When you look out the next three, five, ten years, where do you think the firm is heading?
SVDM: This is such a great question. ZGF has such an important history and legacy. And maybe I’m slightly biased because I’ve been here for a long time, but I also think, Ken, that we are just getting started. I feel like there is this renewed energy and I feel like we’re at this crossroads of something transformative. I don’t know exactly what or how this came about, it could be that it’s just the right time for us. There are a lot of things that are changing in our world right now, so I think that you have to look at those outside influences for sure. We also think that our inside influences have changed in terms of our partnership makeup.
For example, we’ve always been a firm that is committed to sustainability, and I think, with the perils of climate change, that will continue to get stronger. I just toured our first Living Building in Portland. It’s remarkable and so inspiring and I think we’re going to continue to be motivated by projects like that. Everything is moving towards restorative design.
KS: You are well positioned for that.
SVDM: I think we are. As many things have changed, I believe our core drivers are just going to be amplified as we move forward in the future. There’s this huge acknowledgement of technology that’s going to continue to change our profession, and we are embracing that more than ever. Plus, everything that we do has to be through this very intentional lens on equity. And like I said before, we need to really serve our communities. But I think our overall focus remains on design excellence. It’s the same, but it’s different – it’s more amplified.
KS: Sharron, this has been wonderful. Thank you so much!
Notes
1 1 Greg Baldwin joined ZGF in 1979 and became a partner in 1985. He remained active with the firm until his passing in 2011. Baldwin is best known for his designs of the MAX Light Rail and Portland Streetcar systems, widely recognized as national models for public transportation.
Chapter 4 Phil Harrison FAIA, LEED AP
Photo Credit: Perkins&Will
| Leadership Role: | Principal, Chief Executive Officer |
| Firm: | Perkins&Will |
| Office Location: | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Country of Origin: | Switzerland |
To me, one of the things I like best about my position – and I consider myself super lucky to be in this position – is that we actually do things. We don’t sit around complaining and wishing the world were different. If we want something to change, we just go change it. And that happens not months later; it happens the next day.
Introduction
Founded in 1935, Perkins&Will is the second largest design firm in the world with 25 offices spanning seven countries. The firm’s 2,200 design professionals provide services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture, applying a design philosophy focused on human-centered design, health, and well-being, as well as sustainability and resilience. Social responsibility is also a key part of the firm’s culture, and each year Perkins&Will donates 1% of its design services to pro bono initiatives and projects.
From the firm’s public website, “We’re dedicated to creating environments where people live happier, healthier lives. To working collaboratively with our clients – engaging, listening, questioning – until, together, we exceed expectations. This is how we define design excellence.”
In 1986, Perkins&Will was acquired by Dar Al-Handasah, a privately owned international consulting firm headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon; it is now part of a global network of companies known as Dar Group. Some of Perkins&Will’s well-known sister firms include engineering firm T.Y. Lin International (infrastructure engineering), project Currie & Brown (energy), Penspen (project management), Integral Group (MEP and energy engineering), Landrum & Brown (aviation planning), Ross & Baruzzini (technology and security systems), and others. As of this writing, Dar Group has 297 offices in 60 countries and over 18,600 employees.
Phil Harrison has led Perkins&Will as CEO since 2006, overseeing the firm as it tripled in size, expanded into new geographies, and strengthened its commitments to design excellence and research. Some of the firm’s growth has been organic and some was achieved through acquisitions. Perkins&Will owns a number of firms it calls “partners,” which have retained their own brand identity. They include London-based Portland (branded experiences), Nelson/Nygaard (mobility), and Pierre-Yves Rochon (hospitality).
In addition to the work Phil discusses in his interview, the firm’s portfolio of award-winning projects includes Shanghai Natural History Museum in Shanghai, China; BMW Site Operations Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina; University of Ottawa STEM Complex in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; and Northwestern University Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center in Chicago, Illinois.
I’ve personally known Phil Harrison for over a decade, primarily through our involvement in the Design Futures Council, where we both serve as Senior Fellows, as well as the AIA Large Firm Roundtable. He is an articulate, high-energy, and action-oriented leader. Born in Switzerland, Phil’s background in the arts – painting, sculpture, film, and philosophy – are paired with a strong aptitude for business strategy and organizational design.
Phil’s leadership impact at Perkins&Will since his arrival over twenty-five years ago is an excellent case study in how to strengthen and grow a global design firm. In his interview, he discusses the importance of servant leadership, the synergy of integrating good business and good design, the art of acquisitions, and the importance of work/life balance. Phil also shares several recent projects of which he is particularly proud, and that exemplify the firm’s environmental and human-centered design aspirations.
Interview
