Poised for growth in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will has announced new leadership for its London office. Steven Charlton becomes Managing Director of the 135-person practice. He assumes the role after having spent the last six years as Managing Director of Perkins+Will’s Dubai office in the United Arab Emirates.
“It’s exciting to be returning to my roots in London, where I can apply my experience in Dubai’s rapidly changing and dynamic market to help grow our practice here locally,” says Charlton, who helped grow sales in Dubai by nearly 60 percent year over year since 2011, and under whose leadership the practice expanded from a staff of two to more than 100 professionals. “I look forward to further cementing Perkins+Will’s position as a leader in the U.K., and to delivering the highest quality of service to our clients.”
The London studio of Perkins+Will has long been known for its award-winning corporate interior designs, but in recent years, it has also earned a reputation for excellence across multiple disciplines and practice areas, including master planning and urban design, architecture, science and technology, hospitality, and healthcare. Recent and ongoing projects include The Stage, a mixed-use residential project in Shoreditch that preserves one of Shakespeare’s oldest playhouses; 150 Holborn, a 180,000-square-foot new build HQ corporate office building in the borough of Camden; the award-winning Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, and the new The Economist headquarters in London. Under Charlton’s leadership, the office anticipates continued growth in these and other sectors.
“Steven brings a fresh, dynamic energy to the practice, complemented by strong business savvy, a clear understanding of the London and U.K. market, and a client-first focus,” says Jack Pringle, PPRIBA, Hon. AIA, who served as the Managing Director of Perkins+Will’s London office for the last five years. “It’s a natural fit for him, our London practice, and the entire firm.” Pringle is now focused on strategic growth and the development of new regional client relationships as Perkins+Will’s Regional Director for the EMEA.
Meanwhile, in Dubai, Roger Wilson, RIBA, succeeds Charlton as Managing Director. Wilson has extensive experience working on large-scale retail, aviation, and mixed-use commercial projects across the Middle East.
Pringle says the leadership transitions in London and Dubai will result in stronger architecture and urban design practices in both locations, while ensuring high quality, personalised service to clients locally, regionally, and internationally.
“The greatest thing I’ve learned about Perkins+Will is that, not only are we a large, extremely capable firm full of world-class expertise, but also, we deliver a personal service with a thorough understanding of each office’s local market. While our reach is great and our numbers vast, we are nimble, adaptable, and absolutely committed to serving the local communities in which we work,” Pringle says. “With the fresh, dynamic energy that Steven and Roger bring to their respective offices, there’s a lot for us to look forward to.”
