Workplace Design: Did you always know you wanted to go into design/architecture?
Ken Wilson: I had not heard the word “architect” until I was in third grade. I was with my mother, and we came across a model of an A-frame house and she told me that this was what architects do. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. It challenged my childhood notion of what a house should look like. I also loved models of any kind.
What were you like as a kid?
KW: I did a lot of drawing as a kid and loved to build things with Legos, Lincoln Logs, and Tinker Toys. Tinker Toy used to have a national design competition and when I was 11, I became the state champion for Arizona.
Where were you before Perkins&Will?
KW: Prior to joining Perkins&Will, I had my own firm called Envision which was a boutique 20-person firm focused on the blend of design excellence and sustainability.
Tell us about your role at Perkins&Will. How long have you been there?
KW: My firm was acquired by Perkins&Will 13 years ago. Initially, my role was to be the design director for interiors in the Washington, DC studio. Later, I became one of two co-global design directors for interiors and also served on Perkins&Will’s design board. I have now stepped back from those roles and work remotely from Park City. I consult with our different offices across the country as my expertise is needed.
What was one of your first projects there?
KW: My first significant project at Perkins&Will was the Washington, DC office of the law firm Nixon Peabody. The managing partner at the time had been a neighbor and close friend of mine for many years. He was very interested in sustainability and design for health and wellbeing. The project received LEED-CI Platinum certification and won numerous design awards. It was also published in Contract magazine.
Has there been a project you recently completed that you are proud of?
KW: My most recent project is a personal one. I recently completed the construction of my new house in Park City. The house is designed to be a healthy, net-zero energy, low embodied carbon residence. There were some distinct challenges designing a house at 7,000 feet above sea level, where the ski resorts typically get over 25 feet of snow every year.
Is there an upcoming project that you are excited about?
KW: Possibly designing more houses similar to mine.
How have your grown your team?
KW: Speaking for our DC office, the team has grown, especially since the acquisition of HYL Architecture, which is a fantastic addition to the firm.
What is your office like? What’s on your desk?
KW: I have a nice office in my new house. I have a lot of reference books and magazines, and I have a bunch of old vinyl records and a turntable. I have a parallel bar and a light table. I like to do things by hand.
What are you most passionate about in your work?
KW: I am passionate about educating others about sustainability. I like finding the practice areas where the understanding is typically weak and helping to educate in these areas. I believe in leading by example and the best way to educate others is to show them successful built work and talk about how you did it. It is important to share both accomplishments and lessons learned.
Is there one part of the process you love the most?
KW: I honestly enjoy all phases of the process from programming through construction. If you want a good project you have to pay close attention to everything along the way. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the highly collaborative process that happens in the at the beginning of a project when you are balancing aesthetics, functionality, site constraints, sustainability goals, and budget.
What trends or movements in office design are you paying attention to? What does the industry need to prepare for?
KW: Generally, the office market is still struggling and I don’t see any trends that apply to all types of businesses. I personally believe that more people will return to work over time. Workspace for different business types will continue to evolve in their own unique ways as they discover what works best for them.
What do you love about DC?
KW: Although I am no longer living in the DC area, it is a place where I spent the majority of my life. I love the diversity and multicultural aspect of the city. I like the walkability and all the trees and parks. I also love the progressive environmental goals of the city government. I do not miss the traffic, however.
What piece of advice would you tell your younger self?
KW: Have patience.
What has been your greatest lesson learned?
KW: Easy things have the greatest chance of being mediocre and difficult things have the greatest chance of being exceptional.