Perkins&Will Elevates Interior Design Leaders Tim Wolfe and Lara Leskaj

We are thrilled to announce two promotions: Tim Wolfe, IIDA, LEED AP is being elevated to the role of firmwide Interior Design Director, while Lara Leskaj, IIDA, LEED AP, is now the Interior Design Director of our Chicago studio. As Wolfe transitions to broader leadership across the firm, Leskaj steps in to provide design direction for our flagship studio. The award-winning designers have a wide breadth of experience – each has been with Perkins&Will for more than 25 years across multiple markets – and are known for building talented teams, mentoring, listening to clients, as well as having a high knowledge of projects featuring well-being, sustainability, and inclusion.

“Tim and Lara are steeped in the culture of Perkins&Will, dedicated to our clients’ success, and committed to building diverse, talented teams who will deliver the highest-quality work,” said Lindsey Peckinpaugh, Managing Director of the Chicago studio.

A member of the firm’s Design Leadership Council and the Design Board, Wolfe has worked across practices– Corporate and Commercial, Corporate Interiors, and Science and Technology – with clients such as Mansueto Office, Northwestern University, Shure, and SRAM. Successful projects, he says, require “strong teams driven by understanding the context of each client and project.” In his expanded firmwide role Wolfe will provide organizational leadership, identify next-generation talent, and ensure that Living Design is the central design language. “I am passionate about producing fresh, inspiring design solutions, beautifully executed with purpose and a reflection of our client’s vision, culture, and values,” he says.

Influenced by her early career in hospitality design, Lara has brought an inter-disciplinary approach that combines architecture and design principles across Corporate Interiors, K-12 and Higher Education, and Healthcare markets. In approaching work for clients such as American Express, the University of South Carolina, the University of Cincinnati Law School, and private equity firms, she says each project is unique, informed by client needs. But, she always asks: “How will the space feel – is it warm, comfortable, desirable to be in?” As she steps into her broader role with the Chicago studio, Lara will bring a special focus on building teams that “empower younger designers, allowing all voices to be heard and matter.”

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