Perkins&Will Welcomes New Director of Operations in New York

Robert Clemens will contribute to accelerated growth of New York studio, bringing decades of experience to the role

Global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will announces the appointment of Robert Clemens, AIA, NCARB, as its new director of operations and associate principal for the New York studio.

Clemens brings over 22 years of experience in the industry and will work closely with the senior leadership team to manage business growth, project delivery, project management, and staff development for the practice. His role will also see him implement best practices across the firm’s disciplines, from healthcare to commercial architecture, while also connecting with Perkins&Will studios worldwide.

“We are extremely excited to have Robert join the New York studio’s leadership team,” said Bill Harris, managing director of Perkins&Will’s New York studio. “His experience managing a variety of diverse projects and supporting resilient and innovative business practices make him a crucial asset to the continued growth of the New York Studio.”

Clemens is a licensed architect actively involved in the business community in NYC as with his fellowship from the Partnership for New York City’s David Rockefeller Program and supporting public/private partnerships in the arts through chashama. He has led multiple teams on a diverse portfolio of work, including the construction of a world-class performing arts center inside a WPA building in Oklahoma City, re-visioning a confidential tech client’s Chelsea Market into a true urban mixed-use innovation campus, as well as several re-positioning and ground-up mixed-use developments across the states of New York and Connecticut.

“I am thrilled to join the Perkins&Will family, who’s work I have admired throughout my career,” says Clemens. “My background in both operations and architecture has given me a holistic perspective on how design and business strategy interplay. I’m excited to apply this knowledge to support the New York studio’s continued delivery of design excellence across all sectors.”

About Perkins&Will

Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. Guided by its core values—design excellence, diversity and inclusion, living design, research, resilience, social purpose, sustainability, and well-being—the firm is committed to designing a better, more beautiful world. Fast Company named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture, and industry rankings consistently place Perkins&Will among the world’s top design practices. With an international team of more than 2,000 professionals, the firm has over 20 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen; retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.