Architect and artist Micah Land will help to advance the firm’s Living Design philosophy — an approach centered on health, sustainability, and social equity
Global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will has hired Micah Land as a senior project designer in its Austin studio. With more than two decades of experience shaping resilient, human-centered environments, Land brings artistic insight, hands-on building knowledge, and a design sensibility shaped by empathy and well-being. He will begin his role working within the studio’s corporate, commercial, civic, and cultural practice group to develop design solutions for mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, and urban design projects across the Southwestern region.
“It’s inspiring to be part of a studio that blends big-picture thinking with grassroots connectivity,” says Land. “Perkins&Will has long represented the kind of practice I admire—design-forward, community-centered, and rooted in purpose.”
A Practice Grounded in Craft
Land’s path to architecture began in the arts. He studied sculpture and painting before transitioning to construction, influenced by his father, a structural welder and oil painter. This integration of creative expression and technical craft now underpins his design methodology.
He earned his Master’s degree from Texas Tech University and pursued additional graduate studies at McGill University in Montreal. Land launched his career at a leading design firm in Chicago before returning to Austin, where he worked at several local firms, including a well-established residential and boutique commercial practice and a neighborhood-focused urban architecture office. At the latter, he played a key role in the firm’s growth from a small operation to a nationally recognized design practice.
Land’s portfolio includes hospitality projects, cultural institutions, educational facilities, mixed-use developments, and civic spaces. His work centers on creating emotionally resonant spaces that connect people and places. Notable projects include the Gary Comer Youth Center in Chicago, honored with an AIA Honor Award; the Wolf Ranch River Camp in Georgetown, Texas, recipient of an AIA Austin Design Award of Excellence; and the Habitat for Humanity Mueller Row Homes in Austin, recognized by the Texas Society of Architects.
Design That Speaks to Everyone
Land approaches architecture with a focus on warmth, honesty, and accessibility. He believes great design should be inclusive—not reserved for the few but open to all—creating spaces that inspire joy, foster connection, and resonate across generations and communities. From schools and libraries to restaurants and civic spaces, he views architecture as a vehicle for storytelling and a tool to elevate everyday life.
At Perkins&Will, Land’s work will support the studio’s ongoing commitment to design excellence, social purpose, and well-being. In his previous work, he has explored how common materials can be repurposed in creative ways, such as building with rammed earth techniques, crafting a suspended bar with welded rebar, and configuring a wall with modified Concrete Masonry Units. This interest in material innovation aligns with the firm’s research-driven culture and Living Design ethos, an approach to architecture that is as environmentally conscious as it is socially responsive.
A Studio in Step with the City
Having lived and worked in Austin for 20 years, Land brings a deep understanding of the city’s shifting identity and a commitment to preserving its distinct character through thoughtful design. As Austin continues to grow as a global destination, he sees the studio’s current momentum as an opportunity to shape the city’s future with authenticity and care.
“Micah’s community mindset and artistic perspective make him a natural fit for our studio,” says Koleman Uresti, managing director of Perkins&WIll’s Austin studio. “He has a remarkable ability to translate big ideas into tangible design solutions, which will be a benefit for our clients across 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. The firm is committed to creating a better, beautiful, more equitable world through Living Design, an approach that integrates environmental, social, and design considerations to advance ecological health and well-being. Architizer named Perkins&Will the world’s “Best Sustainable Firm” in 2023, and Metropolis named it “Firm of the Year” in 2022 for its industry leadership in advancing climate action and social justice. Fast Company named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture three times, and in 2021, it added the firm to its list of Brands That Matter—making Perkins&Will the first architecture practice in the world to earn the distinction.
With an international team of over 2,400 professionals, Perkins&Will has more than 30 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.
About the Austin Studio of Perkins&Will
Established in 2002, the Austin studio of Perkins&Will has built a strong foundation of providing innovative programming, planning, and design services along with an unwavering commitment to client service. Located in one of Perkins&Will’s fastest growing regions, the Austin studio serves clients representing diverse market sectors: corporate and commercial, civic and cultural, corporate interiors, urban design, branded environments, higher education, and K-12 education. Recent projects include new headquarters for Spreetail, Sailpoint Technologies, and Dropbox, as well as the campus masterplan for Seminary of the Southwest, ACC Highland Campus Phase 2 redevelopment, and Round Rock ISD’s McNeil High School. The studio is currently developing a number of mixed-use, office, and multi-family projects in and around the central business district of downtown Austin.