What's the Company Culture Like at Perkins&Will?

Key Insight for Candidates

• Collaborative & Supportive Culture: Collaborative teamwork is emphasized across global studios, with colleagues described as helping each other succeed and creating strong peer networks. Leadership is portrayed as approachable and supportive, enabling teams to pursue interesting work within a connected environment.
• Innovation & Creativity: A design-led, creative spirit is reinforced through formal mechanisms like the Innovation Incubator and Research Labs that support experimentation and problem-solving. Curiosity and rigorous exploration are positioned as cultural norms tied to sustainable and equitable design outcomes.
• People-First Culture: Employee well-being is framed as a priority, supported by stated investments in physical, financial, and emotional health resources and inclusive benefits. Professional growth structures such as mentorship and a Leadership Institute further signal that people development is treated as a core value.

• Workload & Burnout: Demanding project schedules and deadline pressure are described as driving long hours at times, with “sweatshop mentality” language appearing in some accounts. Poor project management and demanding clients are cited as contributors to work-life balance strain.
• Favoritism & Inequity: Concerns are raised about management favoritism and uneven management quality, which can affect perceptions of fairness and support. Studio-to-studio variability also creates inconsistent day-to-day experiences depending on team and local leadership.
• Low Morale & Disengagement: High turnover and references to layoffs or restructuring cycles are presented as factors that can undermine stability and morale. Compensation concerns—particularly perceptions of uncompetitive wages or limited pay progression—are framed as contributing to feeling undervalued.