Perkins Eastman’s Chicago studio is located within a historic building, bringing it a refreshed energy. Employees embrace the firm’s Human by Design philosophy, embracing flexible sunlight spaces for both collaborative and individual work. The Rookery building, designed by Daniel Burnham and John Root, was the perfect space for a modern architecture office. Original artifacts from The Rookery were preserved and used in the design, blending effortlessly with contemporary and wellness oriented design elements.
The studio was designed to enhance air quality, acoustics, energy efficiency, and material health. The space combines these elements seamlessly into an employee-first workplace. The project sets a standard for adaptive, sustainable design as the first project in the State of Illinois to receive WELL v2 Platinum Certification.
Perkins Eastman founder and Chairman Bradford Perkins’ grandfather worked in the Rookery building as a young architect in 1886. The new office highlights the legacy of the Perkins family as well as Perkins Eastman’s thoughtful, personal approach to site selection and design.
Combining 21st century design with 19th century details, the office features original architecture elements from the Rookery Building, including a window from Burnham and Root’s 11th floor office and a Frank Lloyd Wright elevator gate. The lobby features warm wood tones and ornate brass elements, giving way to a telescoping glass door that creates a modern entry, warmly welcoming employees and visitors.
Wellness is at the center of Perkins Eastman’s approach. The Chicago Studio design is based on the principles of hospitality, inspired by the firm’s global experience in workplace, hotel, and education spaces. Staff enjoy a work environment with daylight responsive lighting, acoustics, air-quality monitoring, and sustainable material choices that put their health and comfort first. The studio is one of only four projects in the United States and 25 worldwide to obtain a WELL v2 Platinum Certification. Encouraged by WELL guiding principles, the Perkins Eastman workplace design team worked alongside the Chicago studio to enhance quality of air, light, sound, thermal comfort, and materials for a workplace that is inviting and prioritizes well-being .
“We believe our employees are our greatest asset, so we created an inviting employee-first environment that reinforces our healthy studio culture. Light, acoustics, air quality, comfortable spaces–these all promote holistic wellness and can be embedded in the design process from the start. In the new age of COVID-19, the Chicago studio design serves as an example for future office spaces, where health and wellness considerations are now front and center.” – Jerry R. Walleck, AIA.
