Perkins&Will Names New Firmwide Practice Leader for K–12 Education

Architecture and design firm Perkins&Will recently announced that it has appointed Aimee Eckmann to the position of firmwide practice leader for K–12 education, according to a news release. Eckmann has been with the firm since 1999 and has served as the Chicago studio’s K–12 practice leader since 2017. Through Perkins&Will, she has produced award-winning designs and educational planning to schools in Chicago, Omaha, Mumbai, Shanghai, and more.

“I’m excited to take on the added responsibilities,” said Eckmann. “The possibilities of education have always resonated with me. Schools are game changers for students and communities, and we must be creative and responsive with the communities we serve. I look forward to continuing to embrace designing sustainable, healthy environments to benefit future generations.”

Eckmann has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from Miami University of Ohio and a Master of Architecture degree from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, the news release reports. She has also served in both leadership and mentorship roles for the ACE Mentor Program of Illinois, which supports underserved students in Chicago-area public schools.

Her previous projects include the seven-story William Jones College Preparatory High School in Chicago; Westview High School in Omaha, which combined a school and community YMCA; and the STEM-oriented Bezos Learning Center for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., according to the news release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • California District Opens New Continuation High School

    The Fort Bragg Unified School District (FBUSD) in Fort Bragg, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Noyo High School, a continuation high school that provides alternative education options for students in grades 6–12, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrochi Kwok Architects for design and FRC Inc. for construction, and the project’s funding came from Local Bond Measure B.

  • DLR Group Hires Three for Higher Education Practice

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has brought three new hires on board to help shape its higher education practice in California and the northeast, according to a press release.