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

  • Johns Hopkins Starts Construction on New Residence Hall, Dining Facility

    The Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., recently began construction on a new residence hall and dining facility, according to university news. The work involves demolishing the existing Alumni Memorial Residence Hall I, which was built in 1923, to make room for the new facility.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Big Horn Academy

    Big Horn Academy

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Big Horn Academy has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.