Stewardship in Action: What “Values-Driven” Design Really Means With Phil Harrison and Lindsey Peckinpaugh

What does it really look like when a design firm leads with values, not simply as a slogan, but as an operating system? In this episode of I Hear Design, host Robert Nieminen talks with Perkins&Will Principal and CEO, Phil Harrison, and Lindsey Peckinpaugh, Principal and President, about their impact report, “Stewardship in Action: A Values-Driven Approach to Design.”

Together, they explore how “values-driven” design shows up in the lived experience of a place in things like human-centered spaces, biophilic connection, and design that serves communities for the long haul. They also break down Perkins&Will’s Living Design framework and spotlight Toronto’s Dawes Library, a net-zero-carbon branch library and community hub shaped through Indigenous partnership and co-creation developed in collaboration with Smoke Architecture.

Additional highlights include:

• Why energy modeling should be treated as an ethical responsibility and how firms of any size can act now
• Perkins&Will’s publicly shared “Switch List” for advanced material health
• Designing for biodiversity, including ecological literacy and habitat restoration
• A candid look at client satisfaction vs. staff well-being—and the push to bring joy back to practice
• A pragmatic take on AI: reduce repetitive work, boost creativity, and keep design a human art

Meet Our Guests

Phil Harrison, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal, Chief Executive Officer, Perkins&Will

Phil believes inspired design acts in the service of humanity. When it achieves beauty and rigor, poetry and technology, creativity and innovation, design has the power to invigorate the human experience. As CEO of the second-largest architecture and design firm in the world, Phil takes this responsibility very seriously.

Phil motivates teams around the globe to devise breakthrough solutions to the profession’s most pressing challenges. From championing research and technology to cultivating a culture of curiosity and experimentation, his goal is to propel the spirit of imagination into measurable action.

“When teams are aligned in their vision and goals, they channel their energy into design innovation and client service,” he says. “This creative synergy allows us to exceed our clients’ expectations and make the design and construction process joyful.”

A licensed architect in 9 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces, Phil has led Perkins&Will as CEO since 2006, tripling the firm’s size, expanding its geographic reach, and deepening its focus on design excellence. He and his family live in Atlanta, and he spends his free time traveling, cycling, cooking, making art, and playing music.

Lindsey Peckinpaugh, AIA, LEED AP, RELi AP, Principal, President

Lindsey is on a mission to leave the world better than she found it. As President of Perkins&Will, she works with our clients, communities, partners, and peers to design for a more sustainable and equitable future. “To lead is to listen—to understand, learn, grow, and uplift those around me,” she says. “Every day, I strive to inspire teams to deliver excellence in every aspect of their work, and to enable us all to think bigger, work smarter, and design with purpose.”

A practicing architect, Lindsey has always had an aptitude for understanding our business holistically. She joined the firm in 2017 as part of our merger with Sink Combs Dethlefs, and in 2021 she was named Managing Director of our Chicago studio. Elevated to President in 2024, Lindsey now helps shape the firm’s global strategy as a trusted partner to CEO Phil Harrison and our Board of Directors, focusing on the core areas of our business—management, operations, and design—to ensure our continued success.

“Lindsey is a natural leader whose blend of strategic thinking, clear communication, and empathy is widely admired by clients and colleagues alike,” Harrison says.

Lindsey lives in the Chicago area and is an active community member volunteering and serving on several boards. She keeps her mind and body active by traveling, immersing herself in poetry, having frequent impromptu dance parties and chasing her son, Mason, around amusement parks.