Perkins&Will’s Austin Studio Promotes Two Principals to Lead Interiors Practice
Matt Taylor and Joe Gowing tapped to shape the studio’s future in the country’s fastest-growing major metropolitan city
AUSTIN, Texas— Global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will announces the promotions of Matt Taylor, IIDA, to Corporate Interiors Practice Leader and Joe Gowing, NCIDQ, to Director of Business Development for Interiors, both for the firm’s Austin studio. The appointments represent a two-pronged approach to engaging with Austin during its period of rapid growth: Taylor will ensure project successes and healthy development, while Gowing will focus on securing new interior design opportunities across various sectors. The elevations highlight the studio’s continued dedication to outstanding client service and designing beautiful places that uplift, inspire, and empower the community.
“As longtime Austinites and dedicated firm leaders, Taylor and Gowing will draw on their expertise to shape a new era for the studio,” says Koleman Uresti, Managing Director of Perkins&Will’s Austin studio. “These roles will help diversify our practice while enabling us to remain devoted to our team and our many long-term clients in the region.”
A Growing Studio in a Booming City: A Commitment to Design Excellence and Well-Being
Taylor and Gowing have worked together in Austin for over 20 years, developing a productive synergy with complementary skill sets and perspectives. From the Austin studio’s founding in 2002, Taylor and Gowing have worked alongside their team to establish trust within the regional real estate community. They have contributed to some of the best design work in the city. Moving forward, the studio’s corporate interiors practice will continue to identify clients who share its values of employee well-being and who challenge themselves to think differently. Already on the horizon for the studio is a range of exciting projects, including a new 300,000-square-foot downtown high-rise build-out and a 120,000-square-foot corporate office expansion.
Matt Taylor: A Mentor and Team Leader
As a Principal and Senior Project Manager, Taylor will lead the corporate interiors practice from an operational and growth-focused standpoint. In this new role, he will draw on his passion for mentorship and teamwork to keep teams focused, organized, and able to deliver their best work. Taylor brings over 20 years of design experience to the position, with a proven track record of moving projects from conceptualization to completion quickly and effectively. Taylor holds a Bachelor’s of Interior Design from Kendall College of Art and Design. Recent projects of note include Perkins&Will’s Austin Studio, Removery, Realtor.com, and Texas Municipal Retirement System.
“I take great satisfaction in being able to guide younger staff by drawing on skills learned from my mentors,” says Taylor. “I look forward to nurturing the creativity, professional development, and well-being of our staff and, in turn, to advancing the development of our city with the highest quality of design solutions.”
Joe Gowing: Developing New Business
Also a Principal and Senior Project Manager, Gowing will spearhead new business initiatives for the interior design discipline. The creation of Gowing’s role speaks to the studio’s commitment to serving a greater number of clients against the backdrop of a swiftly-growing city. Gowing holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the University of North Texas and brings nearly forty years of architecture and design experience to the position. Recently completed projects include Shearman & Sterling Law Firm, DLA Piper Law Firm, McGinnis Lochridge Law Firm, Frog Design, and Perkins&Will’s Austin Studio.
“Seeing our team develop alongside our city over the past several decades has been a remarkable feeling,” says Gowing. “The future is bright for Austin, and I’m thrilled to be devoting my time to seeking out like-minded clients who are excited to shape it. Our studio depends on our client relationships to continue bringing design excellence to the community.”
About Perkins&Will
Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. Guided by its core values—design excellence, diversity and inclusion, living design, research, resilience, social purpose, sustainability, and well-being—the firm is committed to designing a better, more beautiful world. Fast Company has named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture three times, and in 2021, it added the firm to its list of Brands That Matter—making Perkins&Will the only architecture practice in the world to earn the distinction. With an international team of more than 2,000 professionals, the firm has over 20 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Industry rankings consistently place the firm among the world’s top design practices. Partners include Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen; retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.
About the Austin Studio of Perkins&Will
The Austin studio of Perkins&Will was established in 2002 and has built a strong reputation for innovative design, programming, and planning services, along with an unwavering commitment to client service. As a studio in one of the country’s fastest growing regions, Perkins&Will Austin serves clients representing diverse market sectors, including corporate/commercial, civic/cultural, corporate interiors, urban design, branded environments, higher education, and K-12 education. Recent projects include new headquarters for a variety of technology companies such Spreetail, Sailpoint Technologies, and Dropbox, as well as the campus masterplan for Seminary of the Southwest, Austin Community College’s Highland Campus Phase Two redevelopment, and Round Rock ISD’s McNeil High School. The studio is currently developing a number of mixed-use, office, multi-family, and hospitality high-rise projects in and around the central business district of downtown Austin.
