Perkins&Will Welcomes New Director of Practice Development in Dallas
Amber Pickett Wernick to focus on expanding the firm’s local interior design practice
DALLAS— Award-winning interior designer and strategist Amber Pickett Wernick joins the Dallas studio of global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will as director of practice development. Wernick, a Dallas native who worked for Perkins&Will between 2008 and 2015, returns to the firm to play a key role in client engagement, identifying new opportunities that grow the studio’s interior design practice.
“I’ve worked with some of the most creative companies in the world to transform their workplace experiences, and I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned back to my hometown and to the firm where I got my start,” says Wernick. “The talent of this team is inspiring, and I’m eager to shape the studio’s direction and strengthen our presence in the Dallas market.”
Some of the award-winning interiors designed by the Dallas studio of Perkins&Will include Parker University’s South Building, the Princeton Municipal Complex, and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge.
Strategic Growth for the Interiors Practice
As director of practice development, Wernick will oversee all phases of interior design projects while nurturing client relationships and fostering collaboration. With an emphasis on research and innovation, Wernick will develop design solutions that align with the social, cultural, and functional goals of each client. She will also serve as a leader in the studio, working to support and advance the development of fellow designers.
“In Amber, a passion for transformative design meets an intuitive ability to connect with clients,” says Jordan Thompson, director of operations in the Dallas studio. “Taking a human-centric approach to her work, she has honed the ability to translate project goals into design solutions that resonate.”
Design Solutions that Resonate
Wernick has a strong foundation in the firm’s values and brings more than 14 years of experience in workplace, education, residential, and healthcare interiors. Her portfolio includes the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, the Stanford University campus in Redwood City, and lululemon’s global headquarters in Vancouver.
“Amber is a forward-thinking leader with exceptional industry experience, and her vision will undoubtedly drive our interiors practice to new heights of excellence and innovation,” says Tom Reisenbichler, AIA, LEED AP, Southwest region director at Perkins&Will. “We couldn’t be happier to welcome her back to the Perkins&Will family.”
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. Architizer named Perkins&Will the world’s “Best Sustainable Firm” in 2023, and Metropolis named it “Firm of the Year” in 2022 for its industry leadership in advancing climate action and social justice. Fast Company 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 first 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.
