Perkins & Will won the Eco Award at The Brit List Awards 2022 in recognition of their pledge to make their projects net-zero by 2030. It’s an impressive statement of intent, which is backed up by the studio’s track record for social responsibility and sustainability. Head of Hospitality Neil Andrew is definitely chuffed with the award, but he is keen to point out that net-zero is a long process that he and is team are still working through.   

Perkins & Will are fortunate to have sustainability expertise on the team. However, Neil is aware that a lot of knowledge has to be acquired and fed into the studio’s eco-system, project by project and person by person, if their net-zero pledge is to be fulfilled. He describes the practice of Perkins & Will’s corporate teams, now copied by his hospitality team, of making one element of a project, for example a staircase, net-zero. The knowledge gained by the team’s work from inception to completion on that element will inform further elements in future projects, until the expertise exists in the studio to make every element of every project net-zero. Similarly, one team member who knows everything about sustainability won’t change a culture. Neil sees his and his senior designers’ roles as mentoring their teams. If everyone knows as much as you, you’ll all get more done.  

Neil’s unassuming, personable approach should not be confused with a lack of ambition. The Brit List award is recognition of his studio’s bold approach. He is at the head of a new wave of designers who want to bring respect for people and the planet to the forefront of design.