Global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will  announces the promotion of Koleman Uresti, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, to managing director in the country’s fastest-growing major metropolitan city. Drawing upon his experiences as a project manager and operations director, Uresti will lead the firm’s Austin studio through a period of rapid transformation.

“As our studio grows alongside our city, we will continue to prioritize excellence in everything we do,” says Uresti. “I look forward to fostering our partnerships with clients and community members to help tell their story through design while simultaneously creating the healthiest, most sustainable, and equitable future possible for Austin.”

A Promise to Austin: Living Design

In his expanded role, Uresti will champion the firm’s commitment to Living Design, which focuses on a holistic approach to sustainability, resilience, regeneration, and social equity.  Living design goes beyond the standard definition of “sustainability”— it is about delivering successful concepts to clients that foster well-being. Uresti will encourage projects throughout Austin that are inclusive and positively contribute to the environment to help life thrive at the individual and community scale.

Two Decades of Industry Experience

Uresti will maintain his current role as operations director, applying his business and financial expertise to ensure a positive and rewarding client experience from project start to completion. He has over 22 years of experience in the architecture industry, five of which have been with Perkins&Will’s Austin studio.

During that time, he helped transform Austin’s educational landscape, having led the design team for such notable projects as Rodriguez Elementary School and San Marcos High School, both of which serve the growing population within the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. Even with his expanded leadership responsibilities, Uresti will pursue his passion for educational architecture.

A Bright Future for Austin

“Koleman has played an integral role in  making our Austin studio successful,” says Tom Reisenbichler, AIA, LEED AP who manages the firm’s practice in the Southwest, which includes Perkins&Will’s Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Denver studios in the U.S. and its Monterrey studio in Mexico. “As we look toward an exciting future, Koleman will continue to serve our clients and the community with an unparalleled commitment to well-being, inclusion, and sustainability.”

Inspired by Austin studio’s mission, Uresti will encourage staff and associates to organize programs that tackle social issues and promote equity within the community. He plans to focus on giving back to the community through outstanding design.

“I am excited to further provide our clients with design excellence while keeping community and sustainability top of mind,” says Uresti. “With the firm’s commitment to putting people first, we are aiding in the development to create a healthier, more inclusive environment.”

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 named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture, and industry rankings consistently place Perkins&Will among the world’s top design practices. 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. 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 foundation based on the principles of the firm’s core philosophy: providing innovative programming, planning and design services along with an unwavering commitment and dedication to client service. As one of Perkins&Will’s fastest growing regions, the Austin studio serves clients representing a diverse roster of market sectors: 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.