Global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will announced today that it has acquired the London-based branding, retail strategy, and design consultancy Portland Design Associates.
Portland, whose clients include British Land, Heathrow Airport, St. Pancras International, Diageo, HMS Host, CNN, and TDIC, is best known for crafting brand and retail strategies that “future proof” their clients’ business by anticipating changes in how customers shop in, and interact with, places.
Portland will become the latest creative services business to join the Perkins+Will group of companies. While Portland will maintain its own brand and operate as an independent entity, the two enterprises will work closely together to deliver “future-proofing” insights to clients. This includes a mix of physical and digital brand experiences for projects ranging from retail, entertainment, and mixed-use to transportation and urban regeneration.
“Our clients will benefit from Portland’s consumer insights, creativity, and strategic thinking, and Portland’s clients will benefit from Perkins+Will’s global reach and broad architectural, design, and planning expertise,” says Perkins+Will President and CEO Phil Harrison.
While Perkins+Will has already engaged Portland as a strategy consultant on various projects in the past, the permanent union of the two companies will strengthen and expand both of their service offerings. It will also allow Portland to work closely with Perkins+Will’s Branded Environments practice to service a greater number of clients globally.
Founded in 1987, Portland and its 40 employees have been under Ibrahim’s leadership since 2007. Ibrahim will continue to serve as Managing Director.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 4, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 64 Architecture/Engineering Firms
Stantec, HOK, and Callison RTKL top Building Design+Construction's 2015 ranking of the largest architecture/engineering firms in the United States.
Giants 400 | Aug 4, 2015
GIANTS 300 REPORT: Top 106 Architecture Firms
Gensler, Perkins+Will, and Kohn Pedersen Fox top Building Design+Construction's 2015 ranking of the largest architecture firms in the United States.
Giants 400 | Aug 4, 2015
ARCHITECTURE GIANTS: 21 practice management innovations from architecture Giants
Design firms have gone all out with management innovations in the last year. Check out which ones might work for your firm.
Architects | Aug 4, 2015
Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture closer to independent incorporation
The school is halfway to its first fundraising milestone, but is facing a major deadline at end of this month.
Industrial Facilities | Aug 3, 2015
Architect Jacques Rougerie envisions floating city to function as roving laboratory
The manta ray-shaped vessel will be completely self-sustaining, run on marine energy, and produce no waste.
Cultural Facilities | Aug 3, 2015
Funding needed for Washington's Desert Storm memorial
The National Desert Storm Memorial Foundation has a $25 million goal for the project.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 31, 2015
Zaha Hadid responds to Tokyo Olympic Stadium controversy
“Our warning was not heeded that selecting contractors too early in a heated construction market and without sufficient competition would lead to an overly high estimate of the cost of construction,” said Zaha Hadid in a statement.
Architects | Jul 30, 2015
The Lego Architect: Book offers simple how-to steps for recreating iconic buildings with Legos
The book features famous buildings accompanied with a photograph and drawing of the Lego model of the building, and a list of all the Lego pieces needed to complete a model of the building.
Transit Facilities | Jul 30, 2015
Snøhetta designs ring-shaped cable car station in Italian Alps
In Snøhetta’s design, two cylindrical rings embedded into the existing topography, each at different elevations, will be connected by a cable car. During the minute-long cable car journey, passengers can enjoy views of the city and of the Italian Alps.
Office Buildings | Jul 29, 2015
Design plans for Fannie Mae’s new HQ revealed
The developer/owner, Carr Properties, envisions a 1-million-sf plus mixed-use center with a large retail pavilion.
