The firm was established in by Lawrence Perkins (1907–1998) and Philip Will (1906–1985). Perkins and Will met while studying architecture at Cornell University. The company was founded in Chicago.
The company attracted national attention in 1940 with the Crow Island School in Winnetka, Illinois, designed in association with Eliel Saarinen and Eero Saarinen. In 1986, Dar Al-Handasah, a Lebanese consulting firm, purchased Perkins&Will. In 2016, the company had 24 global offices and 2,000 employees.
In March 2014, Perkins&Will announced its planned acquisition of The Freelon Group, led by Philip Freelon. After the close of the transaction, Freelon joined Perkins and Will’s board of directors and became managing and design director of the firm’s North Carolina practice.
In October 2017, Perkins&Will acquired sports and recreation architecture firm Sink Combs Dethlefs. Sink Combs Dethlefs, founded in 1962, operated offices in Denver and Chicago.
In February 2018, Perkins&Will acquired Danish practice Schmidt Hammer Lassen. Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, known for their extensive work in the cultural sector, were founded in 1986 with offices in Copenhagen and Shanghai.
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