ForrestPerkins, a distinct design studio of Perkins Eastman with offices in Dallas; New York; San Francisco; and Washington, DC, has revealed new leadership roles. Principals Barbara Best-Santos and Colletta Conner will assume the roles and title of co-managing principal, leading the studio alongside Deborah Lloyd Forrest, FASID, founder/principal.
“As founder of ForrestPerkins, I am proud to have strong design, management and business development leaders Colletta Conner and Barbara Best-Santos as the firm’s co-managing principals,” Forrest said. “Their strengths and talents complement one another to support our leadership team and inspire our talented designers as we move into the tremendous growth cycle we envision for this year and beyond.”
“I am honored to work with Deborah and Colletta as we expand our impact in the design world,” Best-Santos said. “Our united vision of creating elevated experiences through design innovation and seamless delivery promises an exciting and successful future for our dedicated staff, partners and clients.”
Conner said, “ForrestPerkins has always been rooted in our core value, Defining Luxury. As our world changes and design evolves, the important values we bring to design will evolve as well. I’m excited to build upon on that foundation and look to the future of design with Barbara and Deborah.”
With more than two decades of experience spanning continents and project types, Best-Santos is an interior designer and distinguished leader in the hospitality industry. Her portfolio consists of luxury and lifestyle projects across many brands, including boutique and large-scale hotels, spas, restaurants and resorts. She also integrates a holistic approach to her design work, blending a passion for wellness and experiential design.
With an award-winning portfolio cultivated over two decades, Conner is a well-respected leader within the industry who leverages more than 20 years of experience in luxury multi-residential projects, large-scale and boutique hotels, spa design, restaurants and resort properties. She is deeply passionate about creating healthy environments that support the mind, body and spirit, and her design work reflects her strong commitment to well-being.
Best-Santos and Conner will manage the studio alongside Forrest, a veritable leader in the hospitality design industry with more than 40 years of dedicated expertise. Rounding out the ForrestPerkins leadership team is Toby Bishop, associate principal, who acts as studio leader of the group in New York. Emily Woods Weiskopf, AIA, and Jennifer Beggiato serve as co-studio leaders of the team in Washington, DC and head the firm’s multi-residential interiors practice.
Together, Best-Santos, Conner, Bishop, Weiskopf and Beggiato will work with Forrest to lead ForrestPerkins’ team of designers and architects as the firm further cultivates its signature brand and expands its international design practice.
