Perkins+Will has announced that they have merged with The Environments Group, a Chicago-based firm with  expertise in designing corporate and commercial interiors. With 65 professionals, The Environments Group represents the largest stand-alone interiors practice in Chicago.

"The Environments Group merger supports our strategy to grow by targeted acquisition," says Phil Harrison, CEO of Perkins+Will. "It not only significantly strengthens our interiors practice, but also enhances our offerings in the Planning & Strategies and Branded Environments disciplines. In addition, The Environments Group has a marquee name in Chicago, and expanding our footprint in the Chicago market, among other key cities, is critical to the firm's continued growth and success. We're thrilled to welcome our new colleagues into the Perkins+Will family."

The Environments Group was founded in 1991 and has a client portfolio that includes USG Corporation, Schiff Hardin, UBS, and many of the top international consulting firms.

"Merging with Perkins+Will is a win for our clients and staff," says Fred Schmidt, managing principal of The Environments Group. "The merger will not only allow us to better serve our clients with a broader national range of service offerings, it provides our staff with enhanced career development and growth opportunities."

"We are very compatible from both a business and cultural perspective," says Ray Clark, managing director Perkins+Will's Chicago office and member of the firm's corporate Board of Directors. "The Environments Group shares our values, including our team-based philosophy and commitment to sustainability. In fact, the synergy between the two firms has already been endorsed by the marketplace. We share several clients, including Crate and Barrel, Grainger, and Kraft."