Meena Krenek, the designer who played a leading role in the creation of Unilever’s new North American headquarters, as well as other award-winning interiors projects across the U.S., has joined Perkins and Will as principal and interior design director of the firm’s Los Angeles studio.

Krenek, who worked at the firm from 2005 to 2017—including two years as interior design director of the New York studio—is known for her highly innovative interior architectural solutions that blur the lines of typical design typologies. Deeply rooted in visual storytelling and experiential design, her creative visions have earned accolades for supporting brands, building community, and enhancing well-being.

"I’m thrilled to call Los Angeles—where some of the most awe-inspiring clients and influential brands are changing the world—my new home,” Krenek says. “The creative energy in this city is like no other. I can’t wait to harness it and, together with my incredibly talented colleagues, usher in a new era of interior design innovation in our LA studio.”

 Local firm leaders are delighted by Krenek’s return, too.

“One of the most valuable assets that Meena brings to us and our clients—in addition to her raw talent and creative edginess—is her 12-year legacy at Perkins and Will,” says Eric Aukee, managing director of the LA studio. “She knows who we are and what we’re about, and she shares our values, passion, and sense of purpose. I have no doubt she’ll flourish in her new role and take our interiors practice to the next level.”

Alice Hricak, a managing principal, agrees.

“Meena’s empathetic style and commitment to enhancing the human experience are exactly the qualities our clients seek in a design partner. I’m ecstatic that she’s joining our team in LA, and I look forward to the possibilities that emerge from our combined creative forces.”

Krenek, a self-described “people-person” whose gregarious personality is routinely cited by clients and colleagues as an asset, believes she would have been a social scientist had she not chosen a career in design.

“I love being able to connect with people on a more personal level—to ‘walk in their shoes’ for a while, and to use that experience to better understand them,” Krenek says. “It’s only through this kind of careful observation, study, and listening to the client that we, as designers, can create meaningful places.”

Krenek’s portfolio includes award-winning interior architecture projects for clients like Unilever, The Weather Channel, McKinsey, AutoTrader.com, Carter’s, Shaw Contract, and IMG (now Endeavor, a global entertainment and events agency).

She is an active member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and graduate of the architecture program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. In 2018, ASID named her “One to Watch” for her “exceptional leadership potential” and “willingness to push the boundaries of the profession.”

 For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.