L to R: Barbara Best-Santos, Co-Managing Principal; Deborah Lloyd Forrest, Founder and Principal; Colletta Conner, Co-Managing Principal (Photo Credit: Jen Bertrand and Lyndsey Peck)
ForrestPerkins, a distinct design studio of Perkins Eastman with offices in Dallas, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., announces new leadership roles. Principals Barbara Best-Santos and Colletta Conner will assume the roles and title of Co-Managing Principal, leading the distinguished studio alongside Deborah Lloyd Forrest, FASID, Founder and 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,” says Forrest. “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 honoured to work with Deborah and Colletta as we expand our impact in the design world,” says Best-Santos. “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 echoes her thoughts: “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, Co-Managing Principal Barbara Best-Santos is an interior designer and distinguished leader in the hospitality industry. Her impressive 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, Co-Managing Principal Colletta Conner is a well-respected leader within the industry who leverages 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 wellbeing.
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, D.C., 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 talented designers and architects as the firm further cultivates its signature brand and expands its international design practice.
