Fast Company speaks with Perkins Eastman Co-CEO Nick Leahy on the biggest forces shaping the industry this year in “Top Architects on the Biggest Challenges They’ll Face in 2026.”
He emphasizes that collaboration is key: “Affordable housing and supporting community resources are in crisis—projects that deliver proximity to public transportation, social infrastructure, and offer cultural resources such as restaurants and entertainment will be in high demand. “Understanding the role a building plays within a broader community is a vital part of the design process that is often lacking. Collaboration needs to extend beyond cities and design teams to integrate community needs.”
Pictured is Ruby Square, a transformative 624,000 sf mixed-use development in downtown Jamaica, Queens, with 525 sustainability designed units, 105 of which are affordable, and strategically located near public transit and cultural institutions.