Always a lover of the arts, Valerie pursued architecture in college and graduate school because it offered the technical rigor that accompanies the more free-flowing and artistic aspects to design – that combination of logical and objective with creative and subjective.

Over more than twenty-five years, Valerie’s career has evolved to develop key leadership experience in senior living and other large-scale commissions, including healthcare, residential, long-term care, hospitality, commercial, and education projects. She’s particularly drawn to work where she and her team are creating environments such as senior living and long-term care where the mission is to provide a wonderful residential experience—for seniors themselves plus their family members and the staff who’s with them every day. The way to achieve that mission in the best possible way, she says, is by fostering a collaborative atmosphere where the Perkins Eastman team, its consultants, their clients, and the community’s stakeholders all have a voice. Along with meeting and exceeding a client’s expectations, she sees a win for all sides when projects also come in on time and on budget, are technically sound, and—of course—beautiful.

Our Perkins Eastman

Valerie relishes working with emerging professionals so they can keep growing in their careers. As a hands-on manager, she engages with her colleagues and team members on a regular basis to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and personal interests. By inviting professionals at all levels to engage in the full design process, Valerie hopes to mentor the next generation of design and thought leaders so they are prepared begin a project without any preconceived notions of what the end result will be—beyond creating the best and most beautiful solutions that fulfill the clients’ and stakeholders’ goals.