L-R: Barbara Best-Santos, Deborah Lloyd Forrest and Colletta Conner (Imagery: © Jen Bertrand and Lyndsey Peck)

The distinct luxury hospitality studio of Perkins Eastman has named Barbara Best-Santos and Colletta Conner as co-managing principals to support its ambitious growth plans.

ForrestPerkins’ new co-managing principals will join founder and principal Deborah Lloyd Forrest in leading the studio into the next phase of its development.

ForrestPerkins bolsters senior team

Together with founder and principal Deborah Lloyd Forrest, Barbara Best-Santos and Colletta Conner will support the ongoing progression of the studio, which now has offices in Dallas, New York, San Francisco and Washington DC.

“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,” said 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,” reflected 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 added: “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 on that foundation and look to the future of design with Barbara and Deborah.”

A wealth of leadership experience

In her new role, Best-Santos draws on more than two decades of experience spanning a range of project types across different continents.

As an interior design leader in the hospitality industry, the new co-managing principal has built up an impressive portfolio of luxury and lifestyle projects across a number of brands, from boutique and large-scale hotels to restaurants, spas and resorts. Her holistic approach has blended wellness and experiential design into these projects.

Conner comes to the role with an award-winning portfolio built up over two decades. Her wealth of experience spans large-scale and boutique hotels, along with luxury multi-residential projects, spas, restaurants and resorts, and shows a commitment to wellbeing through the creation of spaces that support mind, body and spirit.

In this new chapter for ForrestPerkins, Best-Santos and Conner will manage the studio alongside Forrest, who herself has dedicated more than 40 years to the hospitality industry.

The ForrestPerkins leadership team also includes associate principal Toby Bishop, who acts as studio leader in New York, along with Emily Woods Weiskopf and Jennifer Beggiato, who serve as co-studio leaders in Washington DC and head the firm’s Multi-Residential Interiors practice.

Related Articles