Tim Perks always knew he wanted to attend art school; however, majoring in architecture was at the bottom of his list of interests. When Perks entered CCA he assumed his major would be either graphic design or illustration. The campus recruiter even tried to convince him to major in architecture, but he refused.

Perks had attended a high school in Chicago where it was required to select a major. “I chose architecture and I hated it,” he explained. “It was boring drafting classes; it wasn’t about design. If this was what that profession was about, I didn’t want anything to do with it.”

Fortunately Perks quickly realized vast differences exist between high school architecture classes and CCA’s award-winning Architecture Program. “My first year at CCAC they had this day where different majors were discussed,” Perks remembers. “I was looking for the room where they were discussing graphic design, but I went into the wrong room.”

The result of the mishap? Perks encountered CCA Director of Research and Planning David Meckel, as he enthusiastically discussed the merits of the Architecture Program. Meckel’s talk was so compelling it made Perks decide on the spot to major in architecture.

Perks took advantage of CCA’s multidisciplinary opportunities by indulging in a variety of classes, such as graphic design and art history courses. “That was the beauty of majoring in architecture at an art school; I was be able to do all these things,” Perks says. “I loved my time at CCA.”

Perks also took advantage of his faculty connections while attending CCA, including securing employment with CCA faculty member and award-winning architect Jim Jennings. He continued to work for Jennings after graduation, then transitioned his employment to David Meckel and Michael Manwaring. Perks eventually launched a private Bay Area–based company, which he ran for five years, until Nike came calling to enlist his valuable skills.

Today Perks is the senior environmental designer for Nike’s Asia Pacific region, and he is responsible for designing Nike stores in such countries as China, Korea, Japan, India, and Australia. “Right now we open two to three stores a day in China alone,” Perks offers exultantly. While many of the stores have similar designs, unique flagship stores also exist. He is proudest of the new Beijing flagship store that opened last August.

When asked what he enjoys most about his work: “I get to do a lot, and try a lot, and get the satisfaction of seeing a project get done quickly.” Perks has come a long way since being the high school student who swore he would never be an architect. With CCA behind many of his influences and experiences, Perks is a talented and highly skilled architect today whose designs are experienced worldwide.

Born in 1968 in Chicago

CCA degree:
BArch 1991

Residence:
Portland, OR

Current occupation:
Senior environmental designer, Nike

Influences at CCA:
David Meckel, Jim Jennings, Stephanie Felch, John Bass, Marc Le Sueur

Webiste:
www.nikebiz.com