Perkins&Will

Pros: You get exposed to a lot of project types, which is great for learning architectural design. There's good mentorship if you seek it out, and the Chicago office has some really smart people. It's a stable, large architectural firm.
Cons: Career growth feels really slow for Junior Architect roles. It's hard to see a clear path to promotion, and sometimes you just get stuck on smaller, repetitive tasks. You really have to push hard to get noticed or move up.
Advice to Management: Try to create more transparent career progression paths for entry-level positions. It would help retain talent if people saw a clearer future beyond just learning the ropes.

Pros: As an Architectural Designer, I appreciate the hybrid work model. We get two designated WFH days which is great for planning personal stuff. It really helps balance the demands of the AEC industry.
Cons: Work flexibility can be really project-dependent. During crunch times or big client presentations, you're expected in the Chicago office almost daily. It's tough when your team's flexibility isn't consistent with others.
Advice to Management: Try to standardize the WFH policy a bit more across all design teams. It would help a lot with managing expectations, especially for newer architectural designers.

Pros: The firm officially supports a hybrid model, which is nice. You get two WFH days a week, which helps with the commute into the Atlanta office. It's better than being fully onsite, for sure.
Cons: But honestly, the 'hybrid model' feels more like mandatory onsite with two WFH days. There's not much room for true work flexibility if something comes up. Meeting design deadlines often means long hours, regardless of your WFH day.
Advice to Management: Give more autonomy on WFH days and truly embrace flexibility. It would help a lot with employee morale, especially when facing tight design deadlines.

Pros: I liked working on major architectural design projects. It's cool to see your work on big buildings in Chicago. The firm has a great reputation, which is good for any architect's career path. They really push sustainable building.
Cons: The leadership team can be really inconsistent. Some senior folks don't communicate well, making project shifts hard for an Architectural Designer. It felt like there wasn't a clear vision from the top sometimes.
Advice to Management: Work on clearer communication from senior leadership down to project teams. Give Architectural Designers more direct guidance. It'd help a lot with project continuity.

Pros: As an Architectural Designer, I learned a ton about sustainable design here. The teams in the Atlanta, GA office are really collaborative. There's good support from colleagues when projects get intense, which helps a lot.
Cons: Honestly, work-life balance can get tough, especially with big project deadlines in the architecture industry. You often put in more than 40 hours a week. Sometimes it feels like you're always on call, even with hybrid work.
Advice to Management: Try to implement stricter boundaries on working hours, especially for junior Architectural Designer roles. More support during crunch times or better project staffing could prevent burnout.