NeoCon Presentation Description: Change is easy to talk about, but far harder to practice in an industry driven by precision and certainty. Featuring a guest collaborator from a global financial services firm, this session offers an authentic client-side perspective on how change is experienced, evaluated, and measured. Using the Perkins&Will Interior Studio renovation as a real-world case study, the discussion explores change management through workplace design, focusing on experimentation and responding to evolving needs. Participants will examine how success and Return on Investment extend beyond traditional metrics to include employee engagement, adaptability, and long-term value. By reframing the workplace as a Living Lab, designed to test, learn, and evolve, teams can reduce resistance, build trust, and support continuous learning as "ambassadors of change." Through candid dialogue and practical examples, this session presents a practical framework for embracing change as an ongoing, human-centered process.
Koko Nomura, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Senior Project Architect, Senior Associate
Perkins&Will
Growing up in Tokyo, Koko Nomura was inspired by the cityâs layered urban fabric, where modern and traditional architecture coexist and continuously adapt. This perspective shapes her approach to design and change managementâseeing spaces as evolving systems that benefit from thoughtful collaboration. A licensed architect since 2008, Koko is a Technical Director in an interiors studio and an alumna of the AIA Emerging Leadership Class (2017). She speaks frequently on partnership and collaboration, including on the "I Hear Design" podcast, and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at The University of Texas at Austin.
Jack Thomas, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Project Manager, Associate
Perkins&Will
Jack is an Associate Project Manager at Perkins&Will, where he focuses on higher education and K-12 projects. A native of Northern California and graduate of the University of Oregon, Jack practiced architecture in Beijing, China and the San Francisco Bay Area before settling in Dallas, Texas almost ten years ago. Jack has delivered presentations for professional design audiences at conferences such as EarthX and Zak World of Facades, focusing on sustainability, design coordination, and the evolving role of designers. He is an active leader in both the ULI North Texas District Council and AIA Dallas Chapter.
This content will not be available until 06/07/2026 at 8:00 AM (EDT)
