8 Creatives Reveal How A Best of Year Award Transformed Their Practice

The countdown is on to submit to Interior Design’s 19th annual Best of Year Awards—the design industry’s premiere architecture and design awards program honoring work by global creatives in the field. 

This year’s Best of Year Awards ceremony, which will also be live-streamed as part of DesignTV by SANDOW, will honor the most innovative and noteworthy design achievements in style. As the September 27 submission deadline approaches, learn why designers and manufacturers say entering Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards pays off. 

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published August 16, 2022 and has been updated to reflect more insights from Best of Year Award winners.

Why Winning an Interior Design Best of Year Award is a Game Changer

“Winning a Best of Year Award was a major milestone for our young firm”

Best of Year Award winners note that the honor signals staying power—and industry influence. “Being honored alongside long-established global leaders in design has vaulted us into a new realm of recognition; we can now say with pride that we’re doing work recognized among the best in the world,” shares Ming Thompson, principal at Atelier Cho Thompson, which won a 2023 Best of Year Award for the EQ Office for Commercial Lobby and Amenity Space: Small.

Noting that the Best of Year Awards attract the highest caliber entries, Thompson encourages those submitting to share “unique layered histories and stories,” drawing on clear photography and strong narratives. “Describe the community that the design is serving and articulate how the project enhances and builds community,” she adds.

“Legitimizes our vision of great design” and “More confidence in the specification process”

Manufacturers say winning a Best of Year Award enables designers to specify products with ease and confidence. The award also affirms the innovation at work by large and small brands alike, signaling that they are moving the design needle forward. Most importantly, a Best of Year accolade offers what John Edelman, president and CEO of Heller, calls a “validation of our belief that we should continue to create the next generation of iconic modern design.”

“Boosts our reputation” and “attracts new clients”

“Opens new doors” for growing firms

Smaller design studios and manufacturers say winning an Interior Design’s Best of Year Award also amplifies international exposure and recognition.

“Interior Design’s Best of Year Award is not only a recognition of our team’s efforts—it’s a celebration of our collaboration with our clients and collaborators,” notes Andrew Kotchen, founding principal of Workshop/APD, which won a 2021 Best of Year Award for Small Resort. “To be in such distinguished company, and to be recognized by Interior Design, its readers, and the expert panel of judges is truly an honor, and one that has created unexpected connections and opened new doors as our growing firm continues to expand its practice verticals.”

“That extra seal of approval” from the design community 

With that widespread recognition comes widespread respect among the global community of architects, designers, manufacturers, and creatives.

“Being recognized by Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards is always an honor,” says Mike Keilhauer, president of Keilhauer, a 2023 winner for Contract Conference Seating. “Having a product be recognized as Best of Year gives it that extra seal of approval from our design community, which makes it very meaningful.” 

“Emboldens our teams” to strive for excellence

Tim Wolfe, design director and principal at Perkins&Will, which has earned several Best of Year Awards over the years, says winning an esteemed architecture and design award also boosts team morale.

“Interior Design is the glue that holds our industry’s vibrant culture together. Simply being nominated for the annual Best of Year Awards is an honor,” says Wolfe. “However, our experience of winning Best of Year awards emboldens our teams to continually strive for design excellence for our clients, our community, and the design industry Interior Design illuminates.”

Submissions for Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards close September 27

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to submit to Interior Design’s Best of Year Awards by September 27, 2024. For additional information, such as a list of categories for projects and products, check out the submission guidelines.

A Modern Hub for Life Sciences Rises from a 1920’s New York Gem

The life-sciences industry is a growing part of New York’s economy. It accounts for 1,000 companies and 20,000 jobs, and researchers there received $3 billion in funding from the National Institutes of Health last year. The city has invested heavily in the sector and changed zoning rules to unlock millions of square feet of real estate for labs. All this has paved the way to open a multitenant life-sciences facility, called West End Labs, situated inside a 1920’s edifice on the mostly residential Upper West Side that’s been adaptively reused and made state-of-the-art by Perkins&Will.

The firm has designed scientific research centers across the country for more than 40 years, including the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Washington and the National Bio and Agro- Defense Facility in Kansas. It’s also been involved in New York’s push to become a life-sciences hub; a decade ago, Perkins&Will contributed to a Manhattan nonprofit’s study about how to make the city more competitive in the industry. It connected with Elevate Research Properties, a life-sciences subsidiary of Taconic Partners, which acquired and developed a midtown building into the Hudson Research Center in 2016 and is currently developing Iron Horse Labs, a research facility on the Upper East Side. When Elevate Research Properties bought this eight-story, over 400,000-square-foot building 10 blocks north, it hired the studio to retrofit it for life-sciences companies. “We looked at an array of properties to determine their suitability as conversion candidates, and this site, with its proximity to transit, opportunities for private entrances and direct loading on multiple levels offering ‘building within a building’ tenant potential, and 55,000-square-foot, center-core floor plates, is unmatched,” Matthew Malone, senior vice president, life science, Taconic Partners/Elevate Research Properties, says. “A new exterior enclosure not only improves its thermal performance but also introduces abundant natural light into the work environments, which of course includes the labs.”

The property most recently held offices for Disney and ABC, but it was originally constructed a century ago as a maintenance and assembly facility for Chrysler Motors. That made it a good fit for laboratories: It had large loading docks and floors that could support heavy equipment. “The charge was to make the building smart, attractive, and effective for potential tenants,” Perkins&Will managing principal William Harris begins, “to organize it for a variety of start-ups and accommodate them as they grow over time.”

Elevate Research Properties expects to lease to companies that explore therapies to treat disease or medical conditions, which often work with biological samples like cells. Harris, senior associates Susan Heersema and Jeanette Kim, and their teams had to anticipate the needs of different types of research and formulate flexible floor plans roughly split between lab and office space; each floor can host one or multiple tenants and accommodate up to 360 people. They also had to install new mechanical and electrical infrastructure, like systems to treat and assure the safety of material leaving the lab, including plumbing and air systems, as well as generators to maintain those systems, preserve active experiments, and protect related stored samples.

Space for collaboration was necessary, too. “Scientists typically work in a community,” Harris continues, citing the many authors behind a single research paper. “Different tenants want to connect and interact, so we created opportunities for that to happen.” He’s referring to the project’s three shared amenities: a 300-person conference center and café on the lower level, a 15,000-square-foot landscaped roof terrace with Hudson River views, and a common area on each floor called the helix.

The latter grew from a clever bit of reuse. When the building was a car-service center, it had a circular concrete ramp for vehicles that connected all levels. The floors were later sealed off and the approximately 13-foot-high areas used for storage. “We thought, This is a challenge and an opportunity,” Heersema recalls. “How can we keep it and create something generous?” The answer was to install an oak and steel stair on top of the ramp and surround it with meeting rooms, each at a different elevation, with a lounge at the center, exposing part of the original ramp to hint at the building’s history.

That ramp became a symbol of the visionary work that would be done in the building, nodding to the symmetry between the innovations of the early auto industry and those of life-science start-ups today. “It speaks to the aspiration of upward motion,” Kim says. “We’re going forward and ascending.” The theme begins in the lobby, where a ramp leads from the entry to security and the walnut benches that curve beside it. Columns with irregular aluminum piping and a vectorlike ceramic mosaic by Brooklyn sculptor Alyson Shotz add a sense of movement. “We also celebrated science with interpretations of textures that would be seen under a microscope,” Kim adds, such as wood-veneered paneling that evokes neural networks. Overhead, a grid of light fixtures references cells: The bulb is the nucleus and the surrounding acoustic felt the cytoplasm around it.

The brainy atmosphere lightens in the below-grade conference center, called ConnectWEL, which takes inspiration from the TV studios that once occupied the adjacent site. A ramp with wallcovering of a Sarah Morris artwork leads to a jazzy auditorium with black ceiling panels and large round light fixtures. In the café, open daily to tenants, Gianfranco Frattini armchairs and a Mark Gabbertas sofa invite researchers to gather, while a wall of burgundy porcelain tiles alludes to the color of yesteryear movie theater curtains. The space is available to rent for outside events, and Perkins&Will hopes it becomes a neighborhood amenity, making the life sciences part of the city’s DNA.

Walk Through West End Labs Designed by Perkins&Will

PROJECT TEAM

ROBERT GOODWIN; BRENT CAPRON; ROBERT CLEMENS; JULIO COLON; MICHAEL WOODS; GERMAN ORTIZ; HUGO SANTIBANEZ; GREGORY LEVY; ESTEFANIA HAMELINCK; MARKO GOODWIN; DANIEL KIM; MICHELLE MÜHLBAUER; PABLO SEPULVEDA; STEVE STOBBE; MARGARITA MILEVA; SARITA MANN; EMILY BILLHEIMER: PERKINS&WILL. SBLD: LIGHTING CONSULTANT. DRIVE21: GRAPHICS CONSULTANT. DESIMONE: STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, ENCLOSURE CONSULTANT. JB&B: MEP. LANGAN: CIVIL ENGINEER. EVANS & PAUL: MILLWORK. FARRELL FLYNNE: FURNITURE DEALER. JRM: GENERAL CONTRACTOR.

PRODUCT SOURCES FROM FRONT

ARKTURA: LIGHT FIXTURE FELT (LOBBY). WOOD-SKIN: WOOD PANELING. GAGE 78 EARTH METAL: METAL PANELING. WASAU: CUSTOM ENCLOSURE SYSTEM (EXTERIOR). VITRO ARCHITECTURAL GLASS: GLAZING. USM: CABINETS (LOUNGE). STYLEX: CHAIR. ALLERMUIR: SOFAS (LOUNGE, CAFÉ). LIVING CERAMICS: FLOOR TILE (RAMP, CAFÉ). DESIGN & DIRECT SOURCE: WALL TILE (CAFÉ), FLOOR TILE (HELIX). TACCHINI: LOUNGE CHAIRS, COFFEE TABLE (CAFÉ). WEST COAST INDUSTRIES: DINING TABLES. MUUTO: DINING CHAIRS. ROLL & HILL: PENDANT FIXTURE. CARNEGIE: ACOUSTIC PANELING (AUDITORIUM). ARPER: CHAIRS. MILLIKEN: CARPET TILE. BOLIA: WOOD CHAIRS (HELIX). ANDREU WORLD: CAFÉ TABLES. BERNHARDT: OTTOMANS. NUCRAFT: CONFERENCE TABLE. SUITE NY: UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS. SHAW CONTRACT: CARPET TILE. TOJA GRID: PERGOLAS (TERRACE). HANOVER: PAVERS. KRISALIA: HIGH TABLE, STOOLS. KETTAL: ROUND TABLES. HIGHTOWER: ORANGE CHAIRS. THROUGHOUT KEY RESIN COMPANY: CUSTOM TERRAZZO FLOORING. DELRAY: ROUND CEILING FIXTURES. CARVART: DEMOUNTABLE GLASS PARTITIONS. ARMSTRONG: ACOUSTICAL CEILINGS. BENJAMIN MOORE & CO.: PAINT.

Perkins&Will Strikes a Balance for Mohr Capital’s Dallas HQ

When real estate investment firm Mohr Capital needed a new home in Dallas, Perkins&Will had a tall order: translating the firm’s Texas-sized identity into a compact (for a company of their size) 11,000-square-foot space. The key, says Ariel Lumry, project designer, “is balance, stemming from the use of the space continuing through to the finish palette and application of finishes.”

But first things first. “The space serves a group of employees that spans multiple generations,” she says, “and needed to reflect both the professional nature of who Mohr Capital is as an organization, and simultaneously feel tied to the Mohr family.” The team divided up the space relatively evenly, with 55% for private offices, and the rest in open plan workstations and public and collaborative zones. A logo wall brands the lobby, made of locally-sourced Texas limestone, while a gallery wall at the entrance to the break room hosts Mohr-inspired memorabilia and artwork. Operations nod to sustainability, too, reducing the new headquarter’s water use by some 30%.

Materials strive for harmony as well: walls in private offices merge Arbescato Silver, Silverwave, and Fantasy Blue Marble, all bookmatched at horizontal axes. The central hallway navigates between floor-to-ceiling glass and open workstations with sit-to-stand desks and natural light, beneath a ceiling of slatted wood which follow the window line at both ends to join a wooden aisle. Lobby ceilings, meanwhile, are custom coffers, painted in the brand’s signature navy blue, acting like a deep sky stretching above fifty linear feet of custom planters. And custom screens define zones while acting as wayfinding, separating both the lobby and main conference room, and areas of the break room. “We developed a design aesthetic and palette that is both elegant and welcoming,” Lumry says, “professional while being warm. Modern but timeless.” And unmistakably Mohr.

Inside Mohr Capital’s Dallas HQ Designed by Perkins&Will

Perkins&Will: Ariel Lumry; Makena Rhodes; Brigitte Preston; Anne Kniffen; Jason Dowling

Structuretone Southwest: Contractor

LUM Lighting: Lighting Designer

Purdy McGuire, Inc.: MEP Engineer

GL Seaman: Furniture Dealer

Craig Bull with Mohr Partners: Project Manager

Robin Guenther, Principal at Perkins&Will and Leader in Sustainable Healthcare Design, Dies at 68

Robin Guenther, principal at Perkins&Will and leader in sustainable healthcare design, passed away May 6, 2023 after a battle with cancer. She was 68 years old. A pioneer in eco-conscious healthcare design, Guenther received the Sustainable Healthcare Design Leader award at the inaugural HiP Awards in 2014. Guenther’s work also contributed to Perkins&Will’s initial and continued appearance in Interior Design‘s Healthcare Giants rankings.

Born October 2, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan, Guenther knew her calling at an early age. Driving through downtown with her parents at just 8 years old, the city’s buildings sparked her interest in eventually designing her own. In her teen years, Guenther worked at an after-school job that finished late at night. Afterward, she would walk to nearby Detroit General Hospital where her sister was an emergency room nurse. Here, while she waited for her sister’s shift to end, she absorbed the operations of hospital settings, gaining a nuanced understanding that would inform her future work in healthcare design.

After studying architecture at the University of Michigan and the Architectural Association in London, she moved to New York City and took her first job at Norman Rosenfeld Architects. Twelve years later, she co-founded Guenther Petrarca, an architecture firm specializing in healthcare and sustainability, which later became Guenther 5 Architects. In 2007, the firm merged with Perkins&Will. Here, Guenther served in many leadership roles, most recently as chair of the firm’s global health practice.

She also played a key role in the development of Perkins&Will’s Precautionary List, a public compilation of substances of concern commonly found in building products, and the creation of the Transparency website, which in addition to hosting the Precautionary List, also provides related and relevant information for designers and architects. An adviser and contributor for an array of sustainable design organizations and conferences, as well as co-author of Sustainable Healthcare Architecture along with Gail Vittori, Guenther is responsible for many of the now commonplace sustainable guidelines followed today.

“In her early years with Perkins&Will, she developed our approach to designing for health and well-being, with a focus on removing toxins, and in recent years she has been in a pivotal role as a leader in our healthcare practice globally,” said Perkins&Will CEO Phil Harrison.

The Work of Robin Guenther: A Passion for Helping People and Planet

Guenther’s particular passion for sustainability and health design is evident in numerous healthcare projects. A few highlights include the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, which was only the second children’s hospital in the world to earn LEED Platinum certification; Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, designed to continue operating during catastrophic flooding; and Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth Ambulatory Care Center, a 1980s office building repurposed using biophilic design.

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The Perkins&Will team has crafted many an Interior Design-featured space that showcase Guenther’s signature empathy-led healthcare design model and her passion for sustainability. Projects include 2020 Best of Year winner Lisle Elementary School, an innovative “mini arboretum” for students; the firm’s NYC office with expansive city views and a propensity for greenery; IIDA competition’s healthcare category winner for the expansion of UVA’s emergency department; and recently the trauma-informed design of Family Tree Clinic, a community clinic offering sliding-scale reproductive healthcare to Twin Cities students since 1971; and many, many more.

Guenther’s work stands out for its empathy and optimism—from pioneering the field of sustainable healthcare design, continued advocacy for both people and planet, and her dedication to crafting healthy environments for all. “Outside of practicing architecture, Robin was a tireless advocate for regenerative design and inspired legions of fellow architects, clients, and others to be better stewards of the planet and humankind,” shared Perkins&Will in a company statement.

She is survived by her husband, Perry; two daughters, Jyllian and Nicole; two sisters, Lynn and Sharon; and many nieces and nephews.

On the Move: Industry Promotions and Hires

Celebrate friends and colleagues making moves across the architecture and design industry.

Perkins&Will

The New York studio of Perkins&Will has announced the appointment of Mike McElderry as architectural design director, filling the role currently held by Robert Goodwin, who will move into the role of design principal. McElderry has more than 15 years of experience as an architect and team leader and has helped navigate a range of complex projects collaborating with both public and private clients.

Additionally, Ashley Dias, Melissa Cooksey, and Julie Frazier have been promoted to principal in the firm’s Dallas studio.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

American-made and sustainably-minded furniture brand Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams announced the appointment of Jennifer Gibbs as senior vice president of design. She will report to president and CEO Allison O’Connor at the company headquarters in Taylorsville, North Carolina. 

Spiezle Architectural Group

Anthony Catana has been promoted to associate principal at Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., an employee-owned, award-winning, full-service architectural, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning firm based in Hamilton, NJ. Catana joined Spiezle in 1994 as an architectural designer and most recently served as a project architect, project manager, and director of building technology.

HKS

Industry veteran Meena Krenek has joined HKS as global practice director of venues interiors. She brings 24 years of experience as an interior design director and will be responsible for setting the overall strategy of the Venues Interiors practice areas including aviation, sports, and urban design.

Additionally, Tony LaPorte has been appointed director of brand experience. He joins HKS with 22 years of extensive experience helping major global corporations, prestigious health care and higher education institutions, and small start-ups leverage their brand for strategic advantage.

Merriman Anderson Architects

Dallas-based architecture and interior design firm Merriman Anderson Architects has  introduced two new team members to lead the firm’s interior design division. Tracy Rumsey has joined MAA as director of commercial interior design, and Erin Tallent has joined as director of hospitality interior design.

VS America 

Jill Ackers has joined VS America as education director, responsible for educational planning and professional development. She has over 25 years of experience as a school designer, educator, and leader in K-12 and higher ed.

Gensler

Bill Bouchey has joined Gensler as design director in the Los Angeles office. Over his 30-year career he has been a design leader for creative workplace environments including media, tech, entertainment, creative agency, and professional services and finance clients. He most recently served as principal, director of design interiors at HOK. 

Perkins Eastman

Emily Pierson-Brown has been named people culture manager for the global architecture and design firm Perkins Eastman. She will steer the diversity, equity & inclusion goals of the firm. Pierson-Brown has served as firm-wide leader of Perkins Eastman’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) since 2018 and has been a member of its DE&I Operations Team since its inception.

Michael Hess has joined the firm as principal in the New York Studio. He brings 31 years of experience in healthcare program development with a portfolio of design and planning work spanning across the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. 

Eastlake Studio

Eastlake Studio, a Chicago-based architecture and design firm, will join geniant, a Dallas-based experience consulting company to transform the nature of design consulting. Geniant integrates expertise from architecture, interior design, user experience, service design, team and change management, and software development fields into the experience design profession. 

Cuningham

National design firm Cuningham has announced the appointment of Jacqueline Dompe as CEO. Dompe will be based remotely from California and will spend time among the firm’s offices and with clients across the United States. Dompe has more than 20 years of experience delivering value for a variety of companies, including those in the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry.

Goettsch Partners

Goettsch Partners has made new leadership appointments. James Zheng has been announced CEO, and Paul De Santis will join James Goettsch as co-design directors. As the primary partners in the firm, the three have worked closely together for more than 17 years. Goettsch will also continue to serve as chairman while Zheng now assumes the full CEO title as well as president.

Main Street Hospitality

Joe Crimmins and Andres Gutierrez have been appointed to the leadership team at Main Street Hospitality. Crimmins will be vice president of operations, overseeing operations and sales teams for Main Street Hospitality’s portfolio of owned and operated hotels. Guttierez will be area director of revenue management, leading the execution and measurement of strategies and tactics designed to maximize revenue, market share and profitability.

Daun Curry Design Studio

Daun Curry Design Studio has added Paris Grant as studio director. Grant previously helmed her own eponymous design firm for nearly four years. She will be directly involved in strategic planning and hiring, managing clients and projects across verticals, and helping to guide design development.

American Society of Interior Designers

Gary Wheeler has announced his retirement as CEO of the American Society of Interior Designers. Wheeler took up the position in 2020, and led the organization through the aftermath and turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having first joined ASID as a student out of Louisiana Tech, Wheeler quickly went on to be named an ASID Designer of Distinction before ultimately earning the title of Fellow.

Felder & Associates

Matthew Luehrmann has joined Savannah-based Felder & Associates as a project associate. Luehrmann studied at the University of Cincinnati where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Sculpture in 2017. He is currently studying architecture on an accelerated path through the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure at Savannah College of Art and Design, and expects to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture in 2023 and a Master of Architecture degree in 2026.

Edward A. Feiner, Former U.S. Chief Architect and Interior Design Hall of Fame Member, Dies

Eccentric. Innovative. Prolific in his work. Architect and Interior Design Hall of Famer Edward A. Feiner died earlier this week after battling brain cancer. He is remembered for his outsized achievements—and personality.

During his tenure as chief architect of the U.S. General Services Administration, Feiner ushered in a new era of design for federal landmarks by creating the Design Excellence Program. The program, which he developed with colleague Marilyn Farley, ensured that architects for government projects were carefully vetted by experts in the field, creating a new legacy of iconic design. From courthouses to high-tech labs, Feiner worked with the likes of David Childs, Henry Cobb, James Freed and countless others to bring more than 140 federal buildings to life. Known for championing diversity, he also commissioned the first federal courthouse by a Black architect, Ralph Jackson, and the first federal building by a woman, Carol Ross Barney.

But his work—and influence—extends beyond the public eye. “Ed’s extraordinary leadership for GSA’s Design Excellence revitalized the architecture landscape for government buildings in this country with every major architect wanting in. But he cared about interiors too,” says Interior Design editor in chief Cindy Allen. As founding director of the Design Leadership Council at Perkins&Will, Feiner nurtured the careers of the firm’s established and emerging architects alike, creating peer reviews as well as a design awards program, the Biennale, which Allen juried several times.

“We are a much better firm as the result of his guidance,” shares Ken Wilson, design principal at Perkins&Will. “Ed was a brilliant critic and had an amazing ability to get to the heart of any design issue that a design team might be struggling with.”  

“He was a mentor, a colleague, and most of all, a friend,” adds Joan Blumenfeld, also a principal at the firm. “He changed the course of federal architecture from predictable mediocrity or worse to almost uniformly high quality and in doing so enriched the public sphere and all of our lives.”

Friends and colleagues recall Feiner as a “warm and quirky” man who consistently sought out ways to improve the quality of built environments, encouraging experimentation and innovation. His unique style (cowboy boots were a signature item) and love for simple pleasures, like a mouthwatering hamburger, spoke to his approachable, sometimes “kooky in the most delightful way,” demeanor. “A truly sweet and good-hearted man.  I was fortunate to work in the same studio as Ed and thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent with him,” continues Wilson. “He had charisma for days and could rock a pair of cowboy boots like no one I know!” adds Allen.

Born in the Bronx, Feiner attended Brooklyn Technical High School, where he studied architecture before going on to Cooper Union. But his love for the profession began much earlier—at age three, to be exact, when he first started building skyscrapers out of wooden blocks. Furthering his studies in graduate school at Catholic University, he and his wife, Fran, settled in Washington, D.C. where he launched his illustrious, decades-long career. Feiner leaves behind a son and daughter.

“His contribution was big—just like his personality—and I, for one, will miss him terribly,” shares Allen. “But his spirit lives on in all those buildings, and with the many people he touched along the way.”

On the Move: The Latest Hires Across the A&D Industry

From Perkins&Will to S9 Architecture, see the latest hires and moves across the architecture and design industry.

NELSON Worldwide

Sean McCorry has joined NELSON Worldwide as vice president, national business leader in the retail practice. He brings over 25 years of experience managing global retail concepts, where he previously served as director of global store environments for Timberland. In his new role he will work closely with leadership and junior staff to improve architectural and design practices within the retail studio.

Additionally, Maya Wahyudharma has joined the company as workplace and asset strategy regional practice leader. She brings over 20 years of experience in a variety of building typologies and training in architecture, interior design, and landscape. Her new role focuses on expanding the NELSON portfolio, mentoring colleagues, and elevating the design of the firm’s projects across the Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Bay Area markets. 

Perkins&Will

Perkins&Will has made two promotions in its New York studio. Maha Sabra has been promoted from associate principal to principal and Arjav Shah from senior associate to associate principal. Maha brings over 20 years of design and project management experience, with a portfolio that includes large scale projects comprised of prominent academic medical centers, clinical projects for high-profile healthcare systems and hospitals. Arjav has spent the last nearly 14 years of his career devoted to improving human lives within the built environment, with a specific focus on corporate interiors. 

S9 Architecture

Stephen Alton has been named to the newly created position of director of interior architecture at New York design and planning firm S9 Architecture. His portfolio encompasses commercial, hospitality, retail, multi-unit and single-family residential projects in New York, across the United States and in China. He has also served as a faculty member of the Interior Design Department of Parsons School of Design.

Shaw Contract

Shaw Contract has appointed Carrie Edwards Isaac to the position of Vice President of Hospitality. Isaac is a 30-year Shaw veteran on the commercial side of the business who most recently served as Vice President of Strategic Accounts for the company’s residential division. 

RKTB Architects

Joseph Berlinghieri has been promoted to the role of associate at RKTB Architects, a firm which focuses on sustainably designed, contextually sensitive market-rate and affordable multifamily residences. Berlinghieri joined the firm in 2017 and has been a driving force behind some of the firm’s most successful work in housing, such as 700 Manida Street in Bronx, NY. He brings considerable professional experience in the roles of senior project architect and senior architectural designer to the role. 

Sasaki

Sasaki, a global design firm with offices in Boston, Denver, Shanghai, and New York, announced the promotions of Joshua Brooks, Anna Cawrse, and Andrew Gutterman to principal and Tamar Warburg to associate principal. The promotions reflect continued growth with a priority focus on community, climate, and client needs. 

MG2

Seattle-based architecture and design firm MG2 has promoted Shannon Suess, Terry Odle, Mai-Lee Lam, and Mat Yeung to the role of principal. Shannon Suess is an award-winning interior and hospitality designer in the Seattle, WA office who has dedicated over 28 years of her career to crafting world-class environments. Terry Odle, an architect and designer in the firm’s Irvine, California office, has more than 35 years of industry experience with a highly diversified background. Mai-Lee Lam works with global teams leveraging her 28 years of experience in design, regulations, and navigating local cultures and jurisdictions. Mat Yeung has spent the last seventeen years of his career dedicated to the seamless unification of design and construction management. 

Kostow Greenwood Architects

New York City-based Kostow Greenwood Architects has elevated several key members of the firm. Lena Fan and Marian Prado have been promoted to associate principal. Jungin “Jay” Chang has been promoted to associate designer. Gary Li has been promoted to associate architect. The four individuals bring extensive project and client experience to the table having worked closely with Kostow and Greenwood and having benefited from the culture of mentorship embodied in the firm.  They each have considerable tenure with the firm and have expanded their responsibilities with proven successes. 

DWP

David Stoneley has been appointed to dwp’s health architecture and clinical planning team in Australia. Stoneley has extensive experience in the management and delivery of hospital architecture projects across Australia and has developed specialist skills in engagement with clinicians and stakeholders during the design of facilities for public hospitals and private health sector clients.

SGA

Boston-based architecture and design firm SGA has announced an internal transition of ownership and expansion of its leadership team. The firm will now be led by equal majority owners John Sullivan (President of Architecture), Gable Clarke (President of Interior Design) and Adam Spagnolo (CEO). Former SGA President and Founding Partner Al Spagnolo will move to the role of Chairman and Founding Partners Bill Gisness and Jeff Tompkins will transition from the firm.

M+A Architects

M+A Architects is rebranding to MA Design to reflect the firm’s evolving mission and service offerings. MA Design will remain rooted in architecture and interior design, but now will also formally offer Experiential Design, Futurism, Sustainability and Productions. While 70% of the firm’s staff is architectural, 30% have core expertise related to these other services.

On the Move: Recent Promotions and Hires

Take a look at the latest promotions and hires across the A&D industry.

Arte

The Belgium-based wallcovering company Arte has named Eric Edgar as area manager, east for Arte USA. He will serve as a brand ambassador for the Eastern half of the US. Edgar joins Arte USA from Koroseal Interior Products, where he most recently worked as regional sales manager for the Southeastern region. Previously he held roles at Eykon and Milliken & Company. He will work alongside Jim Scheurer, area manager, west, for Arte USA, and report to Bill Calhoun, president of Arte USA. 

MandiCasa

Dario Snaidero recently launched the new brand MandiCasa offering a curated selection of made-in-Italy designs, including kitchens, bathrooms, closets, and interior doors. The launch is the result of two years of dedicated research and relationship building across Italy, along with Dario Snaidero family’s 45+ years of experience bringing top-quality Italian designs to the North American market.

Additionally, Nelson has formed a partnership with the branding consultancy firm Tate + Hansen. Their collaboration will be recognized as THNW. Together, the firms will share their global presence, services, knowledge, and relationships to amplify the voices of underrepresented minority groups in the industry.

HOK

HOK has made a number of promotions and hires. Kristina Kamenar has been promoted from senior project interior designer to director of design, interiors in Toronto. Dina Lamanna has been promoted from senior project interior designer to director of hospitality interior design. Based in New York, she will lead hospitality interior design projects worldwide. Sherri King Parente has been promoted from project manager to director of interiors in Philadelphia. Tara Roscoe joins HOK as director of design, interiors in New York. She was a corporate design leader at her previous firm. 

CRTKL

The global architecture, design, and strategy firm CRTKL has expanded its research division with two new additions: Dr. Helia Taheri and Amy Keller Frye. Dr. Taheri joins as a human-centric researcher, sustainability specialist, and an architect with eight years of experience in architecture firms and research centers across the globe. Frye takes on her role with fifteen years of research, strategy, and evidence-based design experience in the field. She has worked with notable clients including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and the Center for Health Design.

Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig has opened a new office space in New York City, located in a 100-year-old building in Midtown Manhattan. The office is anchored by a signature gathering and event space known as the Living Room, which revolves around an oversized, 144-square-foot table designed by Tom Kundig and fabricated by Spearhead Timberworks. 

Kneedler Fauchère Group

Two new shareholders, Gina DeWitt and Quinn Tran, have joined chairman and creative director George Massar and CEO and president Doug Kinzley on the executive management team at Kneedler Fauchère. Gina DeWitt, now the COO of showrooms and strategic partnerships, will oversee the operations of all three Kneedler Fauchère showrooms. Quinn Tran, now CFO, will lead the team in an expanded role of legal and financial duties for the company. She has been with Kneedler Fauchère for 24 years. 

Ware Malcomb

Ware Malcomb has announced three promotions in the Irvine office. Jinger Tapia has been promoted to vice president, design; Maureen Bissonnette has been promoted to principal, marketing; and Maria Rodgers has been promoted to PR & communications manager. Jinger Tapia began her architectural career at Ware Malcomb in 1996 and re-joined in 2002. Maureen Bissonnette joined Ware Malcomb 1998 as a marketing assistant. Rodgers joined Ware Malcomb in 2014 as marketing coordinator and in 2018, she took on responsibility for the firm’s public relations program.

Premier

Paul Morrell has joined Premier Project Management as the company’s new chief operating officer. Before joining Premier, Morrell held executive leadership positions overseeing operations, supply chain, human resources, IT, capital management, and real estate divisions. The interior design, architecture, procurement, project management, engineering, and contract teams will report directly to Morrell in this new role.

ZAS Architects + Interiors

Commercial interior designer Leigh Collyer is now officially a principal at ZAS Architects + Interiors. Collyer has nearly 20 years of design and project management experience, servicing numerous long-time clients from Canada’s leading financial institutions and as successfully won long-term contracts with clients including HSBC, Bank of Montreal, and other credit unions.

Harrison

Dallas-based, award-winning architecture and design firm Harrison announced today it has promoted Whitney Ford to vice president of architecture and associate director. Ford enters this newly created role with over 15 years of experience in the design and architecture industry, having joined the Harrison team in 2018. Her roster of clients includes HMS Host, Mellow Mushroom, Velvet Taco, Savory Fund, Fogo de Chao and many more high-profile brands.

Gabellini Sheppard

Chardonnay Pickard-Fares has joined Gabellini Sheppard Associates as marketing and business development director. She will be responsible for communications and business development strategy in collaboration with Kimberly Sheppard and Michael Gabellini and will work closely with Lindsey Whitlock, Gabellini Sheppard Associates’ recently promoted marketing manager. Pickard-Fares has worked as a consultant and in-house with a variety of the industry’s leading architects and interior designers and with institutions like 92Y on events and programming.

Perkins&Will 

Dan Thomas has joined Perkins & Will to serve as the new health principal, working out of the Dallas studio. Thomas brings over 28 years of experience in healthcare design and planning to the position. He has strong interests in behavioral health, children’s health, and population health.

HGA

HGA announced its new National Interior Design Leadership Team. The collaborative model—with three leaders at the helm—was formed to support the accelerated growth of the firm’s award-winning national interior design practice. The team leaders will be Paula Storsteen, national interior design practice leader; Lisa Macaluso, national interior design business development leader; and Haley Nelson, national interior design expertise leader.

Native Trails

The artisan-crafted kitchen and bathroom brand Native Trails has announced the hiring of Lauren Rademacher as the company’s new Eastern regional manager. Rademacher brings a wealth of industry knowledge, adding 12 years of highly impactful experience to the Native Trails roster, having previously worked with Gerhard’s, Delta Faucet Company, NCS Corporation, and others. Additionally, Stan Artman has been promoted from director of sales, East, to vice president of sales. Artman has 30-plus years of sales experience and has been with Native Trails since 2014.

On the Move: Recent Promotions and Hires in the Design Industry

Perkins Eastman

Harold Thompson has joined Perkins Eastman in the firm’s Dallas, Texas office. He joins Colletta Conner, managing principal of ForrestPerkins, in the Dallas studio. In his 25-year career, he served as chief operating officer at CallisonRTKL, having previously held a position in Dubai as the firm’s Middle East regional director.

Fritz Hansen

Marie-Louise Høstbo has been appointed head of design at Fritz Hansen as that company celebrates its 150th anniversary. Høstbo worked on the Fritz Hansen Anniversary Collection and 2022 product launches.

Olson Kundig

Olson Kundig announced multiple promotions within the firm. Justin Helmbrecht and Jordan Leppert have been promoted to principal, while Megan Adams, Clay Anderson, Jeff Busby, Amanda Chenoweth, and Claudia Maggiani have been promoted to associate. Additionally, nine principals have been added to the firm’s ownership through their promotion to principal/owner. They are Marlene Chen, Jerry Garcia, Edward Lalonde, Blair Payson, Steven Rainville, Daniel Ralls, Jamie Slagel, Enrique Vela and Ming-Lee Yuan.

Ware Malcomb

Julio Braga has joined as regional design director in Ware Malcomb’s New York City office, where he will lead the design studio that supports the firm’s Northeast region projects. He spent the last 15 years at a leading design firm’s New York City office, most recently in the position of co-managing director. He is an International Interior Design Association Fellow and was formerly President of IIDA’s International Board of Directors. Additionally, René Sanchez has been promoted to studio manager, architecture in the firm’s Mexico City office. Sanchez joined Ware Malcomb’s production studio in 2013.

The Architectural Team

Three longstanding senior team members have been promoted to the position of associate at The Architectural Team. The newly promoted professionals are Philip Renzi, Andrew Stebbins, and Anthony Vivirito.

Mary Cook Associates

Scott Durst has joined Mary Cook Associates’ executive leadership team as vice president of operations. Durst is a 17-year veteran in the hospitality industry, having held architectural design project management positions at London firms PLP Architecture and KPF Architecture, as well as Steelman Partners in Las Vegas. Most recently, Durst spent eight years as director of the hospitality interior design studio at The Gettys Group. 

Jeffrey Beers International

Jeffrey Beers International announced that Ira Imerlishvili has joined the studio as principal. Ira, the son of a famous Georgian set designer, graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Tbilisi, Georgia and began his career designing sets and costumes for premiere opera and theatrical performances. 

Relativity Architects

Los Angeles-based Relativity Architects recently promoted 10% of its workforce. The promotions are: Ginna Claire Nguyen to associate principal; Jianxin Sun to associate project manager; Taryn Zaragoza to associate operations manager; Clara Tresgallo to associate project manager; and Daniel Sosa-Navarro to senior project designer. 

Ted Moudis Associates

Six team members have been promoted in the New York office of Ted Moudis Associates. They are Douglas Wramage as senior associate, team leader; Omar Bustamante as associate, team leader; Elaine Thompson and Sam Rank as team leaders; and Jenifer Colón and Jennifer Adams as senior design directors.

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture has promoted Maija Kreishman, as principal alongside founder Michael Hsu. The firm has also elevated four firm leaders—Jeff Clarke; Justin Gesch; Tracie Gesch; and Ken Johnson—to partner. 

Duravit

Robert (Bob) Downie has been appointed North American president of Duravit. Downie brings 30 years of experience in consumer and building product goods and oversaw the development and implementation of all channel-related strategies at his previous position.

Nemo Tile and Stone

Nemo Tile and Stone has promoted Matthew Coburger to director of purchasing, where he will oversee the company’s purchasing department. Coburger has 12 years of industry experience including four years as director of product merchandising for the company.

Caesarstone

Gail Conroy has joined Caesarstone as vice president of marketing for the Americas. She comes to the firm from LG Home Appliances, where she was head of marketing, having previously held senior leadership roles with Unilever, Samsung Electronics, IRI Worldwide and Kraft Foods.

FCA

Ten senior leaders have been appointed to the position of shareholder at FCA. They are: Joe Doherty, Dana Eddowes, Steven Stainbrook, Christopher Marotto, James Hammond, Charles Hemphill, Stephen Jouflas, Elena Casacio-Kotsur, Beverley Spencer, and Denis Kovalich.

TPG Architecture

TPG Architecture has promoted Ken Tracey to managing executive. He has been with the firm for 11 years. He has worked in project management roles with Sargenti, IA Interior Architects, and Corgan Associates over the course of his 25-year career. Additionally, Jennifer Haney, Doug West, and Ricardo Nabholz have been promoted to managing associate.

HOK

Sabret Flocos has joined HOK as director of interiors for the firm’s Washington, D.C, practice. She brings 30 years of experience planning and designing innovative workplace and interiors projects for high-profile clients including Cisco, Marriott and Oracle.

Additionally, Steven Burgos is the firm’s new Workplace Leader in South Florida, based out of the Tampa studio. He brings 10 years of experience leading projects in the corporate and commercial markets and has worked on projects for Mastercard, CBRE, Restaurant Brands International, Focus Brands and Tim Hortons. 

Perkins&Will

Two principals have been promoted to lead the interiors practice at Perkins&Will’s Austin studio. They are Matt Taylor to corporate interiors practice leader and Joe Gowing to director of business development for interiors. Taylor and Gowing have worked together in the Austin studio for over 20 years from its founding in 2002. Additionally, the Dallas studio’s principal and design director, Ron Stelmarski, has been named to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows.

Nelson Worldwide

Blaik Ritchie has joined Nelson Worldwide as vice president and mixed-use business leader. Ritchie brings over 30 years of experience to his new role and has produced projects throughout the United States as well as Africa, Europe, and South America. Additionally, Jennifer Acevedo has been appointed senior director of insights and brand marketing. She previously served as the editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Visual Merchandising + Store Design (VMSD) magazine. 

M Moser Associates

M Moser Associates has announced that Sam Farhang has joined the firm as director, based out of the Los Angeles office. He most recently served as president and creative director at Rapt Studio. He has overseen projects across a number of industries, with clients including Dollar Shave Club, TBS, and HBO.

Sonneman – A Way of Light

Andrew Cogan has been appointed CEO of Sonneman—A Way of Light. Cogan previously as Chairman & CEO of Knoll for 30 years, where he helped orchestrate its sale to Herman Miller. Sonneman’s co-founder and CEO Sonny Park will become executive chairman and will remain on the company’s board. 

Carvart

The creative architectural product, custom engineering and fabrication partner Carvart has welcomed Wanda Dunaway as VP of sales, marketing, and customer experience. Dunaway brings over 20 years of marketing and sales leadership experience to Carvart, most recently with Shaw Contract and previously with construction management firms such as Balfour Beatty Construction. Additionally, Rachel Vance has been promoted to director of global sales. 

AECOM

Robert Yori has joined AECOM as digital solutions studio leader for its buildings and places business in the New York metro region. In this position, he will facilitate the strategic and quality delivery of AECOM’s digital solutions across practice areas and market sectors in the region. Prior to joining AECOM, Mr. Yori held leadership positions at several engineering and architecture organizations.

Michael Graves Architecture & Design

Michael Graves Architecture has acquired the Maryland-based planning, architecture, and interior design firm Waldon Studio Architects as part of a long-term strategic growth plan. WSA founder and principal Ravi Waldon will serve as principal as well as head of the firm’s faith-based sector. Additional WSA principals and directors will be incorporated into the company’s organizational makeup as principals of various practice sectors.

Room & Board

Room & Board has appointed Emily McGarvey as the company’s first director of sustainability. In the new role, she will be responsible for implementing environmentally-sound strategies. McGarvey brings 20 years of experience spearheading social and environmental strategies with a focus on product, supply chain, operations, and branding. She previously served as Target’s director of corporate social responsibility, where she helped develop the corporation’s sustainability program. 

SGA

The Boston and New York-based architecture and design firm has promoted 12 members of its staff. Matthew Fickett, Joe Mamayek, Brooks Slocum, Brian Slozak and Eric Svahn have been promoted to Principals. Scott Barnholt, David Enriquez, Marc Gabriel and Walker Shanklin have been promoted to directors, architecture. Caroline Bergin and Amanda Vicari have been named directors, interior design. Jessica Randolph is now director, project management. 

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Gary Hildebrand has been appointed chair of the department of landscape architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Hildebrand, founding principal and partner of the renowned landscape architecture firm Reed Hildebrand, has been teaching at the GSD since 1990. He is noted for his advocacy for urban forests and related innovations. 

MKDA

Antonello Musumeci has joined MKDA in the newly developed roles of design principal and law firm practice area leader. He will work to enhance design quality and studio operations within the New York and Washington, DC studios; lead strategy and interior design on projects while growing the firm’s law firm practice; and recruit and mentor talent. Musumeci was most recently a design director at Gensler where his work included multiple office locations for multinational law firm Latham & Watkins LLP.

3form

3form has created the position of chief creative officer and appointed Ryan Grey Smith to the role. Smith previously occupied leadership positions within LightArt, a lighting and acoustic fixtures company that Smith founded in 2005 and 3form acquired in 2008. In the new role he will lead 3form, 3form Elements, and LightArt’s design approach and innovation. 

Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design 

Philadelphia-based Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design has promoted five long-time team members. They are design director Marco Angelucci and executive director and marketing director Katie Guzinski to principals; and Kaitlyn Murphy, Lauren Sillies, and Brian Bendel to senior designers.

Arper

Amy Storek has joined Arper as CEO of Arper Americas. She will lead the further development of the company’s strategic growth plans within the North America and Latin America markets. Storek has over 25 years of experience in the design and manufacturing industry and has worked in various positions for global companies such as Herman Miller, Vitra, and Haworth, most recently as chief revenue officer for Pivot Interiors. 

Perkins&Will Puts Environmental Initiatives at the Fore for This Office in Houston

2021 Best of Year winner for Large Corporate Office

It goes beyond what its name implies. “Waste Management is not just about trash collecting,” Perkins&Will associate principal Jennifer Carzoli says. “The company considers itself an environmental one, its initiatives including solar fields and wildlife habitats.” When consolidating headquarters from two locations, it chose nine floors in the new Bank of America tower, with a LEED Platinum–certified core and a shell by Gensler.

Encouraging employee activity, a statement stair in concrete and local hickory connects the project’s 285,000 square feet. It’s bordered on one side by a stunning nine-story living wall composed of philodendron in an ombre arrangement of green and gold shades that correspond to those in Waste Management’s logo. Elsewhere are abundant environmental graphics, the text drawn from the sustainability reports the company has been publishing since the 1990’s. Laun­ched on the reception floor, they consist of filmed glass and hickory panels leading to a tunnel formed of the same wood. Inscribed throughout are snippets of various stories, and, at the end, is a full-scale truck simulator that encourages visitors to take a ride.

Perkins&Will: gina berndt; jennifer carzoli; alyssa carata; matt zelensek; mark walsh; joe connell; lara keskaj; eileen jones; emily preece; vick moore; jessica mazur