Author Archives: Amy Selven

2017 Mohawk Group Emerging Professional Award Winner: Amber Turner

Name: Amber Turner
Appellations: IIDA Associate
Place of Work: Czopek Design Studio, Inc.

Knowledge: In a relatively short amount of time (2 1/2 years), Amber has enthusiastically embraced every element of our firm’s practice. She has shown interest in understanding our business practices at the same time she has consistently put in additional time and effort learning how to bring her strong design skills to our projects. She has tackled design for higher education, retail, office and housing; she has dug into cutting-edge projects, and she has brought the same diligence to large-scale government projects. Amber is very intuitive, and has quickly moved into a critical role in our office. Her thirst for knowledge extends beyond our workday as she often takes advantage of after-hours events that add to her experience in the field. She actively questions both solutions and processes, learns and makes our work better!

Value: Amber brings enthusiasm to the workplace every day – it doesn’t matter what she is working on – and that positive energy is very valuable in a workplace.  She understands how to research and discover, and easily shares her findings with her colleagues.  Her professionalism, maturity and commitment is evident in both the quality of her design work, and in her interaction with her peers. Amber is a strong team member always more than pulling her own weight, and quick to offer input and opinions.  She is able to give honest feedback in a kind, open,  professional manner, and is an excellent critic.  Amber has high standards for herself and others, and one of her best qualities in the workplace is sense of humor!

Community: Amber joined the Oregon Chapter IIDA Board this year, acting as the Director of Event Sponsorship, and is committed to actively participating in this organization as it advances the profession in Oregon.  She has also signed on to participate in the Architects in Schools program sponsored by the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, and will be using her past camp counselor skills to expose a new generation of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders to the world of architecture and interior design.  Amber is a wonderful representative of a new generation of designers, and I have no doubt that she will be a stronger leader for our field throughout her professional career.

2017 Legacy Award Winner Spotlight: Nancy Hiss, IIDA, IDEC

 

The IIDA Oregon Chapter is advanced by the dedication, support and leadership of our community. The Legacy Award recognizes and honors a person, company or organization whose contributions have advanced the Interior Design profession and enriched Interior Design in Oregon. The recipient of this award has exemplified traits as an advocate, mentor, designer innovator and sustainable leader – values held by the IIDA Oregon Chapter.

The winner of the 2017 Legacy Award winner is Nancy Hiss, IIDA, IDEC, Marylhurst University Adjunct Faculty, Interior Design. Nancy was nominated an incredible 6 times by several of her students, and a professional colleague. The descriptions of how Nancy is a Legacy as an advocate, mentor, design innovator and sustainable leaders are excerpts of the nominations submitted.

Legacy as an Advocate: “Nancy has been an advocate for Interior Design through her teaching; making sure that her students are educated about Interior Design legislation. She encourages her students to become involved in industry organizations, including the IIDA Oregon Chapter and IDC-Oregon. In a way, her strongest advocacy has been opening the minds of her students to understanding the myriad ways in which Interior Designers impact the health, safety and well being of occupants. Nancy also equips emerging professionals with the knowledge they need to advocate for themselves, and to educate others on the role Interior Designers play in the design on the built environment. Nancy Hiss advocates for peace, social justice, tolerance, and kindness.”

Legacy as a Mentor: “As the Interior Design Program Director at Marylhurst University, Nancy was a mentor to every student she taught. She was instrumental in getting the program CIDA accredited, and for building it into an esteemed and nationally recognized destination for Interior Design education. Nancy was always available to answer questions, and her feedback was always positive and constructive. She also went above and beyond  by volunteering her personal time to mentor students in their thesis year.”

Legacy as a Design Innovator: “For the past decade, Nancy Hiss has been a leader and mentor for the Interior Design program at Marylhurst (MU), equipping students to be productive contributors in the design industry. She is highly admired and respected by the staff at MU, her colleagues in the industry, and her students. As an instructor, she didn’t waste time on imaginary projects–they always had a practical purpose in hopes that something real could come from the efforts, e.g., redesigning the basement of Shoen Library at MU, adding a media library to the Hollywood Theater, giving the music department a performance venue at MU, research and design support for best utilization of the Ballusci Pavillion.

Another powerful project was the Iraq Names Project, started in 2007 and ending in 2012. Nancy’s compassion for fallen soldiers and their loved ones, and her passion for bringing awareness, did not waiver while completing the project, even among some opposition.” See photos and read more about the Iraq Names Project here.

Legacy as a Sustainable Leader: “Nancy always challenged her students to not only consider the initial environmental impact of a project being built, but also the life cycle of the project, and how we can work to be environmental stewards now and into the future. She always encouraged us to research where our materials came from, and make decisions based on durability and responsible manufacturing practices.  She also practices what she preaches and lives her life with as small a carbon footprint as she can.”

The IIDA Oregon Chapter thanks Nancy Hiss for being a truly dedicated mentor, design innovator, sustainable leader and advocate for the profession of Commercial Interior Design in the State of Oregon.

Congratulations to the 2017 Design Excellence Award Winners!

The Design Excellence Awards are an important platform which highlight the exceptional interior design work that is occurring in the Pacific Northwest.

Thank you to all of the designers who submitted inspiring projects and to those whom attended the sold-out Awards ceremony last Friday.

This was the fourth year of online voting for the People’s Choice Award, and we are pleased to share that over 1,612 votes were cast from locations spanning the entire globe. The winning project (find out more below), received 307 votes! We are thrilled to see local interior design work being shared nationally, thank you for your help spreading the word.

Don’t forget to save the date for the Design Crawl on April 19, 2018, where three of the Award-winning spaces will be selected for a guided tour.

Please join us in congratulating the designers and project teams of all of the award winning submissions!

To check out the full gallery of project images, click here.

Corporate – Best in Category:

ZGF Architects LLP.

Stoel Rives Portland Headquarters

Project Team:
Sue Kerns
Sharron van der Muelen
Michael O’Mara
Lance Hastings
Heather Collins
Fred Chomowicz
Jeanne Jameson
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Corporate – Honorable Mention:

GBD Architects

Cushman & Wakefield

Project Team:
Eliza Balen
Scott Brown
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Corporate – Honorable Mention:

Beebe Skidmore

Swift Agency

Project Team:
Heidi Beebe
Doug Skidmore
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Education – Best in Category:

Mahlum Architects

Eugene School District – Roosevelt Middle School

Project Team:
LeRoy Landers
Rene Berndt
Amy Noe
Alyssa Leeviraphan
Amy Copeland
Jeff Goldblatt
Keyna Mulvaney
Dave Guadagni
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Education – Honorable Mention:

SERA Architects

Erb Memorial Union – University of Oregon

Project Team:
Natasha Koiv, IIDA
Eric Philps
Carissa Mylin, IIDA
Laura Grover, IIDA
Margo Rettig
Jodi Hanson
Steven Ehlbeck
Patrick Sullivan
Timothy Baker
Russ Pitkin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Education – Honorable Mention:

OPSIS Architecture

University of Oregon Allan Price Science Commons and Research Library

Project Team:
Alec Holser
Jim Kalvalage
Randall Heeb
Chris Roberts
Chet Morgan
Elizabeth Manser
Jeri Tess
Angela Alexander
Heather DeGrella
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Public and Civic – Best in Category:

Mackenzie

ScanlanKemperBard-KOIN REPOSITIONING

Project Team:
Beth Lundgreen
Michael Talbot
Lynne Ingram
Peter Alto
Thomas Peck
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Hospitality – Best in Category:

Skylab Architecture

Knot Springs

Project Team:
Jeff Kovel
Donne Schmidt
Amy DeVall
Jill Asselineau
Eduardo Peraza Garzon
Tony Tranquilli
Nick Trapani
Bailey Roberston
Brent Grubb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Brand Experience (New Category created by Jurors)– Best in Category:

SRG Partnership Inc.

University of Oregon-Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center

Project Team:
Jeff Yrazabal
Walker Templeton
Josh Orona
Greg Williams
Robert Lochner
Tim Thor
Dmitriy Molla
Emily Wright
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Residential – Best in Category:

Skylab Architecture

Owl Creek Residence

Project Team:
Jeff Kovel
Nathan Cox
Mark Nye
Joe Bashaw
Susan Barnes
Brent Grubb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Maker – Best in Category, Installation:

MADE, Inc.

John and Karen Hoke-Case Study Home Bar

Project Team:
Bo Hagood
Delaney Kelly
Jim Meehan
Brian Creany
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Maker – Best in Category, Product:

Fernweh Woodworking

The Sling Chair

Project Team:
Justin Nelson
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

People’s Choice:

Fernweh Woodworking

The Sling Chair

Project Team:
Justin Nelson
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Impact Award:

Mahlum Architects

Eugene School District – Roosevelt Middle School

Project Team:
LeRoy Landers
Rene Berndt
Amy Noe
Alyssa Leeviraphan
Amy Copeland
Jeff Goldblatt
Keyna Mulvaney
Dave Guadagni
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Juror’s Choice:

SRG Partnership Inc.

University of Oregon-Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center

Project Team:
Jeff Yrazabal
Walker Templeton
Josh Orona
Greg Williams
Robert Lochner
Tim Thor
Dmitriy Molla
Emily Wright

2017 Design Excellence Awards | Meet the Moderator

Cheryl Durst, HON. FIIDA, LEED AP

Executive Vice President & CEO
International Interior Design Association

Photo: Jeremy Witteveen, Wittefini.com

An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl Durst has spurred progress, driven change, and encouraged the expansion of the Interior Design industry. As the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Cheryl is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society through both functionality and engagement in everyday work spaces and the built environment. Demonstrated by her active involvement in connecting industry professionals, including designers, manufacturers, clients, end-users, and employers, she has worked to promote an understanding of how design impacts human behavior and affects all aspects of shared spaces.

In 1997, Cheryl joined IIDA as the Senior Director of Education and Professional Development. Promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer in 1998, she began the task of rebuilding and redefining the organization, which was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and closure due to tenuous member relationships and organizational mismanagement. Despite these significant challenges, Cheryl implemented an aggressive fiscal redevelopment and turnaround strategy that incorporated a series of presentations, critical member outreach, and transparent communication efforts to earn back stakeholder trust. Through her efforts, she revived the association and re-positioned it as a profitable enterprise, integral to the interior design community and dedicated to furthering the profession of interior design.

Today, with 15,000 members across 58 countries, Cheryl oversees the strategic direction of IIDA, curates and publishes Perspective, the association’s thought-leadership journal, manages a team of 25 professional staff members, leads the 10-member International Board of Directors, and directs all outreach and programmatic efforts, including more than a dozen global design competitions, which recognize worldwide excellence in interior design.

Cheryl’s ability to engage audiences with insight and humor has positioned her as a sought-after keynote speaker, guest lecturer, panelist, and moderator at both domestic and global conferences and seminars. With topics ranging from “The Future of Design” to “The Impact of Culture, Brand, and Place,” her presentations explore the value of design as a social, cultural, and economic force. In addition, she delivered the commencement address at the New York School of Interior Design, receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts for her contributions to the industry. In May 2017, she delivered the commencement address at the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.

An enthusiastic and energetic volunteer, Cheryl has served numerous boards and committees, including the Kent State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Harrington College of Design, US Green Buildings Council, the Kohl Children’s Museum Women’s Board, and the Literacy Foundation of Chicago. She holds dual bachelor degrees in print journalism and economics from Boston University and is a LEED-accredited Professional (LEED AP).

Cheryl is a member of the World Future Society and firmly believes in the connection between place, history, and human behavior, as well as the effect attitude, culture, and design have on shared-space environments. She is the creator and curator of the innovative IIDA series, What Clients Want, which examines the designer/client relationship.

In recognition of her contributions to IIDA and the profession of design, Cheryl was awarded Honorary IIDA Fellowship by the International Board of Directors in 2009. In 2015 and 2017, she was named one of Newcity’s Design 50, an annual list of influencers who promote and present design in Chicago. Cheryl has been referred to by Interior Design magazine as “an ambassador for innovation and expansion, and a visionary strategist.” Citing her leadership in the industry, Cheryl was inducted into the prestigious Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2016.

2017 Design Excellence Awards | Meet the Jurors

Rebekah Matheny, IIDA

OSU TEDx speaker and performer portraits photographed on Dec. 10th, 2015. (Joshua Orack / Office of Student Life, Ohio State University)

Rebekah Matheny is an Assistant Professor of Interior Design in the Department of Design at The Ohio State University. She holds a Masters of Architecture from the University of Oregon where she also received a Technical Teaching Certificate with a concentration in Sustainable Design Strategies for Interior Architecture, Interior Finish Materials, and Lighting Design.  Additionally, she has undergraduate degrees in Interior Design and Architecture from the University of Cincinnati.

With over a decade of industry experience, Matheny bridges academia and design practice, integrating a retail brand strategy process into her design studios. She previously taught at the University of Colorado Boulder, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and the University of Oregon.

Prior to her appointment at Ohio State, she practiced in a multi-disciplinary retail and brand strategy firm in Columbus, Ohio where she created retail brand environments for nationally and internationally recognized brands.

 Matheny’s research investigates the sensory perception of interior finish materials and their application in retail environments to create emotional connections between people and place to forge meaningful memories of place. Applying this research, through collaborating with her students and professionals, she is redefining retail to create a more environmentally and socially sustainable retail culture.

 Matheny is a contributing author to the VMSD Magazine’s Blogs and Perspectives, has published in academic journals, presented at academic and professional conferences around the world, including her lighting research at NeoCon in 2017, and in 2016 she gave a TEDx talk “Creating Meaningful Memories Through Sensory Experiences”.

2017 Design Excellence Awards | Meet the Jurors

DENISE CHERRY, PRINCIPAL

Denise Cherry is the co-founder and Principal of Assembly Design Studio. Assembly crafts custom workspaces and provides global interior design strategy for clients such as Uber, Cisco, and Pinterest. As the Global Interior Design Consultant for Uber, Assembly provides design oversight for their offices and spearheads the design of their headquarters worldwide, including the San Francisco Mission Bay Headquarters, the EMEA Headquarters in Amsterdam, and the award-winning Advanced Technologies Group Center in Pittsburgh.

Prior to Assembly, Denise was the Director of Design and Principal at Studio O+A. Exercising design oversight over every project O+A undertook, she was the editorial voice that guided a team of 70 designers and project managers while keeping an active hand in the day to day operations of a rapidly growing company.

Denise Cherry joined Studio O+A as a library intern while still a student and ten years later left as one of the firm’s four Principals. One of her first projects was working at Levi’s sprawling San Francisco headquarters with their Facilities team. “I would work at Levis for four to six hours and because it was really important to me to learn all I could, I’d come back here and work another eight to ten-hour shift just to get everything done. I would help with design, I would build 3-Ds, I would help wherever possible and… that idea of 10,000 hours? Malcolm Gladwell? I got my 10,000 hours very quickly.”

Denise describes Facebook’s Palo Alto office, completed in 2009, as a pivotal moment in her career. Facebook was the first project that reflected her vision of creating spaces that are completely tailored for the client that they essentially “can’t be subleased.” Facebook necessitated a completely new approach, one that required digging deep into company culture. After regularly convening with Facebook advisory committees and directly polling Facebook employees on design decisions, her team came up with a space, where workers can write and draw on freely, a lab with prototyping equipment, and flexible furniture arrangements. It became one of the guiding examples to how tech offices look today.

Denise’s unique ability to turn workplace into experience has made her one of the industry’s most celebrated and award-winning designers. Her work has received accolades from IIDA, FX Awards, Contract Magazine, Azure, the Great Indoors Awards, and Interior Design Magazine. Denise has been named Curbed’s Young Gun, an award that recognizes rising design talent nationwide and is an honoree for the 2015 Northern California Real Estate Women of Influence.

ATC/UATC – Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group Center – Photographer: Jasper Sanidad

ATC/UATC – Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group Center – Photographer: Jasper Sanidad

ATC/UATC – Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group Center – Photographer: Jasper Sanidad

ATC/UATC – Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group Center – Photographer: Jasper Sanidad

Quid – Photographer: Jasper Sanidad

2017 Design Excellence Awards | Meet the Jurors

ANNIE LEE, IIDA, LEED AP ID + C, PRINCIPAL

Annie Lee is a Principal of Interior Design at Environetics, one of New York’s most respected firms of architecture and commercial interior design since 1946. She has built strong relationships with clients like HarperCollins Publishing, Phillips Van Heusen, The Durst Organization, and Doctors Without Borders.

Her previous experience as a fashion buyer for prominent trend setters like Henri Bendel and Saks Fifth Avenue influenced her design sense and granted her an uncommon sensitivity to detail. As an interior designer, Annie’s designs inspire her clients and provide solutions that show how each client can be related to in their own space and how they can work within it. It is the attention to detail that allows her to craft personalized interiors that are as individual as her clients.

Noteworthy accolades of the last few years include:
-IIDANY Honoree of the Year 2017
-Andavi furniture system launch with Tuohy, Winner of Best of Competition
-Gold at NeoCon 2017
-CoreNet best project of the year award with HarperCollins
-NYCxDesign/Interior Design

Harper Collins, NYC

Harper Collins, NYC

Harper Collins, NYC

Year Up, NYC

Year Up, NYC

Year Up, NYC

Andavi Modular Wall System, Tuohy

Andavi Modular Wall System, Tuohy

Member Spotlight: Melisa Gruber, Associate IIDA

Name: Melisa Gruber
Company / Position: SERA Architects / Interior Designer
IIDA member since: 2013

Favorite IIDA event: The IIDA Design Excellence Awards was the first IIDA Oregon Chapter event I attended. I was inspired by the chance to see how other designers were making an impact in our industry. Hearing the jurors discuss about the passion and importance behind their work was encouraging and influential to grow my career in a similar direction.

Why are you a member of IIDA?: I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the board as Secretary and Director of Event Sponsorship. There’s value in the amount of teamwork it takes to host an event, a forum, and an awards ceremony and being a part of that has been remarkable for my career growth. This kind of teamwork gave me a unique chance to network with my peers from other firms, tackle new design challenges, and feel a sense of pride for the positive impact we made through our invested time and hard work. Even though I am no longer on the board, I have stayed a member to maintain my connections with other designers in Oregon.

Tell us a bit about your creative process: My creative process starts with visualizing space in 3D. What’s the first thing you see? What welcomes you? A space should not only speak to a brand, but tell a story.

 What gets you excited about design? When I walk into a space, I tend to notice craftsmanship. I enjoy the level of detail and variety of small pieces that come together to create a thoughtful space.

 What is your personal mantra?: “It’s the journey, not the destination” This speaks tremendously to the ups and downs we face in our lives. Personally, it speaks to me about growth and the hard work I’ve had to put in to accomplish my goals. It’s also a reminder to consider opportunities hidden within challenges, instead of just rushing to a solution.

Member Spotlight: Emma Abramowitz, IIDA

Name: Emma Abramowitz
Company: BORA Architects
Position/Years of Experience: Interior Designer, 5 years
IIDA member since: 2012

Why are you a member of IIDA?: I am a member of IIDA for the community aspect. I absolutely love meeting people in the industry whether they work for another firm, are a product rep, or work in a related field. I especially value my involvement with the IIDA Oregon Chapter Board of Directors. I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best and brightest individuals in the industry and am lucky to call many of them my friends, colleagues, and mentors. It’s not always a given that you will find a true mentor within the company you work for, but I have been lucky enough to have met many through IIDA and I am thankful for that.

Favorite IIDA event: The Design Excellence Awards. I have always admired this high caliber event and love the sense of prestige that it brings to our design community. For the most part, Portland is very laid back and casual, however, I love the formal aspect of this event as we honor the great design work that is coming out of Oregon!

What are you currently working on?: A major renovation of a historic building in downtown Portland. This is the first adaptive reuse project I’ve worked on, which has a strong interior design focus. The building has a very unique past and I am honored to be a part of its future use.

What does interior design legislation mean to you?: It means a lot of things, but most importantly it means equality. I attended a 5-year, accredited interior design school, passed my NCIDQ exam, and everyday work alongside architects, engineers, and other licensed consultants as a team, yet while we are all placed at a conference table I am the one professional in the room without legal backing from the State of Oregon. Many Interior Designers share this same sentiment and we deserve to be recognized.

What is your personal mantra?: “Shut up and do it.” As hard as it is, sometimes I try to put myself in uncomfortable situations to ensure that I am growing as a person. This mantra helps me get through situations that aren’t always so easy.