HOK Designs Boston Consulting Group’s Canadian Headquarters

Long before the pandemic, Boston Consulting Group had embraced hybrid work, giving employees the freedom to come to the office—which total more than 100 across the globe—meet with clients at their workplaces, or complete certain tasks from home. Whichever made the most sense for the business at hand. That said, collaboration is at the heart of how the management consultancy, often referred to as BCG, operates: Staffers form teams to tackle knotty problems clients are facing and puzzle through the issues to arrive at solutions. And this sort of teamwork, BCG felt, is best carried out face-to-face.

Back in 2017, when the company tapped HOK for its new Canadian headquarters on three floors—46, 47, and 48—of a tower rising in Toronto’s financial district, BCG sought an office that would be dazzling enough to draw employees to the workplace, that would provide a variety of bespoke settings so that teams could be as productive as possible while on-site. All of which is to say that when the pandemic hit in 2020—sending companies around the world scrambling to, first, figure out how to work remotely during lockdowns and, then, how to lure employees back to the office after they’d become accustomed to doing their jobs from home—BCG was way ahead of the game. Sure, there were tweaks to HOK’s concept for the 100,000- square-foot BCG project because of the pandemic—designers had to make sure work- stations were 6 feet apart, for example, and they loaded up meeting rooms with video- conferencing and audiovisual equipment for staffers participating remotely—but the changes amounted to fine-tuning a good plan that was already in place. And the result is this spectacular, ultra-sophisticated space that serves as a showplace for the company and a magnet for a workforce now numbering more than 400. “On the busiest days, we’re approaching pre-pandemic attendance levels,” Nina Abdelmessih, BCG’s chief of operations and external relations in Canada, says. “Everybody is coming in.”

HOK Designs a Hybrid Office for Boston Consulting Group

The plan’s success started with carving out an atrium near the window wall on the two lower floors—one advantage of coming to the project while the building was under construction was that this could be done before the floor plates were in place. Working with the developer, HOK specified an opening measuring a generous 20 by 80 feet, envisioning it as the “heart of the organization,” Caitlin Turner, HOK director of interiors in Canada and the project lead, notes. The atrium fills with light and opens up views of the city and Lake Ontario. Rooms situated off it are sided in glass so everyone shares in the sunshine.

A beckoning staircase steps up through the atrium to the top floor. It encourages employees to walk up and down—healthier for them than taking the elevators—and results in serendipitous encounters that add to the general esprit de corps. “There’s this buzz,” Turner enthuses. As for the seating areas in the base of the atrium, in the café, she adds: “At lunchtime, it’s like a high-school cafeteria.”

But serendipity also played a part: Turner tracked down a black-stained oak credenza she spotted on Instagram for use in a touch- down room, where it joins an oversize pendant fixture by Marcel Wanders and sinuous Italian armchairs. It’s just a sampling of the international, contemporary aesthetic permeating this buzzing workplace—one that is clearly not cookie-cutter but has helped become something of a model for other BCG offices in the throes of relocation and renovation.

Behind the Design of Boston Consulting Group’s Canadian Headquarters

HOK: PAUL GOGAN; BRITTANY TOD; KRISTINA KAMENAR; CALEB SOLOMONS; SALLY SHI; FARIBA SAJADI; ROWENA AUYEUNG; BETHANY FOSS; DANIEL MEEKER

RJC ENGINEERS: STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

MITCHELL PARTNERSHIP: MECHANICAL ENGINEER

MULVEY & BANANI LIGHTING: LIGHTING DESIGNER

MCM: CUSTOM FURNITURE WORKSHOP

Opus Art Projects: Art Consultant

VISO: CUSTOM SCONCES (ATRIUM), CUSTOM CEILING FIXTURES (BOARDROOM)

geiger: WOOD CHAIRS (CAFÉ)

PENGELLY IRON WORKS: CUSTOM SCREENS

KEIL­HAUER: BENCH

EUREKA LIGHTING: RING PENDANT FIX­TURES

STEELACASE: BOOTHS

gervasoni: BRASS PEN­DANT FIXTURES

BILLIANI: GRAY CHAIRS

TRIBU: BROWN/WHITE CHAIRS

CEMENT TILE SHOP: FLOOR TILE

muuto: PENDANT FIXTURES (OFFICE AREA)

STUDIO OTHER: WORK­ STATIONS

knoll: CHAIRS (OFFICE AREA, LIBRARY)

SHAW INDUSTRIES GROUP: CARPET TILE (OFFICE AREA, NOOK)

herman miller: CHAIRS (DIGITAL ROOM)

HALCON FUR­NITURE: TABLES

flos: CEILING FIXTURES

Interface: CARPET TILE

nienkamper: TABLES (TOUCH­DOWN, COFFEE BAR)

GALLOTTI&RADICE: CHAIRS (TOUCH­DOWN)

POIAT: CREDENZA

AREA ENVIRONMENTS: WALLCOVERING

flos: PENDANT FIXTURE

CASALA: CHAIR (NOOK)

cappellini: CHAIRS (BOARDROOM)

PRISMATIQUE: CUSTOM TABLE

CREATIVE MATTERS: CUSTOM RUG

Davis Furniture: BENCH

filzfelt: PANELING (MEETING ROOM)

Haworth: DEMOUNTABLE WALLS

Allied Maker: PENDANT FIXTURES (COFFEE BAR)

ARRMET: CHAIRS

MOSAÏQUE SURFACE: WALL TILE

STONETILE: VINYL FLOOR TILE

BENJAMIN MOORE & CO.; SHERWIN­ WILLIAMS: PAINT

HOK Chairman and CEO Bill Hellmuth Dies at 69

Bill Hellmuth, chairman and CEO of HOK (formerly Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum), died recently at the age of 69. As an architect and natural leader, Hellmuth helped build HOK into an innovative, global firm.

During his leadership, HOK earned widespread accolades including being named one of the world’s most influential companies by Time Magazine as well as taking home Interior Design Best of Year Awards (in 2021, the firm won for creative office). The firm also ranks fifth on Interior Design‘s 2023 Top 100 Giants list. But Hellmuth viewed his work—and projects—as opportunities to connect with people on a more intimate level. Known for walking through the office and offering desk critiques, always welcoming fresh ideas from anyone who happened to overhear or pass by, many recall Hellmuth’s mentorship.

“They never expected him to be so hands-on. But that is something Bill took great pride in,” said Susan Klumpp Williams, managing principal of the HOK D.C. office. “He was happiest when working with one of our designers at their desk. His passion for design and our profession inspired those of us who had the privilege of working closely with him.”

Hellmuth’s ability to create strong personal connections also enabled him to better understand how to approach the buildings he designed. “How do you do the very best work of your time and create a situation where you’re contributing to the culture of the society that we live in?” Hellmuth says in a video clip produced by HOK, which offers insights into his creative process. The answer is evident in his work. The recipient of 29 awards from the American Institute of Architects, his innovative projects spanned 20 countries. From the 75-story Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters in the UAE to buildings in and around Washington, D.C., where he spent much of his life, such as NOAA’s National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Maryland and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Hospital Renovation in Bethesda, Maryland, Hellmuth’s legacy lives on his work.

The Life and Career of Bill Hellmuth

Though Hellmuth considered D.C. his adopted home, he began his career in New York after earning a master’s degree in architecture at Princeton University and a bachelor’s in architecture from University of Virginia. There he spent 14 years working on office projects before joining HOK in the St. Louis office in 1991 with encouragement from Gyo Obata, who cofounded the firm with George Kassabaum and George Hellmuth, also known as Bill’s uncle. Hellmuth connected with HOK’s founding principles, which centered around geographic and project diversity, at the time he accepted the job.

Shortly thereafter, Hellmuth relocated to the firm’s Washington, D.C., studio. Under the mentorship of Obata, Hellmuth began to formalize his design principles and visions—and bring them to life. He believed architects had an obligation to design projects with minimal impact to the environment, for example. Under his tenure, HOK designed hundreds of green-certified projects—over 400 designers achieved ‘green’ certification.

When tapped to become CEO in 2016, Hellmuth accepted the role on the condition that he could remain the design principal for HOK’s Washington, D.C., studio and firm-wide design leader. A year later, he also was named chairman. In his leadership roles at the firm, Hellmuth spearheaded the opening of new offices in Denver, Miami and Austin, helped diversify HOK’s leadership board, increased pro-bono design and charitable giving, and led the creation of HOK Diversity x Design Scholarship for underrepresented design students.

“With the perspective of more than four decades, I can safely state that I have never met an architect who was Bill’s equal in combining design thinking, empathetic leadership, client relations, business development and business acumen,” says HOK president Carl Galioto who first met Hellmuth as a colleague at SOM in the late 1970s. “He truly was one of a kind and it was my great pleasure to work with him.”

For Hellmuth, designing spaces around the world for people to live, work, and connect in offered him an endless source of joy and inspiration. “I’ve got the best job in the world,” he says in the video clip. He also enjoyed painting and vacationing with his family at a cottage he designed in Rhode Island.

Hellmuth is survived by his wife, Nancy, his daughter Grayson and her husband, Cleve Rueckert, his son William, and his two grandchildren.

Notable Projects Designed by Bill Hellmuth

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.

HOK Creates a Streamlined Office for a Freight Rail Operator in Atlanta

Transportation company Norfolk Southern Corporation traces its history back to 1827. But today it’s firmly rooted in the 21st century. Its subsidiary, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, which oversees 19,000 miles of train tracks across 22 states, relies on technology to ensure safety, move goods efficiently, and reduce fuel emissions. But to be innovative and nimble—and attract top coders and engineers—NS needed to consolidate into a state-of-the-art headquarters. For decades, the corporation was based in Norfolk, Virginia, but its operations and technology teams were in Atlanta. In 2018, NS decided to bring everyone together, and HOK won the bid for the interiors of a new 750,000-square-foot complex in Midtown Atlanta’s Tech Square.

“The client didn’t want this to be treated like a train museum,” HOK firm-wide director of interiors Tom Polucci begins. “The existing buildings had beautiful models of locomotives, but NS said, ‘No, we’re more sophisticated than that.’” Betsy Nurse, HOK Atlanta’s director of interiors, adds: “Norfolk Southern sees itself as a tech company, not a railroad company.” The client envisioned a timeless concept where track workers and administrators alike would feel at home, with ample flex spaces to help the 3,000 on-site employees meet and collaborate. Robust amenities—fitness center, food hall, game room, childcare center—would help the company compete for talent against the likes of Google.

With architecture by Pickard Chilton, the ground-up headquarters is composed of two office towers (10 and 17 stories tall) joined by a five-story podium, which houses the lobby, amenities, and parking. HOK was at the table from the beginning and helped shape some of the architectural solutions, especially in the podium. The parking deck constrained the volume that would become the lobby, which could have been one to three stories high. “We studied different options and how the floors wove together,” Polucci says. The team landed on a 32-foot-high lobby that’s open to loungelike collaboration zones on the second floor and creates energy and buzz. This gave HOK the opportunity to create a monumental circular stair, the defining element of the interior.

The firm conceived of the stair as an iconic sculpture that would make the headquarters unique. Its ribbon of Corian-clad steel twists from the ground floor to the fourth, but the white-oak treads only begin on level two. In the lobby—detached from the stairs for security reasons—the Corian curls to wrap the reception desk. “Our goal was a pure form,” Polucci says. “The ribbon is consistent all the way up; it doesn’t flatten out at each floor.”

The stair grew out of the idea of movement, the guiding theme of the project. “Norfolk Southern was looking to celebrate the idea of motion in subtle, special ways,” Polucci notes. Outside the building’s entrance, a site-specific sculpture evokes tunnels and curved tracks in weathering steel. Nurse points out that the artwork is right outside the lobby, where you can see its relationship to the stair: “One is super refined, the other is raw.”

Artwork populates the interior, as well. In the ground-floor café, which is open to the public, there’s a 19-foot-high mural by HOK’s Experience Design team of a train on a track under a golden moon. Nearby, a painting by local artist María Korol hangs at the end of the main elevator lobby.

On the fourth floor, the stair terminates in front of the network operations center, which is like an air-traffic control room for trains. “From a visitor experience, it tells a story, because you land at the heart of the facility,” Nurse says. The room vividly channels the concept of motion with angular pendant fixtures and 2,000 feet of recessed LED strips that streak across the ceiling and down the walls. The center, which operates 24/7, also glows with blue lighting chosen to be soft on the eyes of dispatchers staring at screens all day.

Employees come together in the fifth-floor canteen that doubles as an all-hands meeting space. Designed like a food hall with six different vendors, it sits between two outdoor terraces; one has a retractable glass wall so the spaces can flow together. Totaling 55,000 square feet, the outdoor areas include another terrace by the gym on the floor below, where employees can do laps on circular walking paths. “Movement is also important to Norfolk Southern from a health and wellness perspective,” Nurse states. Glass-walled stairs in both towers further encourage physical activity.

While the array of amenities might seem like a post-pandemic bid to lure workers back to the office, the program had already been in place. The headquarters was mid-construction in March 2020, and Norfolk Southern stuck to the plan—even keeping a permanent desk for each employee. “That was a key tenant from the beginning,” Annie Adams, Norfolk Southern’s chief transformation officer, says. “It was important that everyone have a space to call their own.” The company, which had a phased move-in that began last fall and was completed in April, had always planned on accommodating hybrid work; meeting rooms are wired to connect remote participants seamlessly. Adams estimates that the headquarters is typically at 80 percent capacity. For her, the project’s success goes well beyond its anticipation of flexible work schedules. “The design reflects who we are and where we’re going,” she says. The future of freight rail, it seems, is right on track.

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HOK: danielle schmitt; kay sargent; diana stanisic; vivien chen; richard saunders; weronika cichosz; francesca meola; crystal latham; valerie roosma; irina sai; erin ezell; emily payne; bethany foss; claire pellettiere; matt mcinerney

HKS: architect of record

OJB: landscape consultant

HOK Experience Design: custom graphics

one lux studio: lighting con­sultant

uzun + case: structural engineer

integral consulting: mep

onsite woodwork corporation: custom fabrication workshop

hitt: general contractor

masland carpets: rug (lobby)

hbf: sofa (lobby), chairs (café)

luum: sofa upholstery (lobby), chair fabric (lounge)

shaw contract: lvt (break room); rugs (break room, lounge), carpet tile (daycare)

Courtesy of Davis Furniture: tables (break room)

jamie stern design: custom banquettes

pollack: banquette upholstery

mortensen woodwork: custom screens (lounge)

curry sawmill co.: custom table

Andreu World: chairs (lounge, café)

Holly Hunt: chair (reception)

art & associates: custom light fixtures (gym entry), custom wallcovering (gym)

wolf-gordon: wallcovering (gym entry)

Bentley Mills: carpet tile (conference center)

russ bassett: workstation (operations center)

lambert & fils: pendant fixtures (café)

nydree floor­ing: floor tile (canteen)

martin brattrud: tables

sandler seating: stools

ton: chairs

nanawall: folding glass wall

atomic 50: ceiling panels (game room)

flor: carpet tile

CB2: ceiling fixtures

hightower: red chairs

ofs: ping pong table

big ass fans: fans (gym)

pliteq: floor tile

flos: track fixtures (daycare)

ef contract: lvt

Dupont: corian

basaltite: stone flooring

kährs: wood flooring

axis lighting; genled brands; hubbell; led linear; 3g lighting; usai lighting: lighting

decoustics; ritz acoustics; usg: acoustical ceilings

benjamin moore & co.: paint

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. 

HOK Cofounder Gyo Obata Dies at 99

Renowned architect and cofounder of HOK, Gyo Obata, died March 8 at the age of 99. Obata played an instrumental role in building HOK from a regional St. Louis-based practice that opened its doors in 1955 into a global design firm alongside fellow principals, George Hellmuth and George Kassabaum.

“Gyo’s extraordinary career at HOK continued into his 90s, and he served as a mentor to several generations of designers including myself,” shares HOK chairman and CEO Bill Hellmuth in a tribute published by the firm. “As an example to all of us, he led HOK to become the largest architecture-engineering firm in the United States while never abdicating his role as a designer of significant projects.”

Throughout his six-decade-long career, Obata demonstrated an unwavering commitment to community development, prioritizing the needs of those who lived in and around the spaces he brought to life. Foregoing trends and external pressures, Obata listened intently to each client, translating their ideas into extraordinary structures via a holistic approach that, ultimately, drove HOK’s expansion into new speciality practices, market sectors, and regions overseas.

Born in San Francisco in 1923 to Japanese parents who were both artists, creativity never lacked in his childhood home. But he also faced extreme challenges. Shortly after enrolling in an architectural program at the University of California, Berkeley, Obata’s education was interrupted by the Pearl Harbor attack and the internment of thousands of people of Japanese ancestry that followed, forcing him to continue his training at Washington University—one of the few in the U.S. to accept Japanese-American students. There, Obata earned his bachelors degree and went on to continue his education at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, studying under Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen. After working in the field for a few years, he founded HOK with Hellmuth and Kassabaum, earning the title of principal at age 32. And HOK is where he stayed, even coming into the office into his 90s.

Some of his most recognizable works include: Priory Chapel at Saint Louis Abbey, Creve Coeur, Missouri (1962); The Galleria in Houston (1970); Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (1973); Bristol-Myers Squibb Campus, Princeton, New Jersey (1973); National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. (1976); King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1983); King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1984); Community of Christ Temple, Independence, Missouri (1994); and the Japanese American National Museum Pavilion in Los Angeles (1998).

On the Move: Top Promotions and Hires in the Industry

See who is on the move in the world of architecture and design.

Material Bank

Philippe Brocart has resigned as managing director of Maison&Object and will join Material Bank effective March 11, 2022. The interim managing director will be Philippe Delhomme who is chairman of the board at SAFI, until a new managing director is hired. 

Nelson Worldwide

Bevan Bloemendaal has been appointed retail practice leader at Nelson Worldwide. Bloemendaal is a brand storytelling expert who brings over 20 years of experience in the industry and will work closely with Nelson leadership to manage business growth and build upon the strong foundation of the retail practice. Prior to joining Nelson, Bloemendaal served as the vice president of global retail experience and creative services at the Timberland Co.

Perkins&Will

Perkins&Will’s Dallas Studio has announced the promotion of John Strasius as corporate, commercial, civic practice leader. Strasius, who has been with the firm for over 17 years, will lead several project types across the corporate, commercial, and civic sectors, including libraries, city hall buildings, public safety facilities, corporate headquarters, office buildings, and hospitality spaces. 

Additionally, the firm has appointed a new managing director and operations director in the Denver studio. Ernest Joyner has stepped into the role of managing director, and Jeff Chermely has become operations director. Joyner succeeds Andy Barnard, who served as managing director since 2017 and as president of Sink Combs Dethlefs since 2009. Barnard will retire this spring. Chermely, who succeeds Joyner as operations director, previously served as a senior project manager in the Denver studio. He has been with the firm since 2005.

The Chicago studio of Perkins&Will has announced the promotion of Mike Reinhart as practice leader for corporate interiors. He joined the firm in 1997, and is an expert at managing teams, developing strong client relationship management, and leading some of the most technologically complex projects. Additionally, Brent Ross has been named practice leader for sports, recreation, and entertainment. He joined the firm in 2017 through the merger with Sink Combs Dethlefs.

PYR

Amy Jakubowski, who for 30 years has designed some of the world’s most luxurious places for iconic hospitality brands, has joined French interior design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR) as managing director based in the firm’s Chicago office. Jakubowski oversees PYR’s client engagement and business strategy in North America and Asia, working in concert with the firm’s flagship studio in Paris—including the company’s founder, Pierre-Yves Rochon. She is the first woman to serve as managing director at the firm.

Premier

Premier, the an end-to-end design, procurement, and project management services firm, announced the promotions of Abby Shehan as design director and Leslie Wynne as design manager. Shehan and Wynne, previously served as senior designer and senior interior designer respectively.

Nemo Tile + Stone

Provider of surfacing materials Nemo Tile + Stone has announced new appointments on the sales team. The company recently hired Lester Gassert, who joins the team in the role of vice president of sales, along with Liza Harper, in the role of sales support manager. Both bring a unique set of skills and unique industry experience. 

Ware Malcomb

Francisco Arias has been promoted to studio manager, design in Ware Malcomb’s Los Angeles office. He will help lead the design studio, which supports all of Ware Malcomb’s offices. Arias joined the firm in 2019 as senior project designer in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He has more than 13 years of architectural design and master planning expertise and is well-versed in a variety of project types, including retail-based mixed-use developments, industrial, low- and high-rise office buildings, film studios, and healthcare facilities.

Additionally, Amanda Sanabria has been promoted to studio manager, advanced manufacturing in the firm’s Vaughan, Ontario office. Sanabria has more than 20 years of architectural experience, including significant experience leading industrial, retail, multifamily and data center projects from programming and design through completion. She joined Ware Malcomb in 2019 as a project architect.

HOK

Gavin McLachlan has rejoined HOK as the regional leader for HOK’s healthcare group in Canada, based in Toronto. He previously worked at the firm from 2009-2012. His project experience includes mental health hospitals, children’s treatment centers, ambulatory care centers and acute healthcare facilities across Canada. 

Additionally, Keith Hui has rejoined HOK as the regional leader for the Aviation + Transportation (A+T) group in the Pacific Northwest region, based in Seattle. He brings more than 25 years of experience planning and designing airport terminals and support buildings across the glob and previously worked with HOK from 2008-2016. Luke Bridle has joined the A+T group has director of transportation. Bridle, based in New York, brings more than 20 years of experience designing and planning mass transit and rail station projects across the globe, including work at Penn Station and Grand Central Station in New York City and at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, India.

Dyer Brown

Boston-based national architecture and interiors firm Dyer Brown is continuing to expand since opening a satellite headquarters in Atlanta nearly five years ago. To support continuing growth, Katie Moulder has joined the firm as an interior designer and project manager. She brings significant experience in workplace and hospitality plus familiarity with industrial projects. 

HLW

HLW has expanded its leadership team with the addition of Xiaoxuan Peng as director of building information modeling and computational design. He brings multidisciplinary experience with both technology and architecture. His leadership will help drive data-informed decisions and develop sustainable and accessible solutions.

USModernist

USModernist, a digital archive for modernist residential architecture, has appointed Michela O’Connor Abrams as chief advancement officer. Abrams is the former CEO of Dwell Media. The appointment marks the non-profit’s transition from a volunteer-based startup into a national cultural organization with full-time staff.

Monograph

Monograph, a practice operations platform for design professionals, announced the hiring of Ernie Miller as its new head of engineering. Miller, who has 20 years of experience as an engineering leader, will play a critical part in ensuring the Monograph program runs smoothly as the firm continues toward its goal of revolutionizing how architectural projects are managed.

JCJ Architecture

The nationally ranked planning, architecture, and interior design firm JCJ Architecture has announced a new slate of promotions. Amy (Harrell) Hull, Randall Hull, Sharmista Mitra-Kelly, and Jeanne Muscolino have been promoted to principal. Additionally, Chris A. Boldt; Grace E. Fabian; Marek Falkowski; Larry Sassi; and Danae Tinsley have been promoted to senior associate. Michelle Chapman; David Hubbard; Jordan Kazmierczak; Megan Lamontagne; Dustin Lombardi; Sean Pendley; Emma Plagemann; Lisa St. Amand; and Brian Stone have been promoted to associate. 

Moore & Giles

Moore & Giles announced a transition of leadership with the naming of Tray Petty as the company’s new president. Petty joined Moore & Giles in 1994 and has served in a variety of roles, most recently as executive vice president. Outgoing president Sackett Wood will remain with Moore & Giles in his role as chief executive officer.

Colberg Architecture

Colberg Architecture, a leading Brooklyn-based architect and design firm has appointed Kelly Collini to principal. Collini has over two decades of experience creating award-winning environments in New York City and beyond. Previously, Ms. Collini was an associate at Gensler, where she worked since 2005 as a senior design manager and a global account leader for WPP Group and Duff and Phelps.

Parsons

The New School’s Parsons School of Design today announced that Michele Gorman, assistant professor of interiors, objects, and technology at Parsons, has been appointed director of the MFA Interior Design program in the School of Constructed Environments at Parsons. She will oversee one of the country’s top interior design programs, which is housed within Parsons. Gorman is a designer and technologist who has designed and built a number of award-winning objects, exhibitions, and spaces, and is committed to addressing social and environmental justice within the profession and academy.

Leo A Daly

Pablo J. Quintana joins Leo A Daly as national interior design leader for workplace. He is a fourth-generation architect and interior designer and renowned workplace designer with 30 years of experience. Past work includes projects with Google, IBM, and Microsoft. He joins the firm from Stantec, where he served as design principal since 2002. 

//3877

Washington D.C.-based architecture and design firm //3877 has welcomed interior designer Jeffrey White to its team. White has degrees in both historic preservation and interior design and strongly believes in the value of adaptive reuse. He once held the Guinness World Record for “The Longest Chain of Staples Individually Connected” coming in at just under 800 feet. 

The Rug Company

The Rug Company announced the appointment of Andrew B. Cogan as chairman of the company’s board of directors and will join the board effective January 2022. Andrew Cogan served more than 30 years as the chairman & CEO of Knoll Inc, where he helped engineer the sale of Knoll, Inc. to Herman Miller.

Trex Commercial

Trex Commercial, a leading national provider of architectural railing systems, has expanded its U.S. sales force with the appointment of two new regional sales representatives. Michael Angelo Scalze and Kyle Jorgenson will share responsibility for the Midwest region, reporting to Tim White, vice president of sales for Trex Commercial.

Stonehill Taylor

Stonehill Taylor has announced promotions across the ranks of its interior design and architecture practices. The promotions are: Paul Weremchuk, Antonino Scarapaci, and Stephanie Liu to associate principal; Hiten Gandhi to senior associate; Adam Blatner to associate; Bethany Gale and DeeDee Sanchez to senior interiors associate; Wally Aubuchon, Katie Cole, and Marinda Thomas to interiors associate, and Tao Shizhen to senior interior designer.

CNY Group

New York City-based construction and development services firm CNY Group CNY Group has hired Elroy L. Pierre as project executive. Pierre has worked across the New York metropolitan area for over 20 years and has expertise in the construction trade. 

Main Street Hospitality

Main Street Hospitality has announced the appointment of Scott Williams to its dynamic leadership team as the new vice President of brand & creative. Most recently Williams was the president of The Nantucket Project and is the founder of growth advisory Hitchcock Partners. Prior to hospitality he worked in television at CBS, ESPN and HBO.

Patterson Flynn

F. Schumacher & Co. has promoted Pamela Marshall to creative director of Patterson Flynn. She will oversee product design and development as well as marketing and visual merchandising. Marshall will transition from her current role as VP of design and development at Schumacher starting on January 31, 2022.

Framery

Workplace industry pioneer Framery has announced the addition of head of digital offerings and services Arto Vahvanen. Vahvanen’s position marks the launch of a new department for the brand. He has worked in both technology and product management roles, most recently as vice president of product at the software company M-Files.

FCA

FCA, a leading New York and Philadelphia-based architecture and design firm, has acquired legacy firm Fred M. Humphrey & Associates. Fred M. Humphrey & Associates was formed by the husband and wife team of Roseann Latta and Fred Humphrey in 1974. They have served a large clientele of Florida-based health systems over the last several decades, with over 30 years of first round project approvals from AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration).

BassamFellows

Amy Pisansky has joined furniture & design house BassamFellows as director of sales. 

Arper

Roberto Monti has joined Arper as its new CEO effective January 24, 2022. He will join the board of directors and will lead the definition and development of the company’s strategic growth plans. Monti worked at IKEA from 1990 to 2017, holding positions of increasing responsibility in leadership roles as a member of the global management group. From 2014 to 2017, he was President of IKEA Concept, and currently he is senior advisor & board member for corporate and non-profit organizations. 

Page & Turnbull

National architecture, preservation and planning firm Page & Turnbull is announcing a new leader, Peter Birkholz, and the debut of its fourth office, opening in San Jose. Birkholz is a 40-year veteran of the architecture and preservation professions known widely for his expertise in prime and preservation architecture on a variety of building types, as well as in materials conservation, planning, and cultural resource assessments.

Keast & Hood

Philadelphia-based structural engineering firm Keast & Hood has announced the transition to its third generation of ownership. Denise Richards and John Davis assumed full ownership of the firm with Ms. Richards as the majority shareholder. 

ICRAVE

Miami and NYC-based innovation and design firm ICRAVE announced that Robert Ashton will be the company’s new chief operating officer. He previously  served as executive vice president of the Ian Schrager Company, where he was managing director for the EDITION lifestyle hotels. Prior to joining the Ian Schrager Company, Robert served as managing principal of the Rockwell Group.

Tangram

Tangram has appointed Amber Jones as vice president of sales at the company’s new regional headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Jones will continue to run both the Los Angeles and Dallas Fort-Worth teams as vice president, while relocating to Dallas. Jones, who has been with the company for eight years, has served as vice president of sales since 2018 and as director of education.

ALVIC

ALVIC USA, an award-winning manufacturer of cabinet doors and panels for residential and commercial projects, has announced its appointment of Tobias Pagel as CEO. He will be the company’s first CEO. Pagel has held numerous executive positions in the construction materials, logistics, and heavy equipment training industries, in addition to having started his own company. 

The Turett Collaborative 

NYC-based architecture and design firm The Turett Collaborative, known for its leadership in Passive House design and construction, has welcomed two new partners—James Saisakorn and Alex Nizhikhovskiy. They join founder Wayne Turett, director of interior design Jessica Shaw, and partner Simeon Seigel. Saisakorn joined TTC in 2004 after studying architecture at the Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne. Nizhikhovskiy, a graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, previously spent five years as a junior designer at Montoya-Rodriquez Architects + Planners before joining TTC.

B+H

George Foussias has joined global design and consulting firm B+H as part of its interior design practice. He will work out of the firm’s Toronto studio as director of interior design and senior associate. Foussias brings over 20 years of experience across the commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, residential, and retail sectors, and he has led innovative and award-winning projects for the world’s most recognized brands including W Hotels, Virgin hotels, Four Seasons, Wolfgang Puck, Great Gulf, Alterra, Tridel, Samsung and Audi.

Hubbardton Forge

Lighting manufacturer Hubbardton Forge has announced recent staff hires and promotions in key roles within the company. They are Eric Hannon to vice president of information technology, Margaret Dugan to vice president of human resources, Nate Carr to chief of staff, Hal Brown to engineering manager, Maggie Brown to senior project manager, and Max Pfiffner to visual merchandiser. 

On the Move: Top Promotions and Hires

Pembrooke & Ives

//3877

The Washington D.C.-based architecture and design firm welcomed interior designer Beth Brenner to the growing team. She brings extensive background in hotel interior design to the practice and is well-poised to help the team continue to meet the evolving needs of the hospitality industry.

IIDA NY Chapter

The International Interior Design Association’s New York Chapter (IIDA NY) has announced the inauguration of its latest executive board of directors for the 2021-2022 term in addition to the appointment of Elsie St. Léger as chapter president. St. Léger is an interior designer and assistant project manager at NYU Langone Health as well as a founding member of IIDA NY’s Equity Council, a group dedicated to increasing equity and inclusion in the design industry.

WallGoldfinger Furniture

WallGoldfinger Furniture, a division of Mark Richey Woodworking, has expanded its team with the addition of Curtis Ostler as director of business development. Ostler previously worked at WallGoldfinger from 2000-2009 as a project manager, director of project management and then a vice president of sales. Prior to that he owned and operated a hardwood retail sales business and architectural woodworking shop. After leaving WallGoldfinger he worked in higher education and as development and communications director for ReSOURCE.

Nemo Tile + Stone

Frank Kimmerling has been appointed chief financial officer at Nemo Tile + Stone. He brings over 20 years of experience in high-growth public, private equity, and venture equity-owned businesses. Previously he served as chief financial officer at Lamina Lighting and other companies.

Additionally, the firm has acquired Modern Stone Consulting, the leading specialists in the sourcing, project management, and quality control of natural stone. Modern Stone Consulting is active in both Europe and the United States, with consultants in New York, Boston, and Carrara, Italy.

HOK

HOK has created a new role to help the firm advocate for issues at the intersection of health, climate change and equity. Komal Kotwal has been appointed to the position, called Sustainable Design Leader for Health, Well-Being and Equity. Komal has deep experience leading diversity, equity and inclusion programs and advising Fortune 500 clients on environmental, social and governance priorities, including contributing to HOK’s Making a Difference by Design report.

WATG

Jeremy Heyes has been promoted to managing director of WATG’s London office. Heyes joined WATG in 1992 and is currently serving his third term on the firm’s board of directors. In his 35-year, globe-spanning career, he has worked on projects in Abu Dhabi, London, Jordan, and more.

CNY Group

Award-winning construction and development services firm CNY Group has promoted AnaTracey Hawkins to senior vice president of strategic growth. A New Zealand native, she joined CNY Group as a vice president in 2018. She also serves as vice chair of the firm’s senior executive team and and as a member of the company’s diversity and inclusion team.

STUDIOS Architecture

Marnique Heath and Marc Pfenninger have been appointed to the roles of board chair and CEO, respectively, at STUDIOS Architecture effective January 1, 2022. Both are practicing principals with over 20 years at the firm who bring extensive experience with the firm’s culture and with leading projects and teams. Their leadership will encompass over 300 employees across San Francisco, Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Lyon, and Mumbai

Perkins&Will

Robert Clemens has been appointed director of operations and associate principal for the New York studio of Perkins&Will. Clemens, a licensed architect actively involved in the business community in NYC, brings over 22 years of experience in the industry. His portfolio includes leading teams on projects for a confidential tech client in Chelsea Market and a performing arts center inside a WPA building in Oklahoma City.

Waldrop+Nichols Studio

Waldrop+Nichols Studio has brought on Darrell Long as vice president. Long previously served at Wilson Associates and HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates and has 25 years of experience, specializing in the lifestyle and luxury hospitality sector.

Perkins Eastman

Perkins Eastman promoted 121 staff members, including 17 to associate principal, 51 to senior associate, and 53 to associate. The promotions recognize these individuals’ talent, inventive design, and hard work.

Ware Malcomb

Reinaldo Gomez has been promoted to regional director in the Miami office of Ware Malcomb. Gomez joined the firm as regional manager in 2016 and has helped grow the Miami office.

Additionally, Matt Kuehn has been promoted to director of civil engineering and Braden Blake has been promoted to studio manager, architecture, both in the firm’s Phoenix, Arizona office.

Kohn Pedersen Fox

The Shade Store

Premium custom window treatment maker The Shade Store has announced new executive level appointments. They are Lauri Kien Kotcher as chief executive officer and Andrew Hart as chief manufacturing officer.  Additionally, Adam Gibbs, who co-founded the family-run company, will assume the role of executive chairman working closely with Kien Kotcher and Hart. Kien Kotcher’s position will be effective immediately and Hart joins the company in late October.

Eskew+Dumez+Ripple

Eskew+Dumez+Ripple has opened a Washington DC office and has selected recently named principal Noah Marble to lead it. The DC office is part of the firm’s expansion from its New Orleans headquarters. Marble is rejoining the firm after leaving New Orleans for DC several years ago. He has a diverse design background spanning over twenty years of architectural experience across civic, cultural, mixed-use, housing, and higher education typologies

GrizForm Design Architects

GrizForm Design Architects, a leading hospitality design and architecture firm based in Washington D.C., has announced that three new team members have joined the firm. They are Joseph McKenley as project architect, Olivia Turner as project designer, and Stephanie Sargon as project designer.

Gensler

Jenny West has joined Gensler’s Denver office as strategy director. She brings over 15 years of experience as a design and strategy leader and will lead the consulting and workplace strategy practice. Previously, she served as global workplace, transformation leader at Knoll.

Nelson Worldwide

The Seattle studio of Nelson Worldwide has added Rachael Lewis as regional design leader. She brings over two decades of experience in design, brand development, and team management. Perviously, Lewis worked at Katerra as director of architecture and design, where she led multi-family and hospitality verticals. She has also worked with The Walt Disney Company, Hilton Worldwide, IHG, and Best Western International.

Additionally, Bevan Bloemendaal has been appointed retail practice leader. He is an expert in brand vision and storytelling through design who previously served as the vice president of global retail experience & creative services at the Timberland Co.

Unispace

Unispace, a global workplace strategy, design and construction firm, has named Marjorie McCarthy to the newly created role of CMO. She will be responsible for global marketing and communications across all regions in which Unispace operates. McCarthy previously worked for Global Strategy Group, where she was most recently SVP and head of marketing and business development.

Glen Raven

SvN Architects + Planners

Toronto-based SvN Architects + Planners is expanding its leadership team. The new appointments include Jonathan Tinney as partner & principal planner, Ana Espinosa as director of Latin America, Terence Tourangeau as director of digital practice, and Nadeem Sumar as partner & chief financial officer.

Hames Sharley

Liana Kantilaftas has been appointed senior interior designer at Hames Sharley, where she will help lead the Adelaide, Australia interior team. Her portfolio currently focuses on the education sector.

Huntsman Architectural Group

Jamie Cavalier has joined Huntsman AG as project manager and designer in the Chicago office. She brings 13 years of experience and is a registered interior designer and Fitwel Ambassador. She currently serves as the president of the Illinois chapter board of directors of the International Interior Design Association.