FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 26, 2018

CONTRACT MAGAZINE NAMES INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS ‘BEST SMALL OFFICE’
Global Association Honored with 2018 Interiors Award; Members Recognized for Contributions to the Industry

CHICAGO — The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) headquarters office, designed by Gensler, received the Interiors Award in the Small Office category at the 39th Annual Interiors Awards Breakfast, presented by Contract magazine today in New York. The Interiors Awards jury selected the IIDA headquarters as the sole winner in the Small Office category (under 25,000 square feet).

The 17,000-square-foot IIDA headquarters, located in an iconic Mies van der Rohe tower in the heart of downtown Chicago, is a model of human-centered workplace design where people, place and culture intersect and connect.

The IIDA interiors feature an open plan neatly framed by a configuration of offices, conference rooms, work stations and a series of informal sitting areas, allowing staff, members and visitors alike to choose from an array of options for working, meeting and collaborating. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase breathtaking views of downtown Chicago and its prominent architecture, while splashes of color radiate through well-appointed vignettes with curated accessories from across the globe.

The 39th Annual Interiors Awards were juried by Mark Harbick, studio director at Gertler & Wente Architects; Betsy Voh, CEO and partner of Studio BV; Phil Weddle, partner of Weddle Gilmore Black Rock Studio; and Kim Yao, principal at Architecture Research Office.

“A balancing act is reflected in the open plan, use of interior glazing to define rooms, access to daylight, and the layering of finishes and furnishings. The perimeter zone of varied seating is particularly successful, literally connecting staff to membership,” noted the jury.

The IIDA office design was led by Contract magazine’s 2016 Designer of the Year, Todd Heiser, IIDA, design principal and studio design leader at Gensler, who brought more than 20 years of experience in next-generation design to the project. His commitment to conceptual and technical development transforms work spaces for clients around the world, as IIDA’s headquarters serves to demonstrate.

“Our headquarters was created to be the home of the commercial interior design profession – an environment that celebrates our membership and seeks to push the boundaries of the workplace of today,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP. “We are deeply honored that the jury of distinguished professionals chose IIDA to receive this prestigious recognition.”

IIDA also celebrated two top awards given to its members: the 39th Designer of the Year and Legend Award, both selected by Contract magazine Editor in Chief, John Czarnecki, Hon. IIDA. Alessandro Munge, IIDA, founder of Toronto’s Studio Munge, was named the 2018 Designer of the Year. Munge’s practice began with the creation of notable restaurant and club interiors that defined the downtown Toronto social scene. In recent years, the scope of his work has grown to include hotels such as his first project in New York, The William Vale Hotel, as well as projects in Las Vegas and China. He is currently designing Nobu Hospitality’s first-ever integrated hotel, residence and restaurant development, Nobu Toronto, set to open by 2021.

This year’s Design Legend Award honoree, Joan Blumenfeld, FAIA, FIIDA, LEED AP ID+C, ASID, is a design principal at Perkins+Will, New York. Blumenfeld has managed interiors for the firm’s prominent list of clients and continues to be admired as a leader and mentor among women in architecture and design. Blumenfeld is honored as a proponent of social responsibility, sustainability and women in leadership in architecture and design. Her work has been published in top publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, New York Magazine, Contract and Vanity Fair.

About International Interior Design Association
IIDA is the Commercial Interior Design Association with global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. IIDA advocates for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. www.iida.org