On the Move: March Design Industry News

Check out the most recent industry promotions, new hires, and company news in Interior Design’s latest edition of On the Move.

Perkins&Will

Dawne David-Pierre has joined Perkins&Will as director of operations for the New York and Philadelphia Studios. Dawn is an architect and project manager with more than two decades of experience delivering complex projects in healthcare, education, and science and technology. She is a key member of the New York and Philadelphia leadership team, working closely with Clemens, design director Mike McElderry, interior design director Brent Capron, and health practice leader Laura Morris, among others, to set the studios’ strategy and support the firm’s culture of design excellence, innovation, and inclusion. Among other duties, she is responsible for ensuring project teams have the right resources at the right time to design and deliver projects that meet or exceed clients’ expectations.

The firm has made three more leadership changes at the highest level across several offices. Todd Gilles, firmwide director of finance, has become chief financial officer, succeeding Dana Waymire, who retired in March; Susan Gushe, managing director of the firm’s Vancouver and Calgary studios, has become chief operating officer, succeeding Tyson Curcio, who has transitioned full-time into his role as chief practice officer; Amber Hamilton, firmwide director of talent, has become chief talent officer, succeeding Meg Brown, who retired earlier this month.

Also, Eileen Jones, designer of branded environments and firmwide practice leader at Perkins&Will, has announced her retirement. Her career encompassed more than 40 years, with 22 of those years spent at Perkins&Will, during which time she worked on projects from the 1,500 square-foot showroom in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart to the 10 million-square-foot expansion at the Holy Mosque of Makkah. Following her retirement, Keith Curtis, a design principal based in the firm’s Atlanta studio, will take on the role of firmwide branded environments practice leader. Keith has over 30 years of experience designing for some of the most recognized brands in the world. In the Chicago studio, Yvette Fevurly will lead the local practice.

Haworth Lifestyle Design

Ralph Lauren Corporation and Haworth Lifestyle Design have announced a strategic long term agreement beginning April 1, 2024. The agreement will enable Ralph Lauren to continue expanding and growing its Home business. The collaboration will also include the development and operations of a network of new, freestanding, immersive Ralph Lauren Home stores in strategic locations globally.

Gettys Group

The board of directors of The Gettys Group Companies has announced the appointment of two new CEOs. Ron Swidler is CEO of the Gettys Group Companies and Jerry Zeitner is CEO of Ridgeline Development Partners, the firm’s hotel development arm. Both Ron Swidler and Jerry Zeitner are long-time Gettys Group team members who have been integral in expanding the firm’s offerings and global impact. Swidler joined Gettys nearly 35 years ago and rose to chief innovation officer. Zeitner joined Gettys just under 28 years ago and most recently served as chief development officer of Ridgeline Development Partners.

Daniel Frisch Architecture

Residential firm Daniel Frisch Architecture has expanded into Kent, Connecticut from their longtime office in Manhattan. They have also announced the appointment of Kate Jiranek as partner, with Daniel Frisch in the role of managing partner. Devon Mott has been named director of special projects.

Carrier Johnson + Culture

Architecture, interiors, landscape, and planning firm Carrier Johnson + Culture (CJ+C) is celebrating the official opening of its newest location in Atlanta. To lead the opening of their new office, CJ+C has strategically co-located its firmwide head of design and design principal Luca Maffey and its director of interiors and managing principal Craig Anderchak. Both Maffey and Anderchak have lived in Atlanta for many years and completed several high-profile projects in the city; some are currently in design and/or construction.

Arteriors

John Hart has been named CEO of Arteriors. Hart most recently served as CEO of Luminaire, a leading national design retailer of contemporary European furnishings headquartered in Miami. As a business leader with a proven 28-year track record across the luxury design space, Hart has driven the growth of noted global brands across each key channel of distribution catering to the design trades. Prior to Luminaire, he served as co-CEO of Michigan-based luxury custom rug manufacturer Scott Group Studio, and spent the majority of his career with Kohler Company.

Stylex

Stylex will be acquired by Flokk, a leading European office seating and furniture manufacturer. The purchase comes at a pivotal moment, solidifying Flokk’s presence in the U.S. market and opening new opportunities to take the Stylex brand to the next level.

IMC Architecture

The Brooklyn-based multi-family, commercial and institutional architectural firm IMC Architecture has launched its new interior design studio. The new interior design studio’s current projects include the 4,000-square foot office fit-out for Brooksville and boutique 1,000-square-foot workplace for We Lend in Manhattan; 10,000-square foot workplace for Bawabeh Realty Holdings in Brooklyn as well as interior design work for several charter and private schools in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn. In the retail and hospitality markets, the studio designed the new Le Café Coffee at the One Dag office tower in Midtown Manhattan.

Turf

President Rob Perri has been promoted to vice president, architectural specialties—brand companies at Turf’s parent company Armstrong World Industries, Inc. Perri brings more than 20 years of experience to his new role, with a strong background in product innovation, global strategy and manufacturing. Since joining Turf in 2018, Perri has driven revenue growth of over 400%, with the goal of consistently delivering 20% year-over-year growth. Perri will continue to serve as the president of Turf while also taking on a larger role within Armstrong.

Elkus Manfredi Architects

Elkus Manfredi Architects has named two new principals and announced promotions to vice president, senior associate, and associate. William (Rob) Halter has been promoted to principal. Emily Paparella has also been promoted to principal. She joined Elkus Manfredi in 2006 and has overseen a wide variety of complex projects, including  higher-education, residential, mixed-use, and renovation projects, most recently Simmons University’s One Campus Master Plan and design of the Living and Learning Center. Rob and Emily join David P. Manfredi, CEO and founding principal; Elizabeth O. Lowrey, principal; John H. Martin, principal; and Andrew West, principal in the leadership of the firm. John Mitchell and Timothy Talun have been promoted to vice president. Gregory Breisinger, Christina Hoover, and Jacob E. Kain have been promoted to senior associate. Jocelyn Barahona, Genevieve Dominiak, Rahissa Melo Wang, Xiaofeng Sima, and Kate Woodcome have been promoted to associate.

Urbahn Architects

Urbahn Architects, a prominent, full-service planning, architecture and interior design firm based in New York City, has launched Urbahn International, a new affiliate to focus on public, commercial, hospitality, multi-family, healthcare, educational and institutional work globally. Urbahn International will operate in both New York City and Jakarta, Indonesia. Pratt Institute-educated architect Rafi Haikal will serve as Urbahn’s Director of ASEAN Region Business Development.

FCA

FCA has made leadership promotions across the firm. Promoted to principal are Chip Hemphill and Stephen Jouflas; promoted to senior associate are Brian Kessler, Paige Macfarlan, Jessica Roden, and Jessica Rotenberger; promoted to associate are Mario DeJesus, Brian Fullen, Rachel Howren, Nicholas Husbands, Adam Musante, Lisa Patusky, Michelle Reese, and Carol Vandiepen.

Emtek

Steve Kamp has been promoted to VP & GM of luxury hardware at. He will be responsible for leading the commercial North America Emtek & Schaub business and will be a key member of the Commercial Leadership Team. Kamp most recently served as VP of sales and marketing. In addition, Emtek announced Austin McCormick’s promotion to senior director of sales for the US market. In this new position, Austin will provide focused service to Emtek’s independent dealer network in the brand’s most important market, the United States.

DLR Group

DLR Group has announced the acquisition of San Francisco based luxury interiors firm BraytonHughes Design Studios. BraytonHughes is a full-service interior design and architecture firm founded in 1991 with work spanning hospitality, corporate, private clubs, multi-family, residential, and institutional projects. BraytonHughes will relocate to DLR Group’s San Francisco office at 235 Montgomery Street this spring. Interior designers Janea Nakagawa, Rachel Fischbach, and Kiko Singh; and architects Joel Villalon and Towan Kim join DLR Group as principals.

Jamie Stern Furniture, Carpet, Leather & Fabric

Jamie Stern Furniture, Carpet, Leather & Fabric announces the appointment of Roya Gholizadeh as director of production and business development—carpet division. She will oversee the company’s entire carpet and rug division, including relationships with designers, clients, manufacturers and company reps, as the division continues to grow. Gholizadeh brings over two decades of international interior design and product development experience to her new role, including high-end residential design as well as corporate, hospitality, product and furniture design. In addition, the company has named two new sales representatives. they are Franco Santorelli for the mid-Atlantic region and Laura Guttierez for sales to the Southern California and Las Vegas markets.

IIDA NY

The International Interior Design Association New York Chapter (IIDA NY) is honored to announce the winners of its third annual Hazel Siegel Scholarship: Dohee Kim from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Giuliana Grosso from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), and Autumn Howard from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The recipients received an all-expense-paid, three-day trip to IIDA’s SHIFT Conference in Dallas February 14-16, accompanied by Michelle Schutt, AIA Associate and CertainTeed Architectural Solutions Manager, and a one-year IIDA student membership to the NY chapter.

Svigals + Partners

New Haven-based architecture firm Svigals + Partners has announced the promotions of five key staff members to associate principal and associate positions. Newly named to the position of associate principal are Brian Stancavage, AIA, CDT and Cheryl Hart, director of marketing and business development. The promoted associates include office manager and project accounting coordinator, Debbie Ferrell, plus architects April Gaddis, AIA, and Bryan Moore, AIA.

RODE

Boston-based RODE Architects has announced five staff promotions. Michael DelleFave has been named studio director; Lucas Herringshaw and Ruthie Kuhlman have been promoted to senior associates; Nick Ruggeri has been named associate; and Deidre Lamoureux has been promoted to associate and director of finance.

Pfluger Architects

The Texas-based architecture firm Pfluger Architects has expanded their educational design and consulting team across Texas. In the past year, Pfluger made several strategic hires to enhance its ability to serve its clients. Recent notable additions to the Pfluger team include: Connie Rivera as co-managing principal of the Corpus Christi office; Brenda Swirczynski, a former educator and curriculum coordinator, as an Educational Facility Planner based in the Dallas office; Braden Haley as senior project manager in the San Antonio office; Cody Cunningham, as a principal and director of communications and community engagement. With 114 employees across five Texas locations, Pfluger anticipates further expansion in 2024.

Atelier Castagna

Italian interior and product design professional Martina Castagna has launched a new studio in the interior and product design space. The studio will use an artificial intelligence-based approach to distinguish itself through technological innovation. Castagna will serve as CEO.

S/L/A/M Collaborative

The S/L/A/M Collaborative has made 33 leadership promotions across the firm’s nine studios in Boston, Denver, Glastonbury, Iowa City, Orlando, Atlanta and Providence. The promotions include Karen A. Parzych, Roderick L. Bouchard Jr, and Frederick C. Godbolt, who have been elevated to Principal & Shareholder. Nathan Bernier, Shane Clark, and Matthew Nelson have been promoted to associate principals. Paul Baldinger has been named corporate market leader of SLAM’s Glastonbury, CT studio.

HGA

Mia Blanchett has been promoted to CEO at HGA. Blanchett joined HGA in 1989 and, for the last 35 years, has elevated the firm’s national prominence through successive leadership roles across its broad-ranging sectors of focus. She also has been a voice for gender equity in architecture with HGA’s internal equity council and steering committee, distinguishing the firm as an industry model for workplace equity, mentorship and career growth. In her new role as CEO, she will be responsible for executing the firm’s strategic plan, which includes many of her own contributions.

estudioMBC

Mariela Buendia-Corrochano announced the launch of her new firm estudioMBC, which will focus on commercial workplace and real estate strategy, building repositioning and transformation and interior design services as well as new homes and renovations, and architectural conversions of historic structures into net zero Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).  The firm recently signed its first client, a confidential law firm.  For 25 years, Buendia-Corrochano held senior positions at Gensler where most recently she was design principal and previously the firm’s global design leader and  regional professional service firms practice area leader based in the Washington D.C. office.