Contract Magazine - October 2017 - 61

The mosaic tile flooring
by Sicis in the reception area
(opposite, bottom left) creates
a black-and-white starburst
design. A long sectional sofa
and a vintage shelving unit by
George Nelson (left) are near
the reception desk. Lining
the western window wall,
informal seating areas with
classic furnishings and
rugs cultivate a domestic
vibe (below and opposite,
bottom right).

With a truly modern interior lined by floor-to-ceiling windows
framing views of downtown Chicago and its famed architecture,
the new headquarters of the International Interior Design Association
(IIDA) exudes both urban work life and the value of contemporary
design. An exercise in strategy and beauty, the interior was crafted
by Gensler to incorporate a neutral, monochromatic palette and
straightforward plan that enables it to serve as a flexible venue
for this global association of design professionals.
For years, IIDA's headquarters had been located in theMART-
the vast building that is home to NeoCon-where it was within walking
distance of showrooms, and yet the team felt isolated and seemingly
cut off from the city. IIDA EVP/CEO Cheryl Durst, Hon. FIIDA (see
interview, page 64), embarked on a lengthy process to find a new office
space in Chicago, ultimately selecting 17,000 square feet within One
Illinois Center, a notable steel-and-glass tower by Ludwig Mies van
der Rohe that was completed in 1970, a year after his death. Here, IIDA
takes the entire western length of the second floor, directly above the
ground-floor space that will become the new home of the Chicago
Architectural Foundation next year. Perched just above street level,
IIDA now enjoys expansive views of the famous nexus of Michigan
Avenue and the Chicago River to the north.
Channeling Mies's "less is more" mantra
Gensler worked closely with Durst and her IIDA team on both the site
selection and interior design. Gensler Principal Jim Williamson, FIIDA,
who was the 2012-2013 IIDA president, describes the difficulties
inherent in designing an office with a complex program: "The IIDA
space-probably one of the 'hardest working' spaces I have been
involved with-is challenged by the need to serve everyday work

tasks, large conferences, intimate gatherings, and media events-
all while looking great and being comfortable."
Todd Heiser, IIDA, a principal at Gensler who was Contract
magazine's 2016 Designer of the Year, oversaw the design with
colleagues from Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Knowing that IIDA
is a member organization of more than 15,000 designers representing
58 countries, Heiser was aware of the pressure in orchestrating the
association's new workplace design. He conceived a blank slate that
would be neutral enough to serve as a backdrop to the interests
of the organization while allowing it to animate them as it pleases.
Taking a space within a building by Mies, whose mantra was "less
is more," was ideal. "[An interior within a building by] Mies could not
have been a more perfect canvas to develop this remarkably simple
plan," says Heiser. "The best designs actually speak very little."
Beginning with a spare interior featuring window walls on
three sides, Gensler stripped away previous dropped ceilings to reveal

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