Contract Magazine - October 2017 - 65

PHOTOGRAPHY: HEADSHOT COURTESY IIDA; INTERIOR PHOTOS © MICHELLE LITVIN

wanted the IIDA staff and members to instantly fall in love with
the space. We thought about what a contemporary office feels like
and exemplifies-fluidity, mobility, and comfort. We wanted to create
a sense of purpose, culture, and community within the space for both
employees and guests, as well as a place that defines and represents
who we are as a design organization. The new office reflects how
workplace design has evolved to accommodate the varied ways
people like to work. We feature several collaborative huddle spaces
along with a variety of private offices, conference rooms, and an open
plan working area.
IIDA is an organization with a membership of leading designers.
And knowing that product manufacturers would all love to have
their products in your workplace, how did you proceed with an
approach keeping in mind that all eyes will be on your new office?
The design intent of the office came first: The vision we had drove
specifications and selection of each piece for the space. Many
of the decisions were driven both by function and the interest of the
design community to want to connect and create here. The diversity

"We thought about what a contemporary office feels like and exemplifies-
fluidity, mobility, and comfort. We wanted to create a sense of purpose, culture,
and community within the space for both employees and guests, as well
as a place that defines and represents who we are as a design organization...
I've found that our team is taking advantage of the variety of places to work
here in ways that are beyond my wildest dreams." -Cheryl Durst

After years in theMART, your organization made a major move.
How many Chicago office locations did you view and consider,
and what drew you to this location?
We started our search for a new IIDA headquarters in 2015
for both sound economic reasons and design decisions on behalf
of the association, and we proceeded to look at more than a dozen
locations in Chicago. As we considered locations, we knew we
needed more space to produce IIDA special events such as design
awards presentations, member events, and education courses.
Our new office is now 17,000 square feet, which allows for the fluidity
and flexibility we desired in our workplace. This specific location
also appealed to us because it is in an architecturally significant Mies
van der Rohe-designed building. Being located here allows us to
represent IIDA's deep-rooted connection to Chicago. With sweeping
views of the Chicago River and iconic buildings such as the Tribune
Tower and the Wrigley Building, our new office celebrates Chicago
as an international capital of design and architecture.
When you began the design discussions with Gensler, what
was the most important concept that you wanted the new
workspace to portray?
I worked closely with Todd Heiser, IIDA, design director at Gensler's
Washington, D.C., office and Contract magazine's 2016 Designer
of the Year, to ensure that we had a variety of optional and optimal
areas where the IIDA staff could choose to work. Our most significant
intention was that we did not want people to feel tethered to their
desks-we wanted them to be mobile within the office. And we

of the design allowed us the freedom to incorporate a wide
variety of products that beautifully express this intent. We were
grateful for the generosity of many of our corporate members
who contributed product to the new IIDA headquarters.
You personally travel a lot, and your members are worldwide.
How important is "place" for the headquarters?
We want the IIDA headquarters to illustrate that "place" is essential.
It's important for our association to have a tangible, tactile, and real
space to show both members and the public that design excellence
matters. This space belongs to all IIDA members.
You have been in the new workplace for a few months.
Has your team's way of working changed in any ways? How so?
Numerous studies show that people interact more successfully
in well-designed spaces, and I've found that our team is taking
advantage of the variety of places to work here in ways that are
beyond my wildest dreams. People love the materiality of the space,
and they move naturally throughout the space on a daily basis.
We have shared our office with groups who have come in for events
and tours as an example of how the contemporary workplace can
look and operate. The new IIDA headquarters serves as a tangible
sourcebook of sorts where one can get ideas and inspiration-
it's a knowledge resource, and beautifully and effectively reinforces
the IIDA brand. c

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Contract Magazine - October 2017

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