Boutique Design - October 2017 - 104

SELF STARTER
Forget waiting. Kelly Gaddes' entrepreneurial spirit
is what launched CR architecture + design into the
interiors segment. Now she's using that same drive
to give back and help support the next generation
of hospitality industry professionals.
INTERVIEW BY CHRISTINA GREEN

seeing the advantages of expanding the firm's scope, there was no
hesitation in doing just that by launching an interiors division four
years ago. "It's been one of the most rewarding experiences of my
career," says the Cincinnati-based designer. "CR was primarily known
as an architecture firm that specialized in retail, hospitality, education (K-12 and higher ed), housing, commercial and local government
projects for 30 years before the inception of our interiors team."
She also spun her ambition into a way to impact the local
industry at large by forming the NEWH Cincinnati regional chapter
two years ago. For lessons learned from those endeavors, read on.
WHAT'S BEEN THE EFFECT OF HAVING A DEDICATED, IN-HOUSE
INTERIOR DESIGN TEAM?

Since its inception, the horizons of what we can do holistically as a
firm have broadened significantly-and that's happening quickly.
We're gaining traction and recognition as a design firm among our
clients and our competitors. But this change had to start internally
first, and over the last four years, our team has had to prove its design
capabilities to the other units within the firm. But once that started
happening, we began making waves and seeing results.
SENIOR LIVING IS A MARKET THAT'S SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT SEGMENT FOR
HOSPITALITY DESIGN, AND VICE VERSA?

Senior living design requires an academic understanding of aging and
how we perceive pattern, color, texture and light beyond what we
learn in design school. These lessons have influenced our team to be
more thoughtful in our choices for hospitality interiors. We don't try
to make our hospitality projects look like senior living properties, but
we are more conscious of the details.
Hospitality has a big influence on our senior living projects in that
today's resident is more sophisticated and well-traveled than
previous generations. The institutional look of the average facility
doesn't attract new residents. They're looking for a place that feels
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like home and has a more resort-like atmosphere.
Our experience with highly cleanable but comfortable fabrics, as well as our
understanding of how to create a memorable guest experience, has translated
into a relevant environment for residents. Our hospitality expertise has also
given us an advantage in corporate and education design for similar reasons.
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING IN CINCINNATI FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF BEING IN
A SECONDARY MARKET?

The positive side to Cincinnati being late to the party, in terms of hotel and
restaurant development, is that it allows us to take the lessons learned in firsttier markets and apply them here. The downside is that it's often assumed that
because we're located in the Midwest we don't have the sophisticated design
experience to do projects in cities like Los Angeles, New York or Miami. In
truth, we have design projects all over the U.S. In addition to working in our
home state, this year alone we've wrapped up projects in Orlando, Florida;
Charlotte, North Carolina; and Arlington, Virginia.
WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT TO BRING NEWH TO CINCINNATI?

Because of what the organization stands for and the incredible opportunity it
offers students trying to break into the hospitality industry. So far, NEWH has
given out $4.5 million in scholarships to students pursuing a degree related
to hospitality, and I hope that some of them who are attending our local
programs at Cincinnati State, University of Cincinnati and Miami University
will benefit.
This city is also a generous community and the scholarship program presents a way for us to give back. Now our small chapter is almost two years old
and we're about to award our first scholarship.
ANY ADVICE FOR OTHERS WANTING TO START THEIR OWN CHAPTER?

The challenge has been educating the community about what NEWH actually
is. It's not that well known among local design firms, hospitality developers and
restaurant owners. My advice is to be sure to have a diversified committee
made up of designers, manufacturer representatives, educators and owners.
This helps a young chapter such as ours get traction across the board. 

R O N R AC K , R AC K P H O T O G R A P H Y

KELLY GAddES ISN'T afraid to jump on an opportunity. After

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Boutique Design - October 2017

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