IA Interior Architects

For commercial properties, sustainability is no longer a fringe ideal. It’s fundamental to the way we build, evaluate performance, and extend the life of our spaces. For owners and tenant projects in particular, measurable impact requires sustainable strategies that function as a cohesive, integrated framework — not just a series of standalone interventions. In our latest blog post, Brett Gardner, IA's Senior Director of Sustainability, breaks down what the circular economy means in practice, outlining how to design out waste, preserve value, and implement scalable strategies within commercial interiors, particularly in high-turnover tenant environments. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gW2r4Nrn #CircularEconomy #SustainableDesign #InteriorArchitects #ArchitectureInnovation #Circularity #Decarbonization

We’re thrilled to announce that IA has been named a Category Winner at the International Interior Design Association's 16th Annual Global Excellence Awards, celebrating innovation and creativity in international interior design and interior architecture. Our design for a confidential client’s Cape Town office was recognized in the Corporate Space category, highlighting IA’s commitment to thoughtful, sustainability-driven design that blends global expertise with local insight and craftsmanship. Managing Director Tim Hardingham and Project Director Eduardo Sanz de Acedo RIBA, ARB, MCABE represented IA at the awards celebration in Paris last week, accepting the honor alongside IIDA President Cheryl Durst, Hon. FIIDA. See IA's award-winning project and learn more about the award program here: https://lnkd.in/gPWk-UqB #IIDA #GlobalExcellenceAwards #SustainableDesign #DesignInnovation #DesignExcellence

This Black History Month, #IAReach is proud to support the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)—an organization committed to challenging racial and economic injustice and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in our society. Through research, education, and advocacy, EJI works to confront the legacy of racial inequality while advancing a more just and equitable future. In alignment with IA's commitment to people, culture, and community impact, this contribution reflects our belief that meaningful change begins with awareness, accountability, and action. #BlackHistoryMonth #IAReach #DesignWithPurpose #EquityInAction #CommunityImpact

In one of the country’s most competitive retail corridors, an experience-led design transforms Tecovas’ 50th store into an immersive brick-and-mortar destination for the brand’s frontier-forward offerings. Housed within a restored 4,500-square-foot cast-iron landmark, the space shifts the focus from transaction to comfort, customization, and — thanks to a central full-service bar — social connection. Kyle Jeffery, Managing Director of IA's Dallas Studio, shares with ICSC how a boots-on-the-ground design process uncovered the building’s historic character and how real estate strategy can merge with bespoke design to drive measurable performance. Read the full interview here: https://bit.ly/4rpa1HE #ThoughtLeadership #DesignLeadership #BrandExperience #FutureOfRetail #RetailDesign #CustomerExperience

Join IA's Senior Director of Sustainability Brett Gardner alongside hosts Ren DeCherney and HOLLY HOLTON from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute for an honest conversation about what it means to lead in sustainability right now — especially when the vibes are, well, off. Against a backdrop of shifting market dynamics and ongoing uncertainty, Brett will explore the current state of sustainability: what’s changing, what’s holding steady, and what may be ahead. Sign up for the webinar next Wednesday, Feb 18th, to learn how leaders can stay grounded in purpose in today’s ever-evolving sustainability landscape: http://bit.ly/4aASAwA #Sustainability #SustainableDesign #DesignLeadership #CircularEconomy #CradleToCradle

We’re proud to celebrate Bill Kline. FAIA, ACHA, EDAC, LEED AP, NCARB, Senior Director of Federal Services, on receiving the career-spanning Outstanding Achievements in the Architecture Profession Award from SAME DC Post, recognizing his contributions to advancing design excellence across the federal sector. 👏 Over the course of a decades-long career, Bill’s leadership has delivered innovative, award-winning solutions for some of the nation’s most complex and mission-critical institutions, including the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, National Archives, and the Departments of the Navy, Army, Veterans Affairs, and Agriculture. As Bill continues to lead IA’s Federal Services practice, we’re looking forward to even more groundbreaking work ahead!  #SAME #FederalDesign #DesignLeadership  #DesignExcellence #IAInteriorArchitects 

Today is 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 — a moment to recognize the powerful role thoughtful change plays in shaping resilient, future-ready organizations. At IA, change is at the core of what we do. From reimagining workplace strategy to navigating shifts in organizational culture and leading large-scale transformations, we understand that successful change is both data-driven and anchored in lived experience. We developed the Harmonic Principles™ framework to ground this approach in decades of peer-reviewed research and to further our exploration of the power of place, creating a clear, data-driven foundation for aligning business goals with how people truly work, collaborate, and thrive. As we celebrate this day, we look forward to collaborating with more organizations that embrace moments of change as opportunities for clarity, momentum, and connection. Check out our recent research and dive into the Harmonic Principles™ here to learn more: https://bit.ly/3OBVMAv #GlobalChangeManagementDay #IAInteriorArchitects #InteriorArchitects #WorkplaceExperience #ChangeManagement #HarmonicPrinciples #WorkplaceStrategy #DesignWithImpact

What can a 200-year-old festival teach us about workplace design? With dazzling illustrations and photography by Lauren H., Designer, our latest blog post traces the vibrant living history of Barcelona’s Festa Major de Gràcia — a joyful celebration of community, creativity, and collective imagination that offers profound lessons for the modern workplace. As part of IA’s 2025 Spark Fellowship, Lauren traveled to Barcelona to experience the fiesta firsthand, where nearly two million participants worked together to transform recycled materials into large-scale collaborative works of art. What resonated most with Lauren — and what continues to inform her professional approach — was the festival’s timely reminder that well-designed environments take steps to bring people who use them together. Read more about Lauren’s design-led encounter with one of Barcelona’s most beloved neighborhood fiestas here: https://bit.ly/3M8krfo #WorkplaceDesign #DesignThinking #HumanCenteredDesign #DesignResearch #FutureOfWork

Congratulations to Senior Lighting Designer Ashley Mikels, LC, who was recently named one of Light Collective's 40 under 40! 👏 Ashley was recognized for her innovative approach to lighting design, combining technical expertise with a keen creative vision and understanding of how light shapes atmosphere, experience, and functionality. As a 40 Under 40 honoree, Ashley joins a cohort of outstanding individuals shaping the future of lighting design.  Congratulations to all the winners and a huge thank you to Light Collective, FILIX Lighting, and Selux Lighting. #LightingDesign #ArchitecturalLighting #DesignInnovation #InteriorDesign #DesignExcellence

Design can do more than house care; it can actively support it. With 🔟➕ clinics completed for North East Medical Services (NEMS), each project demonstrates how intentional design can promote healing, reduce anxiety, and intuitively guide patients and staff through complex care environments. Spanning a wide range of services—from dental and optometry to oncology, acupuncture, infusion, and physical therapy—these clinics are unified by a guiding framework of Resilience, Restore, Regenerate. Drawing from biophilic design and Eastern wellness principles such as Qi (life energy), each space balances calm, clarity, and care—while remaining mindful of budget and operational realities, and still delivering meaningful architectural moments. Together, these environments reinforce the idea that wellness isn’t only clinical, it’s experiential. Learn more about these clinics here: https://bit.ly/4pSwxai 📍 + 📸: 1–2: South San Francisco, CA Medical Clinic / Garrett Rowland 3–4: Daly City, CA Dental Clinic / Garrett Rowland 5: San Francisco, CA Dental Clinic / Garry Belinsky 6: San Francisco, CA Oncology Clinic / Garry Belinsky 7–8: San Jose, CA Optometry Clinic / Garry Belinsky #NEMS #HealthcareDesign #DesignForWellness #ClinicDesign #InteriorDesign #InteriorArchitects