3.20.08 | Buena Park, CA and New York, NY | Fairmont Designs retained GRID2 to develop a cohesive corporate brand identity system for product categories, including residential, furniture, cabinetry and hospitality furnishings, which are internationally distributed. GRID2, additionally will redesign a floor of Fairmont Designs’ JSWB Global Home Furnishings Center, in Shanghai.

3.20.08 | New York, NY | Studio 63, a firm specializing in retail, interior design, architecture and branding, designed Energie, a fashion boutique that creates a contemporary design mixed with personal memories, tradition and a sense of coziness. Materials such as linoleum, natural wood stained tables and cabinets, brushed nickel, and plywood were use to achieve an atmosphere of openness and intimacy.

3.14.08 | London, UK | Architecture Foundation announced that Plasma Studio, London, UK, was the winner of the 2008 Next Generation Architects/Piper Award. The award seeks to connect young practices with built experiences and the developer. The announcement was made at MIPIM, the international market for the property industry in Cannes, France.  MIPIM also launched a Next Generation Architects Directory which will profile Plasma Studio. www.plasmastudio.com/

3.14.08 | Costa Mesa, CA | Interior Architects promoted Christina Kotlarski to Director of Operations and Shannon Medina to Design director. Ms. Kotalarsk, who joined the firm in 2002 as Project Manager, will be responsible for the financial management of the office.  Ms. Medina began with IA as Intermediate Designer in 2003. She will be responsible for leading the firm's design effort.

3.14.08 | Bloomfield Hills, MI | SmithGroup Board of Directors elected seven people to the position of Vice President, Susan Arneson, corporate market director, Juhee Cho, co-leader of Workplace Studio, San Francisco, Steven L. Cohen, operations leader for Workplace Studio, Washington, DC, Michael Kang, Design Review Committee, Washington, DC, Angie Lee, Workplace Studio, Chicago, IL, Will Loftis, co-leader Workplace Studio, San Francisco, Mark Patterson, Healthcare Studio leader, Phoenix, AZ.

3.14.08 | London, UK | DEGW will expand into two key global markets: Singapore and San Francisco to serve key clients in those regions.  Globally, DEGW is active in four primary market sectors: corporate, real estate, government, and learning environments. Current clients active in San Francisco or Singapore include Google, Cisco, the National University of Singapore, Philips, Deutsche Bank, and the U.S. General Services Administration. www.degw.com

3.13.08 | Chicago, IL | HOK Chicago added Karen Laveen and Randy Buescher to their senior-level staff.  Ms Laveen, who has more than 20 years of experience, becomes Senior Practice Leader of the Advance Strategies Group.  Prior to joining HOK, she was Senior Vice President with Jones Lang LaSalle. Ms. Laveen will lead the firm's advisory practice in the North Central Region. Mr. Buescher, with more than 30 years of professional experience, joins the firm as a Senior Associate and Project manager in HOK's International Studio. Previously, Mr. Buescher was a Partner with ROBU Design in Chicago.  Mr. buescher's position will involve work in Saudi Arabia, India, Bahrain and other Asian and Middle East locations. http://www.hok.com