5.7.08 | New York, NY | Bond., a new multi-disciplinary design studio, will debut on Saturday, May 17 during ICFF, at the Pomegranate Gallery, 133 Greene Street, NYC, from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM. The studio’s launch event, Bond..,will feature an exhibition of provocative and conceptual work from Director of Design/Founder Joe Doucet, and projects from his team of international designers.

5.7.08 | Chicago, IL | Richard Smith will lead HOK Chicago as the Director of the Science and Technology practice. With more than 20 years of professional experience, Mr. Smith will oversee HOK Chicago's major university and college, healthcare, science and research building projects.  Prior to joining HOK Chicago, Mr. Smith was a principal with Loebl Schlossman & Hackl's Higher Education Group, where he managed a variety of institutional and commercial building projects. 

5.7.08 | Ann Arbor, MI | Monica Ponce de Leon, professor of architecture and director of the Digital Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, was named dean of the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, effective September 1, 2008, pending full board approval. Ms. Ponce de Leon also is a principal in Office dA, a design practice she launched with Nader Tehrani in Boston. 

5.7.08 | San Diego, CA | Architectural Concepts, Inc. (ACI) a hospitality-oriented architectural and interior design firm was honored with two awards by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). The ARDY for Resort Architecture and Interior Design (Refurbishment) was given to ACI for Raintree Vacation Club's Club Regina (Los Cabos and Cancun) for creating a proprietary Art Program drawing on original artwork by emerging artists from Mexico who paint, sculpt and create metal art. ACI also received the ACE Community Service Award for its Lemon Drop3 Party, benefiting San Diego Habitat for Humanity. 

5.6.08 | Berkeley, CA | Otto Williams and Jess Sorel, formerly with Metro Brand for Steelcase, launched a new design studio, WilliamsSorel in 2007. The California-based design studio works across a wide variety of disciplines including furniture, product and environments. WilliamsSorels will showcase its most recent work for Steelcase Premium Group at NeoCon, June 9-11 at the Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL. 

5.2.08 | New York, NY |  Humanscale reported 2007 sales revenues reached $184 million, a year-over-year increase of 23.4%. New products launched in 2007 include the Liberty Side chair, CPU600 CPU holder and Access Rail. In addition to new products, steady growth within core product lines such as the Freedom and Liberty chairs, 5G keyboard support, M4 and M7 monitor arms, and the Diffrient Light helped drive Humanscale’s overall sales. Humanscale won 19 design awards in 2007, including the Product Design of the Year Award from the International Design Awards, two Best of IIDEX/NeoCon Canada Gold Awards, and a pair of GOOD DESIGN Awards.

5.2.08 | New York, NY | Franck Hodelin, nationally known for his appearances on ABC television and FoxNews, joined The Levine Calvano Furniture Group as an Account Executive calling on the A&D community. Mr. Hodelin received a degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute's School of Fine Art in 1990. Since then, he has worked in all areas of interior design, including residential, commercial and hospitality, for such notable firms as Bob Patino & Company, Dorothy Draper & Company and Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects. In 2004, Franck ventured out on his own, establishing his namesake design firm, Franck Hodelin & Company.

5.2.08 | Washington, D.C. | Gregory Y. Chang, AIA, was named Ellerbe Becket's National Director of Healthcare. He succeeds Jon Buggy, AIA, who is focusing full-time on managing the firm's Minneapolis office. Mr. Chang is based in Ellerbe Becket's Washington, D.C., office where he has worked for the past 10 years as a Principal and Director of Planning.