5.29.08 | Denver, CO | –The HOK Planning Group launched an Urban Design and Landscape Architecture studio in Denver. A three-person team of professionals will serve clients in Denver and throughout the Mountain West region, with plans to build a 20-person practice within two years. Joining The HOK Planning Group are: David Amalong, Vice President and Director, Robb Berg, Senior Associate, Jesse Michael, Landscape Architectural Technician. HOK'’s new Urban Design and Landscape Architecture studio is located in downtown Denver at 1125 17th Street, Suite 1250. www.hok.com

5.29.08 | Washington, D.C. | IA Interior Architects (IA) added John Varholak to it Washington D.C. office as Senior Project Manager and Team Leader. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Varholak worked at InterSpec Design in Vienna, VA where he was Director of Corporate Interiors. Mr. Varholak specializes in workplace strategies, project management and design, and regularly shares his expertise during presentations to brokers and developers.

5.29.08 | Boston, MA | Elkus Manfredi Architects announced the following promotions:

• Principal, John Martin AIA LEED AP
• Vice President, Mark Allen AIA LEED AP, Alison Gillies AIA, Cammie Henderson AIA, Mark Sardegna AIA, Andrew West AIA, Jefferson D. Willets AIA
• Senior Associate, Susanne Ackermann, Joseph Carroll AIA, Rob Halter AIA, LEED AP, Kevin Lennon, Oscar Mertz III AIA, LEED AP, Christine Milne RIBA, Brian Roessler, Jeffrey Sakowitz AIA, LEED AP
• Chief Information Officer, Glenn Kurth AIA www.elkus-manfredi.com
  

5.29.08 | Charleston, WV | Swanke Hayden Connell Architects, NYC, was selected by the state of West Virginia to design a rehabilitation plan for Holly Grove Mansion. The building retains a significant amount of historic fabric but suffers from antiquated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, structural deficiencies and unsympathetic architectural modifications resulting in an incongruous appearance of the building interior. The building also suffers from deterioration and deferred maintenance to its exterior envelope and does not provide compliant access for the disabled. Swanke Hayden Connell Architects

5.28.08 | Phoenix, AZ | Gensler, a global architecture and design consulting firm, recently hired Tommy Kelly, Patrick Mangess, and Torsten Schmudde as project team leaders. Additional hires include Christian Jesperson as design tech, Tanya Moody as project coordinator, Stephanie Gomez as administrative assistant, and Lydia Kanschat as receptionist. Bryan Maddock, Shirley Bucknor, and Jorge Amaya also were hired as summer interns from Arizona State University. www.gensler.com

5.23.08 | Atlanta, GA | National Office Furniture, a division of Kimball International, held a continuing education course presented by Rebecca Ewing titled “Color: A Visual Language. The half-day training event was held at Cobb Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta. “Following the course, attendees mingled over hors d'oeuvres and refreshments and had a look at several of National's newest product introductions.”

5.23.08 | Holland Landing, Ontario | Inscape Corporation will be represented by The Ruder Group in the Illinois and Wisconsin markets. The new partners hosted a party for 350 designers and dealers May 8th to celebrate. Inscape designs and manufactures office furniture systems, filing and storage and architectural products. www.inscapesolutions.com

5.23.08 | Boston, MA | Jonathan D. Ross became Director of Education for Gensler Boston. Most recently, Mr. Ross spent 17 years at the firm Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbott in Boston, MA, where he was a principal and chair of the Education Practice Group. His experience includes feasibility studies, campus and building master plans, facility programming, and full architectural services for college and university libraries, classroom buildings, science buildings, dining and athletic facilities as well as K-12 facilities for independent schools. www.gensler.com

5.22.08 | Nashville, TN | Sharon Koomen Harmon, IIDA, and Katherine  E. Kannon, AIA, announce the fourth edition of their book, The Codes Guidebook for Interiors. The award-winning guide offers a wealth of information and an easy-to-search format, which saves research time and effort for any designer. Sharon is an interior designer in Nashville, TN.  She has more than 20 years of experience in commercial and residential interiors.  Visit the publisher online at www.wiley.com to learn more

5.23.08 | Washington, DC | The American Institute of Architects (AIA) named the 15 recipients of the 2008 Small Project Awards. The AIA Small Project Awards Program recognizes small-project practitioners for the high quality of their work and to promote excellence in small-project design. Award recipients are categorized into three groups: Small project objects (furniture, fixture, or fragment; up to $50,000 construction budget); Small project structures (up to $500,000 construction budget); Flood-resistant housing (built or proposed). The winners are:

• Connector- Randy Brown Architects, Omaha, NE
• Hidden Cove- alterstudio architect, llp , Austin, TX
• Spa in a Box- Gardner Mohr Architects LLC, Chevy Chase, MD
• PINE/Cone- SALA Architects, Minneapolis, MN
• Chandelier for the Hamilton Association- Heller Manus Architects, San Francisco, CA
• Butterfly Window-Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd., West Chester, PA 
• Marfa 10 x 10 Lightbox (Honorable mention)- candid rogers architect, San Antonio, TX
• Wedge House- Donald Lococo Architects, LLC, Washington, DC 
• Casa 218- candid rogers architect, San Antonio, TX
• TEMPO- Laboratory for Environments, Architecture & Design Inc., Husnes, Norway
• Abod- BSB Design, West Des Moines, Iowa
• PJ's Coffee Shop- Wayne Troyer Architects, New Orleans, LA 
• Penmar Studio-Residence- Dean Nota Architect AIA, Hermosa Beach, CA 
• Hobbit House- Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd., West Chester, PA 
• Peninsula Temple Sholom Entry Canopy- Herman & Coliver Architecture, San Francisco, CA 
• Modular- Elm (Honorable mention)-Randy Brown Architects, Omaha, NE
• Bus Shelter (Honorable mention)- PBC+L ARCHITECTURE, Raleigh, NC