Interstate News

Interstate International Recognized as One of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2009

SPRINGFIELD, VA—September 09, 2009—Interstate International, Inc., a global provider of freight forwarding and logistics services, announced today that it has been included as part of Inc. magazine’s 2009 Inc. 5000 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies....

More here: http://www.invan.com/news/intl_pr_0909.htm

IIDA Mini Golf Next Week

Mini Golf Design Classic:

Back again even bigger and better than last year!

Thursday, October 15

IIDA's Washington Metro City Center invites you, your colleagues, and friends to join us for fun, food, prizes, entertainment and networking. There will be a 9 Hole Mini Golf Course designed by industry champions that promises to challenge all of you! No handicap is needed to calculate your score - just simple math and a willingness to have fun - so grab those putters and start honing your skills!

The event and raffle are open to the public.

VENUE SPONSOR: Vornado/Charles E. Smith

CATERING: Dogfish Head Alehouse PHOTOGRAPHY: Lydia Cutter

ENTERTAINMENT: DJ TIME: 5:30 PM-8:30 PM LOCATION: 2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington (Crystal City), VA 22202 PARKING: Garage and Street Parking available METRO: Crystal City Metro Station (Yellow and Blue Lines)

TICKETS: $20 Event tickets are ADVANCE PURCHASE until October 8th; LIMITED TICKETS will be sold at the door. Purchase tickets here: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=186321

Raffle Proceeds to Benefit:

The National Building Museum's Sustainability and School Program Funds, Washington, DC 40 Raffle items with a total value of over $14,500; winners do not have to be present!

Raffle tickets: 1 for $5 or 5 for $20.

Raffle tickets are ADVANCE PURCHASE until October 12th. Purchase raffle tickets here: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=186318

NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED AT THE EVENT, CASH BAR OR RAFFLE

Connect US Networking Event @ Geier Brown Renfrow

Another Great ConnectUS, hosted at the offices of Geier Brown Renfrow in Alexandria by Keith Good, of Burton Construction, Dorlise O'hara of American Office, and Joan Bixler of Bixler Studios. There was a lot of great food, drinks and NETWORKING!

On the Left: Phillip Renfrow, Principal of Geier Brown Renfrow, with Jillian Goode, Campaign Manager for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. On the Right: Bobby Croghan, of CROGS LC, Jen Cieslak, of Burton Construction, and Phillip Renfrow.

On the Left: Camilo Liorens Bearman, of Geier Brown Renfrow, Joseph McCoy, also with Geier Brown Renfrow, Phyllis Liebman, Construction Manager at Vornado, and Joy Clark, Project Manager at Cassidy & Pinkard. On the Right: Giving out the raffle's Keith Good, of Burton Constrction, and Joan Bixler of Bixler Studio's.

And the winner of the Raffle---On the Left: Gerardo Del Cojo, Interior Designer at the Design Management Group. On the Right: Rae Noritake, Principal of Noritake Associates.

On the Left: Rae Noritake, Principal of Noritake Associates with Erin Larkin of DCdesignBlog. On the Right: Camilo Liorens Bearman, of Geier Brown Renfrow, Justin Snyder, of OTJ, and Joseph McCoy, with Geier Brown Renfrow.

On the Left: Pamela Danner, Attorney at Danner & Associates with Donna Weisheit for Geier Brown Renfrow. On the Right: Nicole Calisti, Principal of Green Solutions, David Danner, President of Ideamatics, and Karen Luria of Interior Identity.

Geier Brown Renfrow Office Tour

ConnectUS this month was hosted by Geier Brown Renfrow Architects in Alexandria VA. Principal Phillip Renfrow, was kind enough to give me a tour of their new office. A lot of time and thought went into the design of their space, and they really wanted it to reflect who they are and how they work. Here are so photo's of the space and some of the philosophy behind the design provided to be by Phillip.

Phillip Our Main Idea was: We wanted an environment that says to others (and ourselves) that this is a place of creative activity.

1. Office will be LEED certified under the Version 2 Commercial Interiors rating system. We targeted Silver level, but are likely to end up with "Certified".

2. We decided on certification so that we would "practice what we preach" to our clients and gain greater familiarity with the mechanics of LEED certification.

3. Office design arose out of group discussions to determine what kind of workplace would best support how we want to practice as a firm.

4. Group consensus was to have areas for Focus (individual work) Collaboration (group work) Education (continuing education and study) and Social Interaction (lunch time,

special events). The office is configured to support these four functions.

5. The office layout is also configured to bring clients and visitors into the working areas of the office (without bringing them to our desks) to showcase how we work and involve them in our work process. The conference room is not located at the entry area but deeper within the office. Visitors attending a meeting are brought through the collaboration area.

6. The center collaboration area is similar to a residential concept where a single living space contains kitchen, work surface, seating & standing area, presentation space and lounge area. This central flex space allows for many varied uses and will change over time in character as we make use of it in different ways

7. The focus area has no private offices to promote community within the workspace area. Workstations are organized in groups to facilitate small discussions. Desks edges are open and provide space for quick discussions and small layout areas.

It is a great creative space, and I'm sure a pleasure to work in. Thanks for all the info Phillip!

News from Palindrome

Palindrome Lighting Design Principal, Mike Noon LC LEED AP, is now a Certified Interior Designer (CID) and ASID Professional. Says Mike, “It is important that consultants be well versed in the theory and current practice of design for the benefit of their Interior Design and Architecture clients, so the staff of Palindrome continually strives to learn and remain current on design and architecture trends and practices, along with breaking lighting technologies.” Associates Lora Moore and Maria Abapolnikova are also LEED AP certified. They are currently finishing design for the Cultural Mission of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, and the George Mason University Foundation Building, among other DC Metropolitan projects.

SAE Next Week- Pay Online!

Click here to RSVP!

Photo of the Week from Infinity Pix

Please enjoy this very cool image provided to us by Infinity PIX, it is photographed toothpick art! For more information, or to include something like this on one of your upcoming projects visit www.infinitypix.com.

Lisa Buchanan's Happy Hour at Agaria

Lisa Buchanan, of InterfaceFlor, hosted a happy hour last night at Agaria. She was showcasing some great new carpets, and a bunch of people came out! Take a look at the pics....

On the Left: All from OPX- Jennifer Speece, Teresa Skubel, and Jasmine Chestnut. On the Right: Lisa Buchanan, the host from InterfaceFlor and Erin Larkin of DCdesignBlog.

On the Left: Wes Enterline, Teresa Skubel from OPX, Ryan Langlois OPX. Paul McCusker Capital Hilton, and Brent Kruse. On the Right: Stephanie Clements of RTKL, Liz Wozny also from RTKL and Emilie K. Kyle a designer at DBI Architects.

Some of Interface's great new carpets!

Courtyard Marriott's Grand Opening

I attended last night the grand opening party for the Courtyard Marriott in Chevy Chase MD. I was invited by Ryan Langlois from OPX, who was on the project team for the Courtyard's $35 Million Dollar Rennovation. The property is designed to meet the criteria for the Gold LEED. The hotel’s “green” features include 100 percent renewable energy provided by wind power, which greatly reduces the operational carbon footprint; a reflective roof; energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems that do not use ozone-depleting refrigerants; energy-efficient windows; low-VOC adhesives, paints, carpets, and sealants; low-flow shower heads and dual-flush toilets; an energy management system; special parking for hybrid cars; a “bike-to-work” program for employees; a centralized recycling station for on-site sorting; and a solar-powered trash compactor. Take a look at some of the photos:

Check out more here: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasvy-courtyard-chevy-chase/

DWR Giveaway

Check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Design-Within-Reach/38598686549?v=app_10442206389&utm_content=Mix+or+Match++Chairs&utm_campaign=Sales/Promotions&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email#/pages/Design-Within-Reach/38598686549?v=wall

HD 2009 Sightings- Lusive dinner at the Setai

The owners of Lusive Decor were so kind as to host a lovely dinner for many of their clients at the Setai at HD.

On the Left: The Owners Jason and Sally Cooper, with Erin Larkin designer/DCdesignBlog. On the Right: Marlene Dennis Lusive Decor and Lisa League

On the Left: Alan & Leslie Lenart-Smith LEA Interiors On the Right:Erin Larkin of DCdesignBlog with Toby Schermerhorn of Cauhaus Design.

On the Left: Michael Osborn and Holly Dennis from Hughes Design On the Right: Sally Thomas Cooper from Lusive Decor Mary MacDonald from Macci Design

From Left to Right: Meghan Hanley, Marketing Director for Lusive Decor, Jason Cooper, owner of Lusive, Lynda Welte, a manufacturers rep for Lusive Decor with Blue Prints for Green Design, Sally Cooper, owner of Lusive Decor and Erin Larkin.