Late last month, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) honored four designers who have made significant contributions toward the advancement of the profession at its annual ceremony at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel.
Honorees Barbara Barry and Robert Wright
Robert Wright, FASID, received the Designer of Distinction Award. A true advocate for the design profession and interior design education, Wright is a former national President of ASID, and has served on the ASID and CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) boards. He is also an active volunteer with local community non-profit organizations, including the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation.
The Nancy Vincent McClelland Merit Award was presented to Linda Sorrento, FASID, IIDA, LEED-AP BD+C. A deep concern for how interior environments affect human health and performance has influenced every facet of Linda Sorrento’s career as an interior designer, educator and sustainable design advocate. She currently leads the National Academy of Environmental Design (NAED) as its executive director and was previously the senior director of education for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), where she helped develop the REGREEN residential remodeling guidelines in partnership with ASID.
MASS Design Group, a nonprofit architectural firm, was given the Design for Humanity Award. The firm designs, builds and advocates for buildings that improve lives,from Rwanda and Uganda to Haiti and the U.S. It focuses on leveraging architecture and design to become an engine for better health, economic growth and long-term, systemic sustainability. MASS’s philosophy hinges on the adage that design is never neutral, it can either help or it can hurt—and they insist every design decision approaches or achieves the former.
Gala celebration at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel
Finally, the Innovation Award went to the Health Product Declaration Collaborative—a customer-led organization for companies and individuals committed to the improvement of the built industry’s environmental and health performance through transparency and innovation in the product supply chain. The mission of the HPDC is to increase the availability and accuracy of reported product content and associated health information. By providing a common language, it levels the playing field, helping manufacturers communicate important data so customers can make fully informed decisions about specifying, purchasing, installing and using products.
The Society’s 2013 Class of Fellows were also honored at the event, including: Barbara Barry, FASID; Julie Schulte, FASID; LuAnn Thoma-Holec, FASID; and Rick Peluso, Hon. FASID.
Emmy Award-winning television host, interior designer and author Mark Brunetz hosted the evening. The event also included a live and silent auction with all proceeds benefiting the ASID Foundation and The 1% program of Public Architecture.
The ASID Design Award honorees, selected by a notable panel of design leaders, included Kirsten Childs, FASID; Penny Bonda, FASID; Kia Weatherspoon, Allied ASID; Mei Mah, deputy director of education for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum; and John Czarnecki, editor in chief of Contract magazine.
