MC Hunter Kaiser and ASID-IL Pres. Jessica Henn Suh

9.17.12 | Chicago, IL | The American Society of Interior Designers — Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) honored the winners of the ninth annual Design Excellence Award Competition at their Celebration of Design Gala Friday, Sept. 14, in Griffith Court of the Art Institute of Chicago.
 
Every detail of the celebratory fête was imbued with the overarching theme of the art of design. The evening brought together more than 230 influential design industry professionals to a fitting locale — the remarkable Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing. Decked out in their finest art-chic/creative cocktail attire, the design leaders and enthusiasts kicked off the event with a cocktail reception, which was crowned by a viewing of two artworks by Japanese artist Tetsuya Noda, both of which are new museum acquisitions made possible by a special grant provided by the chapter.
 

John Rouse, Jessica Henn Suh, Joyce Romanoff

The evening continued with an elegant seated dinner topped off by the 2012 Design Excellence Awards ceremony. Masterfully emceed by Hunter Kaiser, ASID, of Hunter Kaiser: Creative for Life, the program recognized the ASID-IL membership for professional excellence and celebrated the chapter’s tremendous body of work by championing the industry’s continuing success. The 2012 Design Excellence Awards were presented to honorees that excelled in the areas of Contract and Residential design.  In addition, top awards were presented for Best of Design in Contract and Residential design.
 
2012 ushered in a notable renovation of the competition. Firstly, designers and/or firms submitted up to six entries in 23 multidisciplinary categories: contract, residential, product design and sustainable design. Furthermore, in an effort to conserve materials and streamline entries, the submission process was moved online. Finally, two all-expense-paid trips to Spain and two cash honoraria were awarded to winners in the Contract and Residential design categories.
 
The submissions were carefully and anonymously judged by a distinguished panel of industry powerhouses including: Spes Mekus, ASID, IIDA, LEED AP, commercial interior designer and past ASID-IL president; Joyce Romanoff, ASID Industry Partner and president of the Maya Romanoff Corporation; Frank Ponterio, ASID, IIDA, historic restoration expert and principal Frank Ponterio Interior Design; John E. Martin-Rutherford, Ph.D., IDEC, ASID, IIDA, chair of Interior Design Masters and Undergraduate Interior Design Programs at Harrington College of Design in Chicago.
 
The evening’s Diamond Sponsor was Cosentino. Gold sponsors were Holly Hunt and Legrand. Media sponsorship was provided by Contract Magazine. The in-kind sponsor was the Design Center at the Merchandise Mart.
 
The complete list of winning designer projects is detailed below.
 
Best of Contract Design
 
First Place
Category: Corporate Office 3,000-10,000 square feet
Designer: Nicholas J. Luzietti, IIDA, VOA Associates Incorporated
Project: Sasser
  
First Place
Category: Corporate Office over 10,000 square feet
Designer: Tim Wolfe, Perkins + Will
Project: Confidential Trading Firm
 
First Place
Category: Retail
Designer: Aimee Nemeckay, Allied ASID, Susan Fredman Design Group
Project: Whitefish Bay
 
Honorable Mention
Category: Retail
Designer: Charles Sparks, IIDA, Charles Sparks + Company
Project: Barnes Foundation
  
First Place
Category: Hospitality
Designer: Tom Stringer, IIDA, Tom Stringer Design Partners
Project: Restaurant
  
Honorable Mention
Category: Hospitality
Designer: Gary Lee, Gary Lee Partners
Project: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Chicago
 
First Place
Category: Healthcare
Designer: Margi Kaminski, ASID, RTKL Associates
Project: Central DuPage Hospital
 
Honorable Mention
Category: Healthcare
Designer: Joseph P. Hassel, IIDA, Perkins Eastman
Project: The Mission

First Place
Category: Education
Designer: Thomas C. Panzica, ASID, Panzica Architecture Group
Project: South Bend Career Academy
 
First Place
Category: Small Project under 3,000 square feet
Designer: Sharon Exley, Associate ASID, Architecture is Fun
Project: St. Chrysostom
 
Best of Residential Design
 
First Place
Category: Kitchen
Designer: Shawna Dillon, ASID, Snaidero Chicago
Project: Lemont Kitchen
 
First Place
Category: Historic Preservation
Designer: Susan Fredman, ASID & Aimee Nemeckay, Allied ASID, Susan Fredman Design Group
Project: Wilmette 

First Place
Category: Under 3,000 square feet
Designer: Tom Stringer, IIDA, Tom Stringer Design Partners
Contract: Private Home E
 
First Place
Category: Over 3,000 square feet
Designer: Tom Stringer, IIDA, Tom Stringer Design Partners
Project: Private Home B 

Honorable Mention
Category: Over 3,000 square feet
Designer: David Kaufman and Tom Segal, Kaufman Segal Design
Project: East Lakeview Residence
 
First Place
Category: Showcase or Special Function
Designer: Tom Stringer, IIDA, Tom Stringer Design Partners
Project: Corporate Entertainment Facility
 
Honorable Mention
Category: Showcase or Special Function
Designer: Gary Lee, Gary Lee Partners
Project: The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Chicago

Best of Contract Design
Designer: Nicholas J. Luzietti, IIDA, VOA Associates Incorporated
Project: Sasser
 
Best of Residential Design
Designer: Tom Stringer, IIDA, Tom Stringer Design Partners
Project: Private Home B
 
Sub-Zero/Wolf Cash Honoraria
 
Contract
Designer: Aimee Nemeckay, Allied ASID, Susan Fredman Design Group
Project: Whitefish Bay
 
Residential
Designer: Shawna Dillon, ASID, Snaidero Chicago
Project: Lemont Kitchen
 
Cosentino All-Expense-Paid Trips to Spain
 
Contract
Designer: Margi Kaminski, ASID, RTKL Associates
Project: Central DuPage Hospital
 
Residential
Designer: Shawna Dillon, ASID, Snaidero Chicago
Project: Lemont Kitchen
 
About ASID-IL:
 
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is a community of people — designers, industry representatives, educators and students — committed to interior design. Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change people’s lives. Its more than 30,000 members engage in a variety of professional programs and activities through a network of 48 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.
 
The American Society of Interior Designers - Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) is a professional association representing the interests of more than 1,100 Illinois interior designers, students and design industry partner members. Its vision is to be the voice of design in Illinois, to provide information through quality, timely communications, to educate its members and clients and to grow and support market expansion. ASID-IL is led by a volunteer board that includes the Chapter's president, president-elect, five directors and a student representative.” Please visit http://asidillinois.com/ for more information.