As we continue our hard work on NBC Sports Group's Broadcast Facility in Stamford, CT., I'm thrilled to be a part of our team's incredibly collaborative design process. Responding to highly technical requirements while aspiring to aesthetic excellence has led to an open design dialogue among all team members in an integrated "atelier". Hats off to all who've contributed to date: Kristi Bernick; David Campana, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP; Aris Carlot; Amanda Colonna, LEED AP; Johanna Devia; Jeremiah Hancock, Assoc. AIA LEED AP; Mark Harbick, AIA, IIDA, LEED AP; Michael Kirn, AIA; and Michael Santilli.
Mancini Duffy/TSC employees enjoyed an evening of festive glamour last night while attending the Interior Design Magazine Hall of Fame at the Waldorf Astoria. Everyone was dressed to impress but especially one of our most talented designers, Heather L. Groff. Groff was adorned in her very own hand-sewn sheer gown made entirely of the iconic Mira Knoll fabric. Thank you Knoll for supplying the beautiful fabric and thanks Heather for showing off your awesome talents and eye for style!
Mancini-DuffyTSC designer, Heather L. Groff in Heather L. Groff gown constructed of Mira Sheer by Knoll Textiles
Mancini-DuffyTSC designers, Amanda Colonna, Heather L. Groff and Kristi Bernick
Cheers!
The central seating area (Peter Paige Photography).
Our renovation of University of Rochester’s Danforth Dining Hall, based on ARAMARK’s “Fresh Food Company” concept, is getting plenty of press – go here to see what their amazing chefs are up to (a far cry from the spooky Salisbury steak one may remember as standard dining hall fare in the past) or here to see coverage of ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new dining hall.
Our renovation of University of Rochester’s Danforth Dining Hall, based on ARAMARK’s “Fresh Food Company” concept, is getting plenty of press – go here to see what their amazing chefs are up to (a far cry from the spooky Salisbury steak one may remember as standard dining hall fare in the past) or here to see coverage of ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new dining hall.
On October 11th, Georgi Hubenov and I attended a press conference to announce a new facility for the First Tee Junior Learning Center at Weequahic Park in Newark, NJ. The First Tee is an organization whose mission statement is “to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.”
When we were approached in 2008 and asked to assist the First Tee with the design of their new facility by donating architectural services, we were excited for the opportunity to give to the community and be associated with the organization. At that time they were conducting their operations out of a portable trailer on a formerly blighted area of Weequahic Park. After exploring several options, it was determined that the best course of action would be to create a 1,600-square-foot addition to the existing clubhouse at the golf course. The new facility will include an indoor golf instruction area as well as a computer lab.
Construction on the facility has begun and is expected to be complete by the year’s end, we are very proud to be associated with this project.
To read more, click here.
The Alcott Ballroom at Boston’s Omni Parker House
On the evening of Friday, September 23rd, I had the pleasure of attending the DDI Portfolio Awards ceremony at Boston’s Omni Parker House.
What a perfect venue for this! Parker House originally dates back to 1855 and was rebuilt as it stands today in 1927. It is indeed a grand old hotel.
Mancini•Duffy was cited for Bloomingdale’s Santa Monica as the Best-Designed Store of 2011. Coincidentally, Santa Monica Place was cited as the Best-Designed Shopping Center of 2011. The awards were based on reader feedback which makes the award one of peer recognition.
Our firm was in good company with retail luminaries such as Harry Callahan of Saks Fifth Avenue and Giorgio Borruso among those cited as industry influencers.
To download a PDF that shows all of the 2011 DDI Portfolio Awards, go here. (Bloomingdale's in on page 19.)
We truly are overwhelmed by all the recognition Bloomingdale’s Santa Monica has gained since its opening a little over a year ago! We couldn’t ask for a better client.
Mancini•Duffy Principal Alan Dandron has been a busy fellow. As President of the IIDA New York Chapter beginning in 2010, he took as his theme “The Value of Design,” bringing home the message that design is more than a question of aesthetic choices – it’s a differentiator that can have a positive impact on a client’s bottom line. Events put on by the IIDA New York during Alan’s tenure were almost too many to count, ranging from the 2010 Color Invasion party to the 3rd Annual Sustainable Quilt Auction to IIDA Forum Events certified for both IIDA and AIA CEU credits.
Clearly the work of the New York Chapter with Alan at the helm has paid off – at the IIDA Annual Meeting, held in Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Art this past June, the New York Chapter was honored with five awards, including Large Chapter of the Year. (You can read more about the event in the IIDA’s newsletter DesignMatters here.) Much more important, this year’s events raised money for all sorts of good causes from the IIDA’s student scholarship fund to the Fiver Children’s Foundation.
The Presidency runs from August to August and so, in July, after a year of hard work, Alan passed the torch to Lance Amato of Conant Architects. During the event, which was hosted by the Kimball Office New York Showroom, Alan addressed the crowd “with grace and humor” – in the words of Jeanette Rodriguez, IIDA writing in officeinsight – and thanked the many corporate partners who provided program support. To read more, see the story in officeinsight (login required) or to see pictures of the event, check out Kimball’s blog and Flickr page.
So hats off to Alan for all his hard work! And hopefully he gets a little vacation.
Past President/Advisor of the IIDA New York Chapter Alan Dandron, IIDA, LEED AP with new President Lance Amato, IIDA, LEED AP at the IIDA Annual Meeting in Chicago (thanks to the IIDA for the use of this image).
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