Award-winning architecture design and strategy firm NELSON Worldwide has named Haril A. Pandya as senior vice president and managing director of the Boston office. Read more here.

In a recent iOffice Workplace Innovator Podcast titled “A Conversation about the Forces Changing How We Use Office Space”, teammate David Wagner and other industry leaders discussed their perspectives on the future of the workplace for both traditional and coworking spaces. Check out this audio edit of the broadcast and then download the video of the full conversation including a fascinating Q&A time with these experts!

Architecture, design and strategy firm Nelson Worldwide has announced Loren Nelson as its new vice president, market leader and national leader of multifamily sales. He will work to establish the firm’s multifamily and residential market presence both on the West Coast and nationally, with a focus on multifamily housing, affordable housing, student housing, market-rate housing and senior living. Read more with Business of Home here.

CHICAGO – July 8, 2024 — Award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm NELSON Worldwide is pleased to announce its relocation to a new office space in Chicago. Situated on the 17th floor of 30 West Monroe in the Loop, the new office underscores the significance of streamlining space to foster collaboration among employees to cultivate impactful work. Relocating within the same building as its previous space, NELSON remains in the heart of the city in close proximity to both clients and commuting employees.

In embracing a hybrid work model, NELSON sought an office tailored to their evolving spatial demands. Deliberately downsized to 6,000 square feet, the new office brings in-office colleagues closer together, offering workspaces and amenities that cater to individual needs and preferences.

NELSON reimagined the spec suite to seamlessly accommodate the team’s workflows and operational requirements, while infusing it with personality and color. Despite the reduction in size, the gains for the NELSON team are substantial as the new space offers enhanced functionality and amenities. Recognizing the importance of collaborative and client-facing areas, the team incorporated a charette room and a conference room tailored for client meetings into the new office layout. The absence of these spaces in their previous office setup emphasized their importance as additions to the new space. Alongside additional huddle spaces equipped with AV capabilities, it boasts two private wellness rooms, a welcoming lounge area, and a café with abundant seating. Drawing inspiration from hospitality and residential design, the new space exudes comfort and versatility.

The reception area showcases a captivating mural by local artist Beth Swanson. Embracing sustainable practices, NELSON will be reselling all previous furniture in an effort to give them a second life, while furnishings in the new space are sourced second-hand. Through thoughtful design, the new office provides an ideal environment for NELSON employees to flourish.

Many large employers are planning to increase their internship hiring by more than 22% in 2022, according to a new study from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Read more with Philadelphia Inquirer here.

This pandemic is unlike anything we’ve seen before and has forced architects and designers to take a more critical eye to our projects in every industry, especially healthcare. The sad realization is, history repeats itself, but this is our chance to evaluate and make changes today that will have a significant impact in the future.

So how can we help?

According to U.S. Army researchers, harsh cleaners must be used every two hours to keep hospital surfaces free of bacteria such as MRSA and VRE. For many facilities, this frequency of environmental services is just improbable. Therefore, the critical decisions that go into interior solutions for hospitals must offer opportunities to minimize the effects of contagions. When selecting materials and fixtures, healthcare interior designers have the responsibility to uphold the most stringent infection control standards.

Here are a few smart and healthy interior design solutions for clinical spaces:

1. Paint Shield/Registered Anti-Microbial Paint kills 99.9 percent of Staph, MRSA, E. coli, VRE, and Enterobacter aerogenes within two hours of exposure on painted surfaces and continues fighting for up to four years post application.
2. Copper fixtures and copper-infused mesh or upholstery on furniture mitigates bacterial and viral transmissions, while copper-filled composite hard surfaces and linens have proven to reduce the number of hospital acquired infections.
3. Silver Ion Technology is integrated into many coatings, polymers, and textiles at the molecular level of the product and not susceptible to wash-offs. This antimicrobial technology can be specified for common hospital fixtures including light switches, door handles, water tanks, bed rails, storage containers, bedding, gowns, cubicle curtains and carpet.
4. Lighting Fixtures with Disinfection Technology should be used in high-acuity spaces. Fixture current’s disinfection capabilities are safe for human use and kill up to 99.7 percent of common surface pathogens over an eight-hour period.
5. The Three I’s: Integral, Impervious, Impermeable. Seal nooks and crannies to eliminate hard-to-reach contaminants in patient areas and specify integral sinks and wall bases. Mitigate the opportunities for surface-borne pathogens with impervious hard counter surfaces. And improve cleanability with impermeable upholstery on patient and family seating.

As we enter the post-COVID-19 world, it is clear that we must harmonize design with infection control standards. These are a few easy-to-implement strategies that can be used in a wide array of solutions without ever compromising patient safety or design.

The FRCH NELSON Creative Culture Committee took some lucky FRCH-ers on a field trip last week to the Cincinnati Art Museum to experience the art of Pakistani-American artist Anila Quayyum Agha. The exhibit entitled, All the Flowers Are for Me (Red), was created using laser-cut steel and light. Light emanates from the red lacquered cube, enveloping the gallery in intricate shadows that ripple and change as visitors move through the space. A few FRCH-ers share their reactions to the stunning display:

“I was surrounded by only light and shadow…It was one of most magnificent installation that can calm the agitations of our soul.” ~ Heesun Kim

“For something so out of its element, amazed how the exhibition seemed to fit the space so perfectly; simply poetic. Wonder if this is how the others viewed the artist considering her description of the two different worlds she felt she was living in.” ~ Elizabeth Birkenhauer

“A stunning display of light and shadow. It created a completely immersive yet out of this world experience.” ~ Allison Schmid

“Light lands on all surfaces, reflecting what it’s gone through.” ~ Lawrence Song

“The object floated weightlessly in the air, casting a mesmerizing effect onto every surface.The guests became entwined with the art. Light and shadow danced across each passerby, the intricacies manipulated differently onto each form.” ~ Liz Baverman

If you have not already, we highly recommend checking out this uniquely beautiful exhibit. The exhibition is free to the public and runs until October 15th.

On a recent business trip I had the fortunate (and rare) encounter to have a few brief minutes to walk around between meetings. My first opportunity took me between Robertson Boulevard. I have to admit it’s been a while since I have made it to this area of LA…and at first I was disheartened…Robertson Boulevard, my how you have changed! While my beloved Chanel store still stands with its beautiful open air courtyard, it is flanked by endless “available” storefronts. The good news is that a short walk down Melrose, produced pockets of wonderful new retail and restaurants. And in true West Hollywood style, they vary from the refined design district with beautiful modern California architecture and storefronts, to the lush Marc Jacobs and Bookmarc’s buildings at Melrose Avenue, to the individual gritty and artful boutiques which remind us of the individual spirit and art that is inherently LA. And thankfully after cruising up Roberston Boulevard, I now instantly felt “in LA”. I had lunch in this area at a great little restaurant called Au Fudge – where fresh food meets creativity and if you are up for it, craft. The style is old meets new, white space met with brilliant accents that brought a refined touch to this little artsy niche, area of LA.

The following day took me along Abbot Kinney and Venice Boulevard….again, the richness of individuality, the crafted nature of the storefronts, interiors and boutiques, juxtaposed with a few refined restaurants reinforced the creative and laid-back side that LA has to offer. It’s refreshing to see both start-up boutiques as well as more established brands embrace a more laissez-faire attitude. When one thinks of LA, the formality and luxury definitely come to mind, but these artful pockets remind one instantly of the free spirit and creative entrepreneurship that exists here as well…how refreshing!