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Shaw Contract Group Honors Design Excellence

This year's winners are Envision Design, Gensler, MCM Interiors, OWP/P, SABArchitects and Nell Studio, VOA Associates, and Partridge Architects.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 8/14/2008 12:00:00 AM

Shaw Contract Group has thrust seven firms into the spotlight as the commercial flooring manufacturer once again honors projects for design excellence in its third annual Design Is… award program.

Winners in this year’s competition are Envision Design, Gensler, MCM Interiors, OWP/P, SABArchitects and Nell Studio, and VOA Associates. Partridge Architects snagged the People's Choice award by besting 12 other finalists in a contest on the Shaw Contract Group Web site, where 5,000 votes were cast during the months of June and July.

The honored firms will be recognized in Shaw's upcoming advertising campaign and receive an original award sculpted by Bruce Mau Design. A $2,000 scholarship in the name of each winning firm will also be awarded to the program or organization of the firm's choosing.

"The Design Is… award continues to promote successful design strategies that are improving the work of clients, while allowing those that inhabit these spaces to realize a greater purpose and meaning for their activities," says John Stephens, Shaw Contract Group’s vice president of marketing.

Moderating this year’s judging was Cheryl Durst, executive vice president and CEO of the International Interior Design Association. The jury panel consisted of Kelly Bauer, CEO of Richard + Bauer CEO; Dan Lee, vice president of Halff Associates; Pam Light, senior vice president at HOK; John Lijewski, senior vice president and interior design executive at Bank of America; and Jack Weber, owner and principal at Gresham, Smith, and Partners.

"We hope that by announcing and promoting the winners of this year's competition, [we] will inspire other organizations to rethink their role in smart design as a contribution to quality of life, and the realization of human potential in every setting," adds Stephens.

From top: VOA Associates renovation of RMB Capital Management's office in Chicago. MCM Interiors' Burnaby, Canada office for Electronic Arts.

Images courtesy of Shaw Contract Group