November 20, 2019

Interior Design Hosts Inaugural Cocktail Party to Celebrate PowerGrid VIPs

Last night, Interior Design hosted a lively cocktail party at the new Boies Schiller Flexner headquarters, designed by Schiller Projects, in Hudson Yards. The occasion? A celebration of the 56 firms that made the magazine’s third-annual New York PowerGrid list, which ranks top firms based on total square footage of current development projects and those completed in the past 18 months in the five boroughs.  

The event afforded the elite group of designers, architects, developers, and manufacturers an opportunity to mingle with peers as they sipped the evening’s signature cocktail—an orange-hued Apple Ginger Mule—and sampled bites of vegetarian sushi and tuna poke, among other treats. Interior Design Editor in Chief Cindy Allen welcomed guests by acknowledging the work that goes into creating the PowerGrid projects, smiling as she asked, “Do you feel powerful? Her question was met with resounding cheers.     

Throughout the evening, Aaron Schiller, principal of Schiller Projects, walked attendees through Boies Schiller Flexner’s expansive cafe, designed to foster collaboration, complete with views of the nearby Equinox Hotel and the Vessel from the 19th floor of the tower by KPF. The three-level space, which features a striking spiral staircase and custom ceiling installation made of thousands of beaded strands, heralds a new era for the international law practice, which relocated from Midtown to Hudson Yards.  

Photography by Matthew Carasella.

PowerGrid VIPs welcomed the opportunity to step back and connect over cocktails in the unique space. “I see a lot of friends here,” said Stephen Hill, partner at Hill West Architects—the top-ranking PowerGrid firm. “It’s a great event, since most of us don’t normally have an opportunity to talk to each other like this.”

Paris Forino, founder of the firm by the same name, echoed this sentiment. “It’s always fun coming to events like this,” she said. “And the space is beautiful.”

Representatives from the evening’s sponsors—Bolon, Hunter Douglas, JANUS et Cie, and Sonneman–A Way of Light—were also on hand to enjoy the festivities. “Tonight’s event brings us closer to New York’s design and architecture community, which is what we’re all about,” said Matthew Sonneman, director of sales and market development for the lighting firm.

As the event drew to a close, guests lingered by the oval-shaped bar area, which also functions as a reception desk and coffee station. “It takes a lot of good will these days—a lot of positivity, commitment, and a lot of patience to do what you do every day in terms of building,” Allen reminded everyone in the room. “We appreciate your love and commitment, and the power that design has to transform.” 

> Watch video highlights from the event

> See PowerGrid research

A special thanks to our sponsors who made this event possible: 

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