Monday, July 13, 2009

Jill Passes NCIDQ Test, Earns Licensure




Jill Williams, an Interior Designer with HMS Architects, recently passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination and earned the prestigious NCIDQ Certificate. With this, she also became a licensed Interior Designer with the Louisiana Office of the Governor State Board of Examiners of Interior Designers on 6/19/09.

Passage of the Examination and earning NCIDQ credential signifies that Mrs. Williams has met the standards for education, experience and examination for interior designers in North America. A minimum of six years of combined education and experience is required before being eligible to take the practice-based Examination. The NCIDQ Examination is a rigorous, three-part examination requiring examinees to demonstrate competence in a wide variety of aspects that affect the safety of the interior environment. The examination covers programming, schematic design, design development, contract documents, contract administration and professional practice, among many other related topics such as codes, sustainability and universal design.

NCIDQ has long been the standard to identify those interior designers who are uniquely qualified to protect the public health, safety and welfare, explains Deborah Steinmetz, 2009 NCIDQ President. The NCIDQ certificate is the mark of a professional, and this credential is what every user of a space should look for when choosing or working with an Interior Designer.

Monday, July 6, 2009

HMS Architects receive IIDA Award of Excellence





New Orleans, La. June 27, 2009 – HMS Architects was presented with a Award of Excellence by the Delta Regional Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) for their work in the interior design of the Shaver Theater at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Most Highly Regarded Award in the Design Industry IIDA’s Annual Interior Design Competition recognizes outstanding Interior Design and encourages new ideas and techniques in the design and furnishing of interior spaces.

“The winning projects range in size and scope but all exemplify IIDA’s mission to enhance the quality of life through innovation and excellence in interior design.” - Viveca Bissonnette, IIDA, CID, LEED AP, IIDA Vice President of Communications

Jill R. Williams, Designer representing HMS Architects received the award for the renovation design of the Shaver Theater on Saturday June 27 @ the Lowe's Hotel in New Orleans. The Shaver Theater is located in the Music and Dramatic Arts building on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge, La. This large Italian Renaissance building is recognized in the State Register of Historic Places.

The Shaver Theater had a series of prior additions and renovations resultant in a discordant mishmash of space. HMS Architects restored the visual balance and enhanced the distinctive art deco element of the original 400 seat theater and main lobby. This jewel of a theater can be viewed at http://www.hmsarchitects.com/01-001.xml.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

HMS Bolsters Its Green Building Credentials, Yet Again.





HMS Architects Damien Job and Michael Buisson have sucessfully completed the LEED Accredited Professional test, through the Green Building Certification Institute. Their achievement propels HMS Architects to rank among the most qualified LEED Savvy architectural firms in Louisiana. Damien and Michael join Scott Welty, Nate Walker, Michael Vega, and Amy Savoie at HMS in the pursuit of green building practices as LEED Accredited Professionals.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, sets specific benchmarks and standards to define and measure the environmentally friendly aspects of buildings. A certified LEED AP can help to streamline the process, having demonstrated sufficient knowledge and the strategies of making a LEED Certified Building.

More about LEED Projects done by HMS
More about LEED AP's at GBCI
More about LEED at USGBC