ASID design winners noted
Several Milwaukee-area architectural and design firms were recognized for their work at the American Society of Interior Designers Design Competition 2002 awards ceremony.
The celebration was held Feb. 6 at the Broadway Theater Center in Milwaukee. Award-winning projects in the commercial category include the Sharon Lynde Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin NICU, Motion Fitness & Racquet Club, and Design North Inc. in Racine
The Wisconsin ASID chapter entered 53 residential and commercial projects in the 2002 competition – its largest number of entries in several years, said Nancy Miller, spokeswoman for the chapter.
"Firms are doing good projects, and they want to be recognized," she said.
The Sharon Lynde Wilson Center for the Arts won a Gold award – the competition’s highest honor. A team of designers and artists working under the direction of Engberg Anderson Design Partnership Inc. created a facility that reflected the outdoor park environment in which the building is located, said Joanne Johnson, Engberg’s head of design.
The building is located at Mitchell Park in Brookfield and also serves as an educational facility for the Elmbrook School System.
"The center is designed to bridge the downtown Milwaukee art scene including the art museum, ballet and conservatory of music with the suburbs," Johnson said.
The center’s look took the form of a lodge in a park, and designers incorporated natural materials such as stone and wood into the center’s interior design. Warm, natural colors were used to complement the wood used, including the high-peaked wood ceiling in the lobby.
The auditorium features wood ceilings and cherry paneling, and slate flooring was placed throughout. The carper and seating fabric feature warm green tones and patterns that are reminiscent of leaves.
Since the center was built for the arts, Engberg’s design team worked with Wisconsin artists to decorate the center with local art. Susan Falkman created the 40-foot limestone fireplace in the center’s lobby. It depicts dancers in abstract form. Steven Feren designed blown glass birds that hang like a chandelier from the ceiling of the auditorium. The sculpture is lit by fiber optics, producing the illusion that the birds are flying, Johnson said. Michael Gross created the theater-themed ceramic tiles in the corridors and restrooms.
Johnson credits the interaction between interior designers and artists with the creating a unique structure worthy of ASID’s highest honor.
"The integration of art, architecture and interior design was the most unique aspect of the project," she said. "Our ideas played off each other and generated new ideas."
ASID is the nation’s oldest and largest professional organization for interior designers. Its 32,000 members include interior designers, students and industry partners who practice commercial, residential, medical and restaurant design. The Wisconsin chapter provides learning sessions, tours, awards and community service opportunities to its members.
May 2, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
