On Thursday, May 12, at the American Society of Interior Designers Georgia Chapter’s (ASID GA) 36th Annual Design Excellence Awards, IA’s Atlanta office took home the gold in the category of Large Corporate projects for the McKesson headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. And, proving that lightning can strike twice in the same place, the Atlanta design team took silver in the same category for SapientNitro’s office in Miami—a project that earlier this year won the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Georgia Chapter’s b.o.b. Award (Best of the Best) for large corporate projects.

Gold for McKesson

“The McKesson Richmond headquarters was a large, fast-paced, and very collaborative process,” says Senior Designer David Ramsey. “It was a pleasure to work on a project where the client, project management, construction team, and IA team put so much thought, care, and wellbeing into every aspect of the design.”

Project initiation began with a week of strategy sessions to identify McKesson’s key planning and design drivers. As a leader in the healthcare field, McKesson wanted to enrich the employee experience by providing a variety of alternative work areas, as well as a wellness program. IA‘s open plan provides 15 different zones, including flexible workstations with multiple choices for desking and work surfaces, and lounge group layouts positioned throughout. User-centric design features include activity zones, sit/stand options, outdoor spaces, relaxation areas, and micro kitchens with healthy snacks —all features which are contributing to anticipated WELL Building certification. A tiered training room and an IT store, similar in concept to an Apple Store, are additional features.

Silver for SapientNitro

For digital advertising agency SapientNitro in Miami, the goal was to engage both staff and visitors with a heightened sense of activity and brand awareness. IA’s design for 54,000 square feet of dynamic space is easily followed along a “Main Street” corridor that showcases product development and process through work zone neighborhoods, collaborative areas, and hubs of creative activity. One feature, dubbed Creative Crates, offers areas with different amenities and technology, where work may be carried out individually or by group. Other features among many are a game room, a theater, media editing suites, and a design center.

To craft contiguous space, the IA team consolidated several local office bays and a parking lot, combining a modern aesthetic with rough, reclaimed architectural elements and the uniquely decorative relief of the existing concrete structure. Strategically located to embrace the surrounding Coconut Grove community, the grand entry is expressed through a towering, two-story, red glass vestibule that opens into an atrium lobby and café that references a hospitality setting—there is no reception desk.

IA senior designer Alexandra Miller says, “The SapientNitro Miami project reflects the wonderful collaboration between IA and Sapient, particularly, our partnership with the local creative team. By working together to create a shared vision for the space, we produced a dynamic work environment that truly reflects the Sapient brand and culture.”