The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) proudly announces Marlene M. Liriano, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, as the 2016-2017 President of the IIDA International Board of Directors. Primo Orpilla, FIIDA, will serve as President-elect. Also elected to the board as Vice Presidents are Julio Braga, FIIDA, LEED AP; Gabrielle Bullock, IIDA, FAIA, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C; Susana Covarrubias, IIDA; and Scott Hierlinger, FIIDA, LEED AP ID+C. All will be inducted during the IIDA Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
“Marlene’s passion for design, her leadership at top global firms, and her expertise in the industry make her the ideal candidate to serve as the next President,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP. “Under Marlene’s leadership, the International Board of Directors brings together a group of design leaders who collectively have decades of experience and a deep understanding of the vision and mission of IIDA. They are all wonderful additions to our International Board, and we look forward to their contributions.”
For nearly three decades, Marlene M. Liriano, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, Managing Director of the Miami office of IA Interior Architects, has successfully delivered innovative design solutions that exceed her clients’ expectations. Liriano is a recipient of the 2014 Torch Award for distinguished alumni from the Florida International University College of Architecture and the Arts, the 2012 Best of Miami Architects and Designers from Miami Today, and the 2006 Interior Designer of the Year from the AIA Miami Chapter. She was recently bestowed the IIDA South Florida Chapter Interior Designer of the Year award and has played a vital role at IIDA, participating in the IIDA panel discussion, “The Culture of Work: A Global Perspective” at ORGATEC 2014, and as a juror for multiple IIDA design competitions.
Primo Orpilla, FIIDA, along with partner Verda Alexander, IIDA, is the President and Co-founder of Studio O+A. As a leader in the field of workplace environments, Studio O+A’s process emphasizes “democratic design” and translates a client’s individual narrative into design terms. Orpilla’s work has been recognized by more than 25 design competitions and has been featured in numerous industry publications. In 2015, Orpilla, together with Alexander, was inducted into Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame.
Julio Braga, FIIDA, LEED AP, Design Director and Principal at IA Interior Architects, has driven the growth and development of the New York office, winning major international and domestic projects, as well as notable design awards for the firm. His work is characterized by sharply efficient planning, a restrained design approach, and fluency in the language of environmental branding. He has served as a jury member for several IIDA design competitions and was President of the IIDA International Board of Directors from 2014-2015.
As Principal and Director of Global Diversity at Perkins + Will, Gabrielle Bullock, IIDA, FAIA, NOMA, LEED AP BD+C, has contributed to the firm’s success for more than 26 years. She has spent her career focusing on complex and socially significant projects in the U.S. and globally. As a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), Gabrielle is an advocate for advancing diversity initiatives within architecture. Most recently, she was a speaker at the IIDA Industry Roundtable 19, which tackled the topic of diversity in the design industry.
With more than 20 years of experience, Susana Covarrubias, IIDA, Studio Director and Creative Director at Gensler, has built a diverse design portfolio that includes workplace, hospitality, retail, residential, and building repositioning. She has received more than 25 design awards and more than 35 articles have been authored by her or published about her projects. She has served as a guest lecturer and adjunct faculty member at local and international universities, and is a regular participant in student mentoring programs.
As the Design Director and Co-Principal of NELSON’s Minneapolis office, Scott Hierlinger, FIIDA, LEED AP ID+C, serves as an expert in corporate design with 21 years of experience. His strong interior design background has allowed him to provide creative and integrated project services to high-profile regional and national interior design projects. Within NELSON, Hierlinger co-chairs the NELSON Design Consortium and is the Minneapolis lead of the NELSON Legal Practice Team. Hierlinger served as the President of the IIDA International Board of Directors from 2015-2016.
New members to the International Board of Directors will be joining Edwin Beltran, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, Principal, Interior Architecture and Design Practice, NBBJ; Jeff Fenwick, Ind. IIDA, President and Chief Operating Officer, Tarkett North America; James Kerrigan, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, Design Principal of Interiors, Jacobs; and Doug Shapiro, Ind. IIDA, Director of Sales – Workplace | A+D, OFS Brands.