Lida Lewis
PASSIONATE DESIGNER
EDUCATOR | THOUGHT LEADER
Community Preservation Development Corporation
The Community Preservation Development Corporation (CPDC) is an organization with a "CPDC’s singular mission to develop vibrant communities through innovation and partnership. As a preferred developer, we tackle tough deals that many would find impossible – from adapting abandoned schools for reuse to preserving historical buildings that have become symbols of urban blight."
I had the pleasure of working with CPDC to move them from a not very healthy "home" to a new, light, bright facility in Silver Spring, MD.
This wonderful group of real estate developers, community managers, and community impact strategists are a driving force for community development in the DC Metro region. They'd only recently done a major redesign of their brand concept, and as you can tell this was a prime focus for integration into the new site.
On this project, as with most of my work, I worked from the inception of the project--on test fitting and building selection with the brokers and client--on through the full document development, and construction administration on site. I know I'm in the right profession, because I truly enjoy all phases pf project design! I've learned so much from those surrounding this process--from brokers to the contractors on site. And one of the best things about interior design is how much you get to learn about, and learn from, those "messy variables"--your client! From CEO and CFO, to the community managers, to the IT and admin staff. Learning from them is what makes our work interesting.
The work we completed truly highlighted the "grow and thrive" theme, borrowing colors, patterns, and a feeling which infuses the space with the CPDC brand identity, extended into the hallway with a three dimensional interpretation of the logo. I was able to source a vendor who could create custom supergraphics for our entry--which feels lively and inviting, even without a reception desk. I also had a lot of fun designing an interior lunchroom that, with its bright colors, acoustically enhancing hanging felt wall panels, and biophilia inspired ceiling layout (designed to look like a growing embodiment of the plant and flower themes of the brand), is just as inviting as a window line space. This helped to maximize the exterior window line space for workstations and meeting space, with windows on interior offices that access a large quantity of light over the lowered workstation panels.
