HDR has tapped five senior interior designers to serve as interior design practice leaders in order to provide expanded leadership to its growing interior design practice. These individuals—Leah Bauer, Kevin Lynch, Amy Mays, Julie Robertson and Chad Wilkey—will collaborate to ensure a consistent approach to the firm-wide design vision and process. Additional responsibilities for these senior practice leaders will include: Leading efforts to acquire new talent; recognizing and mentoring senior talent; and participating in speaking and publishing opportunities to add to the interior design field’s body of knowledge.

“These leaders bring visionary and creative leadership with a deep understanding of both the interior design profession as a whole, and his or her respective area of expertise,” said Gary Wheeler, HDR’s global director of interior design and workplace strategy. “They embody high standards of design excellence and innovation, and they will work closely with their architectural and engineering counterparts to deliver significant and strategic projects in their particular market sector.”

Each of these leaders, Wheeler added, was selected for their ability to provide inspiration and design leadership direction.

• Leah Bauer, ASID, IIDA, IFMA, NCIDQ, is based in the firm’s San Francisco, California, office. She has worked internationally over the past eight years, mainly in the Middle East. Bauer has played an integral part on a large variety of healthcare and commercial projects, and is currently instrumental to the design and management of a major bio-pharmaceutical project. After almost 30 years in the industry, Bauer continues to expand her knowledge and design acumen. She is most passionate about connecting great design, a client’s vision and the budget to craft world-class solutions.
   
• Kevin Lynch, LEED AP, AAHID, NCIDQ, is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. His 20-year career has been built around a strong understanding of interior architecture and detailing, as well as a consistent focus on design integration and design continuity. Lynch is most passionate about creating interesting and functional spaces that are built on solid design principles, without being trendy or grandiose—and he loves diving into the particulars of creating a space. He is a founding member of the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers.
   
• Amy Mays, IIDA, LEED AP, EDAC, NCIDQ, leads the firm’s New York, New York, interior design studio, where every day is a balancing act of time and effort related to design, teaching, research and marketing. Her focus is in the healthcare field, which she finds incredibly rewarding because it allows her opportunities to positively influence people’s experiences at a time when they may be especially vulnerable. A 20-year industry veteran, Mays currently serves as president-elect for the New York chapter of the IIDA, and is co-chair of its Healthcare Forum.
   
• Julie Robertson, IIDA, NCIDQ, is the interior design studio lead in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She brings a wealth of knowledge to design teams, and she has worked with many leading healthcare organizations. She is passionate about advancing solutions that bring a client’s brand and goals to reality, and she enjoys working in a collaborative culture that fosters creativity and innovation. Robertson is vice president of community outreach and advocacy for her local IIDA Northland Chapter, and she leads many events in her community.  
   
• Chad Wilkey, IIDA, LEED AP, NCIDQ, leads interior design in the firm’s Atlanta, Georgia, office. He continually pushes for better human-centered design on all projects, especially in the corporate, higher education, science and tech fields. He has a special interest in data-driven design and in creating environments and moments for human connections. An active member of the local design community, Wilkey is partnering with top universities to produce a student lecture series and a student mentor program. He enjoys collaborating across industries to explore the future of our profession.