The Design Excellence Awards, presented each year by the Oregon chapter of the International Interior Design Association, are an important platform to highlight the exceptional interior design work that is occurring in the Pacific Northwest. This year, GBD took home three awards!

Scott Brown | Legacy Award Winner

The International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) prestigious Legacy Award is an honor reserved for those who have advanced the profession of interior design in the state of Oregon. This year’s recipient is GBD Principal Scott Brown. Scott’s embodiment of advocacy, mentorship, design innovation, and sustainable leadership has earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and colleagues.

Scott’s 22-year career has realized an extraordinary balance of design innovation and business leadership. His design work has contributed to the quality of many high profile Portland businesses as well as several global companies, while his visionary leadership has helped guide his professional firms to success. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Scott is routinely recognized for providing his clients with transformational concepts that uniquely celebrate a company’s culture. His work has been featured in national publications and has received 13 IIDA design awards throughout his career. He is also a Portland Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.  

As a Principal and Lead Interior Designer for GBD, Scott is devoted to mentoring the next generation of designers – a role in which he has eagerly assumed throughout his career on both project teams and within professional organizations.  “I have had the good fortune to collaborate with a wide spectrum of talented people within Portland’s architecture and design community.  It is particularly flattering to be recognized by those from whom I have learned so much.”

Touchmark Office HQ Renovation | Transformation Award Winner

This year, The Design Excellence Award Jurors created a new category for noteworthy renovation projects.  GBD’s Touchmark Corporate Headquarters Renovation received the Transformation Award for its radical reinvention of its existing office space.

Rather than demolishing the aging structure and starting anew, our team recognized the inherent qualities of the space as underutilized assets, ready for renewal. Transformation and renewal are metaphors of Touchmark’s core belief: the idea that opportunities for enhanced wellness and new interests are not limited to the first 50 years of life, but are instead achievable over the continuum of one’s lifespan. The renovation respects the existing building’s legacy while creating a modern atmosphere reflecting Touchmark’s vision and brand.

JLL Portland HQ | People’s Choice Award Winner

This year, more than 2,821 votes were cast for the People’s Choice Award, from locations spanning the globe. JLL’s new Portland Headquarters won the People’s Choice Award, capturing 499 votes.

JLL envisioned nothing less than “the coolest corporate real estate office in Portland”, a space that could serve as an inspiration for JLL’s clients and a model of creative office design. The design team responded with a vibrant headquarters located in the heart of the Pearl District. It provides JLL with proximity to their clients, expansive views of the city in which they work, and 9,200 square feet of dynamic, creative workspace.