Introducing Our 2022 iLAB Winners
Our iLAB microgrant program exists to promote research and innovation by investing in our team’s passion and curiosity to inform our Design for What’s Next culture. More a creative outlet beyond project work, iLAB explorations have served as the spark behind some of our most forward-focused work, including the net zero energy renovation of American Geophysical Union’s headquarters and the mass timber addition at 80 M Street—both major milestones for us and our region.
After a short hiatus (thanks, COVID), we’re proud to say that iLAB is back and better than ever. This year’s applicants inspired us with renewed energy and a shared focus on work that matters across a variety of scales. And after our traditional all-staff vote, the people have spoken and selected two winning topics with the potential to change the way we look at what goes into our projects when it comes to materials and uses. Without further ado, we are thrilled to announce this year’s iLAB winners. We invite you to learn more about their research in their own words and follow along with us all year as they make progress towards their goals.
Ethical Manufacturing
In her iLAB, Emily Everhope will explore manufacturing standards in the interior design marketplace, with a particular focus on ethical and Fair Trade practices to uncover the standards and stories behind the products we use. Emily’s goal is to establish a methodology that empowers the design community to discern and uphold best practices in material manufacturing and selection.
We forget that people are part of the natural environment and the more that we can connect with that, the mores sustainable everything will be.
Emily Everhope, Interior Designer
Vertical Opportunities
Leveraging their research on building types, zoning, and program adjacencies, iLab teammates Katherine Dorsey and Jack Lynch seek to define the future of vertical mixed-use developments. Katherine and Jack plan to create two market-specific prototypes that apply strategies designed to consider all stakeholders and support adaptation and building resiliency as needs evolve.
It’s valuable to do this kind of work because it gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to pushing the firm forward and to feel a sense of ownership.
Katherine Dorsey, Project Architect