ASID and GSA Announce Partnership to Promote Interior Design Excellence in Federal Buildings

Furniture World Magazine

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) signed a landmark partnering charter that recognizes the importance of interior design in federal buildings in providing welcoming, comfortable and safe professional environments for employees and visitors, while enhancing the beauty of local communities across the nation. ASID President Barbara Nugent, FASID, and Commissioner F. Joseph Moravec, Public Buildings Service, GSA, signed the charter during ASID’s annual meeting at the J.W Marriott Hotel. "ASID is pleased that GSA and the Society share the belief that interior design can affect the mental and physical well-being of individuals, and that the agency is taking this philosophy into consideration as it redesigns federal government buildings," said Barbara Nugent, FASID, ASID president. "We are honored that GSA chose ASID as the representative of the interior design profession in its effort to revamp older, federally occupied buildings across the nation. And, more importantly, the Society salutes GSA on the leadership role it has taken to recognize the vital importance of interior design in the redesign ventures." Under the new agreement, and under the auspices of GSA’s Design Excellence program, the agency and ASID will cooperate in efforts to promote and use state-of-the-art design solutions that take into account sustainable design and environmental considerations, encourage the sharing of industry and government best practices and advanced design approaches, advance team building among all parties involved in joint public design and construction projects, and educate ASID members about GSA’s Design Excellence program – among other key goals. ASID is the newest member of a group of associations representing the built community, including the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Associated General Contractors, the Congress for New Urbanism and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which have signed similar partnering charters with GSA. To review the full text of the agreement and for more information on ASID, visit www.asid.org. ASID is the largest professional association representing the interests of interior designers. Its mission is to advance the interior design profession through knowledge generation and sharing, advocacy of interior designers’ right to practice, professional and public education, and expansion of interior design markets. The Society supports its more than 31,500 members – comprised of practicing interior designers from all design specialties, design students and industry representatives – through a variety of programs and services and a network of 48 local chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada.