SmithGroup has promoted office design and interiors expert Mark Adams to lead strategy and operations for its firmwide Workplace Practice. Adams succeeds Lise Newman, who will be retiring from practice in the Spring of 2022.
In his new role, Adams leads the firm’s practice devoted to the design of corporate and commercial facilities, including corporate headquarters and campuses, office interiors, commercial office buildings, public and civic development, hospitality, mixed-use and multi-family residential buildings for both public and private sector clients. Adams will focus on expanding the practice’s portfolio of major headquarters, mixed-use/urban development and workplace-centered strategy and design projects. Adams was elevated from Workplace Studio Leader at the firm’s Phoenix office.
“Real estate strategies and the design of office environments are evolving in response to recent world events,” says Mike Medici, SmithGroup’s president and managing partner. “Mark’s understanding of this rapidly changing landscape and his forward-thinking nature will serve SmithGroup well as we chart our new course to design a better future.”
Adams joined SmithGroup in 2008 and brings 33 years of experience to this position. He has been instrumental in the growth of the firm’s portfolio of notable clients, leading large-scale projects throughout the southwest and across the nation. As a recognized thought leader and author, Adams has been called upon to share his expertise as a presenter at conferences for CoreNet, the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, NeoCon and Tradeline. He is also a regular contributor to Work Design Magazine.
SmithGroup’s Workplace Practice, ranked 7th in the nation according to Building Design + Construction magazine, provides comprehensive services that help premier companies create buildings and work environments that enhance engagement and improve their organizations’ financial performance. Notable clients include Microsoft, Google, GoDaddy, Advisory Board Company, General Motors, Ally Financial, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Chamberlain Corporation, among others.
“We’re at a unique point in time where discussions regarding equity, engagement, sustainability, wellbeing and human performance are reshaping the concept of work and the environments that we design to support it,” states Lise Newman. “Mark will be instrumental in solving these issues for top-tier clients while creating both beauty and value.”
Adams graduated from Harrington College of Design, earning a bachelor’s degree in interior design with a minor in fine arts. He also attended Iowa State University, focusing on architectural studies. A registered interior designer, he is a member of the International Interior Design Association.
Related Stories
Construction Costs | Mar 15, 2024
Retail center construction costs for 2024
Data from Gordian shows the most recent costs per square foot for restaurants, social clubs, one-story department stores, retail stores and movie theaters in select cities.
Architects | Mar 15, 2024
4 ways to streamline your architectural practice
Vessel Architecture's Lindsay Straatmann highlights four habits that have helped her discover the key to mastering efficiency as an architect.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 15, 2024
First comprehensive cancer hospital in Dubai to host specialized multidisciplinary care
Stantec was selected to lead the design team for the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Hospital, Dubai’s first integrated, comprehensive cancer hospital. Named in honor of the late Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the hospital is scheduled to open to patients in 2026.
Codes and Standards | Mar 15, 2024
Technical brief addresses the impact of construction-generated moisture on commercial roofing systems
A new technical brief from SPRI, the trade association representing the manufacturers of single-ply roofing systems and related component materials, addresses construction-generated moisture and its impact on commercial roofing systems.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 14, 2024
First-of-its-kind sports and rehabilitation clinic combines training gym and healing spa
Parker Performance Institute in Frisco, Texas, is billed as a first-of-its-kind sports and rehabilitation clinic where students, specialized clinicians, and chiropractic professionals apply neuroscience to physical rehabilitation.
Market Data | Mar 14, 2024
Download BD+C's March 2024 Market Intelligence Report
U.S. construction spending on buildings-related work rose 1.4% in January, but project teams continue to face headwinds related to inflation, interest rates, and supply chain issues, according to Building Design+Construction's March 2024 Market Intelligence Report (free PDF download).
Apartments | Mar 13, 2024
A landscaped canyon runs through this luxury apartment development in Denver
Set to open in April, One River North is a 16-story, 187-unit luxury apartment building with private, open-air terraces located in Denver’s RiNo arts district. Biophilic design plays a central role throughout the building, allowing residents to connect with nature and providing a distinctive living experience.
Sustainability | Mar 13, 2024
Trends to watch shaping the future of ESG
Gensler’s Climate Action & Sustainability Services Leaders Anthony Brower, Juliette Morgan, and Kirsten Ritchie discuss trends shaping the future of environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
Affordable Housing | Mar 12, 2024
An all-electric affordable housing project in Southern California offers 48 apartments plus community spaces
In Santa Monica, Calif., Brunson Terrace is an all-electric, 100% affordable housing project that’s over eight times more energy efficient than similar buildings, according to architect Brooks + Scarpa. Located across the street from Santa Monica College, the net zero building has been certified LEED Platinum.
Museums | Mar 11, 2024
Nebraska’s Joslyn Art Museum to reopen this summer with new Snøhetta-designed pavilion
In Omaha, Neb., the Joslyn Art Museum, which displays art from ancient times to the present, has announced it will reopen on September 10, following the completion of its new 42,000-sf Rhonda & Howard Hawks Pavilion. Designed in collaboration with Snøhetta and Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, the Hawks Pavilion is part of a museum overhaul that will expand the gallery space by more than 40%.