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Chapter Profile
Pennsylvania | New Jersey
| Delaware
By Cheryl Lynn Scandale-Murnin,
IIDA
The strength of the unique
IIDA City Center model allows us to deliver chapter
programs to our Members through local design community-based
City Center teams. We then coordinate all of these
activities to provide chapter events statewide.
Each of our three states
has a distinct geographic, demographic and economic
personality. Our Members practice interior design
in large architectural companies as well as small
design studios, in major metropolitan areas and
quaint village outskirts. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
and Wilmington are experiencing a spirit of new
urbanism that has begun to stretch to our more
rural cities and historic towns.
Our chapter footprint provides
locations for corporate headquarters, pharmaceuticals,
manufacturing facilities, military bases, historic
districts, major universities, ski resorts, casinos,
beach homes, world class museums, restaurants,
clubs and national sports teams. The vacation
home and corporate executive markets support beautiful
residential projects along our shore points, as
well as in stately suburbs and mountain retreats.
The quantity of corporate headquarters also provides
for a wealth of facilities management and ancillary
design activities.
The recent continued economic
downturn has affected the Chapter in varying degrees,
but metropolitan areas were hit the hardest. As
a result, many designers are turning to sales
positions within the industry or are striking
out on their own as freelance consultants. Because
the economy is soft throughout the United States,
our Members are staying local rather than seeking
historically more lucrative regions. As the economy
turns around, our area's clients soon will benefit
from the talent that has remained.
The Chapter is working to
increase communication with its 400 Members. Our
cumulative communication databases reach out beyond
our Membership to approximately 1,000 Members,
students, industry partners, educators and students,
and other associations. To this end, we have launched
new electronic City Center and Chapter newsletters
and a new Web site featuring calendars, job opportunities
and Member portfolios. We soon will roll out a
new public relations campaign to increase the
IIDA brand awareness among the buying public,
potential members and allied professionals.
We recognize that the strength
and future of our profession is in our students,
the continuing education of our professionals
and through legislative efforts. The Chapter's
active Campus Center—with at least six interior
design schools—has presented CEUs at Carnegie
Mellon and Princeton universities. We also recently
witnessed interior design legislation in the State
of New Jersey for the Certification of Interior
Designers.
In these challenging times,
the networking, professional and educational opportunities
provided by IIDA chapters are especially valuable
to interior designers.
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