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>>> who's doing what, where in the design industry

Cave Creek, Arizona architectural designer Michael P. Johnson has been honored with the Ceramic Tiles of Italy Legend Award. Johnson, who has previously won two Ceramic tiles of Italy design awards, received the current recognition based on two sleekly modern Arizona residences that utilize Italian porcelain tiles as flooring throughout much of the homes.

A Michael P. Johnson-designed Arizona residence.

Denver's Kephart Community Planning Architecture was honored with three Best In American Living Awards and two design awards from The Nationals for its work on Vallagio at Inverness in Englewood, Colorado. Both awards programs are part of the National Association of Home Builders. The project, developed by Metropolitan Homes, is part of a mixed-use community and includes six different attached home designs.

Kephart's Villagio at Inverness project.

Colorado Springs, Colorado–based Senger Design Group received the Leading Edge Elements Award at the 2008 International Facilities Management Association's Colorado Facilities Awards of Excellence ceremony. The firm, which specializes in healthcare, hospitality and residential design, was recognized for its work on the family room of the Ronald McDonald House at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs.

Design Workshop, an international firm founded in 1969 with offices in Colorado and Arizona, has been named the 2008 national ASLA Landscape Architecture Firm. Firm founder Joseph A. Porter has been chosen to receive the ASLA Medal for lifetime achievement and contributions to the professions. Both honors will be presented during the ASLA national convention in Philadelphia in October.

Landscape architect Craig C. Coronato, a senior associate and design practice group leader for the Denver office of EDAW, Inc., has been named a Fellow of ASLA. Coronato, who is active in the Downtown Denver Partnership, was nominated for his leadership in advocating legislation that restored licensing for landscape architects in Colorado for the first time since 1976. the legislation passed in 2007.

Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers, Inc., which has offices in Vail, Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado, has been named one of the 200 fastest-growing architecture, engineering and environmental consulting firms by Zweig White's "Hot Firm 2007" list. The list includes U.S. firms that have outperformed the economy and competitors to become industry leaders. Beaudin Ganze, which includes some 24 licensed professional engineers and 47 LEED AP professionals, provides mechanical, electrical, lighting, technology and other consulting services.

The Irvine, California office of KTGY Group, Inc. Architecture and Planning has received a Best of California Construction 2007 award for its work on Market Lofts, a $70 million mixed-use project in downtown Los Angeles. The project includes six stories of loft condominiums, and its retail component is anchored by Ralph's Fresh Fare.

KTGY Group's Market lofts.

In other KTGY Group news, the firm has named Lalaine Tanaka, AIA, as principal. With more than 20 years' design experience, Tanaka will head the firm's hospitality division. Additionally, principals Keith Labus and Ken Ryan were named as new shareholders. The firm, founded in 1991, also has locations in Santa Monica and Oakland, California, and Denver, Colorado.

Merzproject, a Phoenix architectural firm, has begun work on a residence for a 42-acre ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona. Joe Herzog is principal architect and Jonah Busik is project manager for the residence.

Merzproject's Skull Valley residence.

The Denver office of 4240 Architecture has named Christian Barlock; Louis Bieker, AIA, LEED AP; Thaddius Carvis, LEED AP; Marcia Weese; and Terry Willis as the new associate principals. The architecture, interiors and planning firm also has an office in Chicago.

SmithGroup Phoenix has announced several new hires. Rick Hoggins has joined the architectural firm as senior electrical designer and will spearhead electrical design efforts for the learning studio. Steven Hackman has been hired as senior laboratory planner. He has 23 years' experience in laboratory planning. Sommer Caraway has joined SmithGroup as public relations coordinator. Caraway previously handled similar responsibilities for a Glendale, Arizona architectural firm.

Hopper Finishes of Scottsdale, Arizona recently created a special plaster wall finish for the interior of Roka Akor, a new Japanese restaurant in Scottsdale. Working with the restaurant's Japanese architect and Scottsdale-based interior design firm Testani Design Troupe, Hopper Finishes devised a rammed earth–style texture, embedded with straw. The firm specializes in custom plasters, including Italian lime, Venetian plaster, metal, concrete and natural earth clay.

IFDA has announced the formation of a new Southern California chapter. Rita Orland of Wings, Inc. Design in Solana Beach will serve as coordinator of the new IFDA-So Cal chapter. Designcorp International, also in Solana Beach, will serve as the meeting center.

Alter Group, owner of Arizona Design Center in Scottsdale, has retained Design Management Company to manage the center's marketing efforts. Design Management Company, whose principal is Lloyd Princeton, maintains offices in New York and Los Angeles. Arizona Design Center features numerous to-the-trade furnishings and art showrooms.

A Robert Allen/Beacon Hill fabric and furniture showroom has opened at the Las Vegas Design Center. The 30,000-square-foot, to-the-trade showroom will be located on the first floor of the World Market Center's Building C.

John Brooks, Inc. showrooms have added new lines. The Denver showroom is now featuring Boyd Lighting and Kentfield Collection residential lighting solutions. The Scottsdale, Arizona showroom has added Pierre Frey fabrics and wallpapers, as well as Conrad handwoven window coverings.