
Norma Escandon Michaels was featured in Desert Design Magazine, Diversity in Design Article, Winter 2020 Issue

The Ice House in downtown Phoenix on First Friday. What a wonderful building! This is a true gem in downtown Phoenix. hashtag#NMInteriors hashtag#normaescandonmichaels hashtag#firstfriday hashtag#icehouse hashtag#phoenixartscene
Fun Times in Jerome, AZ with friends! Great art and architecture and lots of quirky surprises.
NM Interiors is excited to announce that Norma Escandon Michaels has been awarded First Place, Public Spaces ‘2019 from ASID Arizona North Chapter for her design of the Interior Renovation of the Luke Air Force Base Fitness Center.
Interior Design services included interior finish specification/selections, signage, ceiling design concept and interior design drawings for the Renovation of a Military Fitness Center. The fitness center was in need of a face lift and “new look” for both the interior and exterior. The various activities being utilized in this building had changed over the years and the building was in need of a total renovation and re-imagination.
There were many design and logistic challenges along the way, the fitness center renovation was completed in phases thereby allowing the building to be used during the entire renovation process. The approximately 39,000 square foot building was totally renovated. The interior spaces were completely re-conceptualized and designed in order to create a functional and flexible building. The goals were accomplished by opening up the building and raising ceilings in the exercise areas. Custom decorative life size figurative decals in various fitness poses were provided throughout the facility. The sense of movement and energy were further accomplished throughout the use of bright colors and round suspended circular acoustical ceiling shapes. All aspects of design were created with a tight budget in mind. In the end, the users have been thrilled with their new facility. At it is a hub of activity.
Was in Prague for several days earlier this month. What an amazing city! The combination of historic buildings and contemporary elements (such as modern interior spaces and contemporary sculptures) was quite striking.
My feet were sore from all of the walking on cobble stones for 5 days, but so were my eyes from all the sights. Utterly amazing! First I got my footing and did some window shopping. Amazing stores throughout the city with upscale brands near the river.
Prague at night is quite magical!
View from dinner on a River Boat. Yes, I took this photo myself with my IPhone. Could not have been more romantic!
Lots of fun, whimsical sculptures located throughout the city!
Contemporary interiors are interspersed throughout the city.
It’s all in the details!
This was truly a holiday to remember! Later!
Norma…
NM Interiors is excited to announce that Norma Escandon Michaels has been awarded Honorable Mention for Business Office over 5,000 sf at the recent ASID Awards Dinner. Her award winning project is: the renovation of TASC Inc. Corporate Offices.
TASC Inc. is a non-profit drug testing and treatment service provider. After years of piece-meal expansion in various locations, this drug-testing and treatment facility headquartered in Phoenix found a building to house their corporate headquarters. The corporate leadership concluded that significant business efficiencies could be achieved by consolidating the multiple offices and facilities housing its corporate leadership, clinical laboratory and behavioral health services programs in a single, centrally located facility.
A 41,600-square foot building constructed in the early 1970s was found, the structure had been remodeled at various points and served as the headquarters for the local Channel 5 TV station. Nonetheless, much of the existing office space was dated or evidenced significant neglect. Its main elements consisted of a single-story office wing, a two-story office wing, and a high-bay area.
To accommodate and welcome the range of clients and associates using the facility, the original lobby was expanded. As part of the built out, a drug testing and urine collection facility was created. Several large, asymmetrically located, circular surface-mounted light fixtures housed in a custom soffit area constitute the outstanding design elements in this area – bringing light and increasing the overall visual space. Extremely durable lobby seating was provided which was needed due to requirements requested by the client.
A corporate administration area takes full advantage of the existing office space, re-purposed to provide a significant variety of office configurations and the flexibility that a growing organization needs. The new spaces include private and shared offices; an executive conference room; a secondary break out area, two multi-purpose meeting/training rooms; a large break room with a full kitchen; a mail, file and copy room; and staff restrooms. A large lounge seating area just outside of the boardroom serves as a private lobby and break-out space. This has proved to be a high-use area.
The first floor of the two-story office wing assigned to Counseling was re-designed to provide private and shared office spaces; a customer service “fishbowl;” a group meeting room with an operable partition; a large corporate training center; a small break/coffee room; and public restrooms.
Much of the second floor of this wing was gutted. The resulting reconfiguration resulted in the creation meeting rooms and offices. An elevator was added to provide accessibility to the second floor, and the stairs were modernized with frosted glass panel and stainless steel railings.
The furniture package created for this busy, high-traffic facility emphasized extreme durability, personal comfort and safety. To ensure visual consistency and comfort, the client was provided with a standardized color palette. This color palette is now used at all of the client’s new facilities and coordinates with the corporate brand.
Throughout the design process, special emphasis was placed on security. Distinct security requirements were defined and implemented for private spaces and public spaces, with strict attention to HIPPA regulations and specifications. Applicable security features included secure file rooms, quadrant-specific, key-cards for doors ensuring limited access to approved individuals, and appropriate monitor-installations.
I have been asked so many times over the years, what is the process involved in designing and building a commercial space, a Tenant Improvement. So I collaborated with a contractor to create a checklist which explains every step of the process. Below is the first page of the checklist. For the full checklist refer to our Tools page on the www.nminteriors.biz website.
Later!
Norma…
Traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica for an Interior Design Best Western Training Session. Have reviewed many South American Hotel designs. Downtown San Jose was lovely!
Later!
Norma…
Was in Santiago, Chile to review a Best Western Premier property and extended my visit time and was able to spend a week in Chile. The hotel was lovely, below are some photos. This property is located in a upscale area in Santiago not far from the main business district and a few blocks from a very large mall and park. The views from the hotel were stunning. The Best Western Premier Marina Las Condes Hotel was a wonderful experience!
The architecture in Santiago, Chile was contemporary and beautiful. Green practices were incorporated in most of the buildings – predominately high rise buildings. Both business and residential buildings were multi-level. The infrastructure and transportation system for the city was amazing.