repost from IIDA brighter ideas
Interview with Carlos Posada
IIDA LEED AP
by Susan Zale, Industry IIDA
United Interiors
Gensler LA is a talent-rich firm, and Principal Carlos Posada is a bright star in their firmament. Born in Colombia, Carlos immigrated to the US to study architecture, particularly urban design and landscape architecture in Washington D.C. in the 1980’s. He worked for the District of Columbia on beautification projects from 1989-1992, but switched his practice to corporate commercial interior architecture with boutique design firm Lehman Smith McLeish in DC., where he specialized in projects for high-end professional clients. It didn’t take too long to be noticed by Gensler principals in D.C.; Carlos was recruited in 2001. The following year, he traveled to LA to work on a major project that led to his transfer to their DTLA office, with a mission to grow that segment of the market. Carlos is their regional leader for professional service firms, and is always on the lookout for people who are curious, do their research and strive to improve.
He is also the IIDA SoCal VP Professional Development, a position he has enjoyed since July 2013. Carlos is absolutely passionate about several things: his work; local artists and their work; and discovering the people who contribute in our industry with fresh ideas, who bring value to their organizations, who are invested in a better outcome for clients, and who elevate their practice for the betterment of everyone. Carlos further developed the IIDA SoCal Chapter Speakers Series during his tenure on the Board to bring such gifted professionals, “the stars in our community” and their ideas to all of us.
Carlos also strongly supports the IIDA’s legislative platform which would empower NCIDQ licensed, design certified interior architects and interior designers who have been in practice for a minimum of 3 years to legally stamp and approve their own drawings without the need for an architect. Although he isn’t sure yet what direction his involvement with the IIDA will take when his term on the Chapter Board expires this June, it’s a sure bet that Carlos will continue to be a design industry champion.