Q+ Architects welcomes interior designer

COLUMBIA, SC – Quackenbush Architects + Planners is pleased to welcome Lydia Ureda, IIDA, NCIDQ, to the firm as interior designer.

A native of Spartanburg, Ureda comes to Quackenbush after having completed design projects in the areas of new construction, commercial and residential remodeling, and commercial furniture installation. Ureda has also managed a number of projects that involved collaboration with architects on furniture and interior finish selections including flooring and surfacing products.

From 2011 to 2014 Ureda worked as a designer in the Facilities Design and Construction department at the University of South Carolina. She was involved with projects all over the campus, most notably for USC Athletics, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Nursing.

A member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and a licensed interior designer, Ureda has served on the board of the IIDA Carolinas chapter, which has more than 500 designer members. From 2012-2013, she served as City Center Director, planning local monthly events as well as chapter-wide events, including DesignWorks, the region’s largest interior design competition. In 2011, she served as Education Forum Director, and was responsible for organizing the keynote speakers for the programs’ major presentations in Greensboro, Greenville (SC), and Charleston.

At Q+, Ureda will focus on higher education projects, including the Lander University Grier Student Center Renovation, Presbyterian College Richardson Hall Renovations, and the University of South Carolina Football Operations Center, a 105,000-square foot, $50 million project set to begin construction this summer.

Ureda holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Harrington College of Design in Chicago, and is credentialed by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), the industry’s highest standard of excellence in the practice of interior design. NCIDQ represents a designer’s knowledge and proficiency in the latest interior design principles and practices as well as competency with contract documents, administration and decision-making skills.

“Lydia’s experience in higher education is particularly valuable as our Q+ team continues our practice in that arena,” says firm President Doug Quackenbush. “Her drive to design creative and innovative interiors augments our firm’s focus to deliver high quality and high performing solutions to our clients.”

Quackenbush Architects + Planners is a full-service architecture and planning firm located in Columbia, SC. The firm specializes in educational, institutional, civic, and commercial projects. Its services span from building design to land planning to interior design. The firm’s portfolio includes projects for universities, cities, colleges, government agencies, school districts, and private clients. The team’s work reflects commitment to innovation, sensitivity to our regional context, and the richness that comes from collaboration with our clients and the community.