Vocon

We’re incredibly honored and grateful to have participated in the “Stuff the Bus” event, where our Vocon team joined forces to fill 10 school buses with new school supplies for kids in our community. Together, we helped collect 37,195 new school supplies valued at over $28,137! For nearly two decades, Fox 8 viewers and local businesses have made a significant impact through this cause. This year, contributions will benefit Shoes and Clothes for Kids, ensuring every child has the resources to succeed.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

As many of our summer interns are leaving us this week, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our amazing interns. Your hard work, enthusiasm, and fresh perspectives have truly made a difference.

Thank you for your dedication and contributions. We are grateful for each and every one of you!

Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors.

On Saturday, August 3rd, our Vocon Team had an incredible time at AIA Cleveland's annual Sand Fest, where we raised funds for the ACE Mentor Program through volleyball and sand castle construction. This year's theme was "Adventures in Pop Culture"

We're thrilled to share that we won three of the five awards given at the event! Our sand sculpture earned 2nd place overall from the judges and won the "Best of the Beach" people's choice award. Special thanks to our amazing Sandcastle Team for their creativity and hard work.

Additionally, our 2024 Vocon AIA Sand Volleyball Team brought home the first-place trophy! Congrats to the team for their outstanding performance.

The Sapphire Club at One Willoughby Square recently received a special mention in the Typology category of the Architizer A+ Awards for Commercial > Remote Work and Co-working Space! 🏆✨ This award celebrates the best in architecture and design, promoting meaningful spaces and honoring the incredible talent behind them.

Read more below!

1WSQ Earns Special Mention in Architizer A+ Awards This article is originally from Architizer, published July 2024. 1 Willoughby Square's The Sapphire Club received a special mention in the Typology

Check out Vocon's team fundraising page for VeloSano Crush it everyday!

This week, we’re excited to spotlight CrossCountry Mortgage! Their newly completed headquarters in Cleveland’s Superior Arts District is a stunning adaptive reuse project, transforming four historic buildings into a vibrant corporate campus. One of the city’s largest new headquarters in nearly a decade, it’s brought over 600 full-time jobs to Cleveland! 
 
Highlights include a 4,600 SF training center, a 7,100 SF commons area with a massive skylight, a grab-and-go food pantry, and a 9,600 SF gym with locker room facilities. 
 
The project beautifully melds old and new, with three buildings dating back to the 1900s and a fourth from the 1950s. A new 6-stop elevator now connects the main floor levels, overcoming the challenge of modernizing the space while preserving its historic charm. 
 
From complete infrastructure upgrades to interior renovations, CrossCountry Mortgage’s new home is a testament to innovation and growth. 
 

As we celebrate this special day, we at Vocon are filled with gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy and the opportunities we have. Today, we honor the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for our independence and continue to protect our liberties.

We are thankful for our incredible team, our loyal clients, and our supportive community. Your dedication and hard work make it possible for us to thrive and grow.

Wishing everyone a safe and joyful Independence Day!

We recently had the privilege of participating in Achievement Centers for Children’s A Most Excellent Race, which supports recreational services for children and adults with disabilities! Supporting this great cause each year is something we cherish, and we were thrilled to see several Vocon team members take part.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us in this meaningful event or donated. Your support makes a difference!

We wrapped up Pride Month in style last week! 🌈 In New York, our team enjoyed a Pride walking tour of Greenwich Village, featuring the iconic Stonewall Inn, a pivotal landmark in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Meanwhile, in our Cleveland office, we had a blast with a fun-filled Pride trivia event. Celebrating and honoring Pride in both cities was truly special!

Congratulations to Olivia Morrison on earning her NCIDQ from the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ).

The NCIDQ Certification is the industry's recognized indicator of proficiency in interior design principles and a designer's commitment to the profession. Achieving this certification requires graduating from an accredited university, completing extensive work experience requirements, and passing three rigorous exams. This certification ensures our designers possess high professional competency and commitment to the field.

We are so proud of you, Olivia!

We are excited to announce that we have been ranked 07 on Crain's Cleveland Business list of Largest Women-Owned Businesses, moving up 03 rankings from last year! We are so grateful to be part of a community that champions women in business.

We proudly recognize Juneteenth as a pivotal moment in American history. This day commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, marking a crucial step towards freedom and equality. We honor this day by reflecting on our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, striving to build a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. Together, let's celebrate progress and continue advocating for a just and inclusive future.

Our annual golf outing took place last Friday, June 14, at Seneca Golf Course, and it was one for the books! It was a beautiful summer day filled with camaraderie, competition, and fun alongside our amazing partners and sponsors.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated, Seneca Golf Course, and especially our partners and sponsors!

Congratulations to our winners:

🏆 Best Overall Team Score: Greg Roda, Molly Sweeney, Adam Horrocks, Harry Baumgartner

🏌️‍♀️ Closest to the Pin - Women: Nancy Kinnett

🏌️‍♂️ Closest to the Pin - Men: Adam Wolf

💪 Longest Drive - Women: Rachel Turkovich

💪 Longest Drive - Men: Adam Horrocks

We can't wait to see you all again next year for one of our favorite annual traditions!

Congratulations to Craig Heitger and Amelia Linde on achieving their Registered Architect status! This milestone reflects their dedication through rigorous academic training, extensive professional experience, and mastery of the Architect Registration Examination. Your hard work and commitment to excellence inspire us all!

Memorial Day honors the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives in service to our country. Their legacy reminds us of the cost of liberty and the importance of national unity in remembering their sacrifice. This Memorial Day, let's express our deepest gratitude and ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten.

We've been embracing the vibrant tapestry of cultures during AAPI Month! From origami happy hours to mastering the art of spring rolls, our celebrations blended cultural appreciation with engaging experiences. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making these events a success! Let's continue fostering inclusivity and celebrating diversity together.

We had a blast at Interior Design Magazine's NYCxDesign Awards last night. We are honored to have had our project 51W52, a collaboration with MdEAS, nominated alongside all the other fantastic projects this year. Congratulations to all of last night's winners!

Thrilled to announce that the Cleveland Foundation has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Urban Land Institute Americas Awards of Excellence! This recognition highlights our commitment to innovative design and sustainable community development. As Doug Voigt, Chair of the ULI Americas Awards for Excellence jury, remarked, "The projects honored this year resonate with the ULI's core mission to exemplify the transformative potential of design and development in building more sustainable communities." We are grateful, honored and humbled by this designation!

We're thrilled to share that Fahrenheit has been honored with the Interior Renovation Project of the Year award at the NAIOP Northern Ohio Chapter Awards of Excellence!

Fahrenheit stood out for its remarkable transformation, turning a formerly dark, moody space into a meticulously curated modern venue. The judges were impressed by the contrast of light, refined wood tones against charred wood paneling, bold porcelain tile, vibrant red accents, and imaginative lighting – all of which weave together to narrate the owner's story of fire and heat. The renovation achieves a harmonious balance of form, function, and beauty.

Congratulations to the Project Team, Chef Rocco, and everyone involved in bringing this project to life!

Exciting news! Cleveland Foundation has clinched the title of Interior Design Project of the Year at the NAIOP Northern Ohio Chapter Awards of Excellence! We're incredibly humbled and honored by this recognition.

What set Cleveland Foundation apart was its remarkable ability to seamlessly integrate sustainable mass timber design with functional spaces that cater to staff, donors, grantees, and the community at large. From a cutting-edge dance studio to a community-driven art gallery, every aspect of the design was meticulously crafted to serve the Foundation's purpose.

A heartfelt thank you to all who contributed to the success of this project! 🙏

From our perspective, the workplace of today requires a delicate blend of open and closed spaces, fostering both social interaction and focused work. Striking the right balance for our clients depends on industry, type of work and culture.

What type of space do you prefer to work in?

It's time again for our Strategy Story where we share insights from our Workplace Strategy Team. This week we dove into Workplace Value Proposition!

With a growing number of people weighing commutes that have expanded since the pandemic (54% working hybrid), it's more important than ever that companies communicate their Workplace Value Proposition clearly.

A Workplace Value Proposition represents the reasons and justifications for an employee's commute into the office. Gallup defines the core elements of a workplace value proposition as the 4 C's Connection, Collaboration, Creativity, and Culture, all of which come to life in a thoughtfully designed physical workplace.

Yesterday, our Values Leadership Committee spearheaded Earth Day clean-ups in both our Cleveland and New York offices, alongside our dedicated remote team members in their respective locations. From Perkins Beach at Edgewater to Coney Island, our teams embraced the sunshine and joined hands to make a positive impact on our planet. Huge thanks to all our incredible team members who came out to support this important cause! 🌎💚

Commissioning Monumental Artwork to Reflect Brand and Space Transforming the corridors and amenity spaces at Fountainhead Tower with an rotating and dynamic artwork program.

We had so much fun volunteering at the Cleveland Animal Protective League Fur-Get-Me-Not Telethon. This event fuels community support for the countless animals relying on the APL's aid this year. All telethon proceeds directly benefit the APL.

A huge thank you to our dedicated volunteers and generous donors. Together, we raised over $150k, making a tangible impact on animal welfare. 🐾

Thrilled to share that we've clinched the 29th spot on Interior Design Magazine's prestigious Top 100 Giants List for 2024! 🎉 It's an honor to be part of this esteemed lineup. Huge thanks to our incredible Team and clients!

https://interiordesign.net/research/interior-design-top-100-giants-2023/

Excited to unveil our next installment of the Strategy Series! Today, we're diving deep into one of our most frequently asked client questions regarding number of work seats.

The answer is dependent on your organizational culture.

Many of our clients have settled on ratios, where employees are considered remote if they come in less than three days a week on average, and considered hybrid if they are in the office three days or more. Remote and hybrid counts would have a corresponding ratio to determine work seats required. Often, hybrid employees are still assigned seats at a 1:1 ratio, as three to four days/week has been seen as a new standard.

Organizations may want to consider additional factors, like job type or department, which may require an assigned seat regardless of days in the office. 🏢💼

Vocon is proud to announce the success of our recent Book Drive supporting the Kid's Book Bank during National Reading Month. With a fantastic turnout from our team, we received 365 book donations and $580 in contributions. Huge thanks to our Cleveland Office for their incredible support! We'll be delivering the books next Tuesday.

As Women's History Month comes to a close, we're reflecting on the incredible contributions of women at Vocon and beyond. If you missed it, check out our latest article featuring some of the inspiring voices from our Team:

Celebrating Women's History Month: Voices from Vocon The calendar has turned to March, which means the arrival of Women's History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and honoring the invaluable