American Society of Interior Designers Professional Member

Covenant to Care

http://covenanttocare.org/new/

Covenant to Care

Laura Bordeaux, ASID, Chairwoman of this ASID CT ChapterCommunity Service Project

AFTER Photo of Conference Room  

                                                       AFTER Photo of Office                                                              

The original conference room was previously used as a “catch all.” The design team was able to reduce the size of the room.

Adding glass blocks above the new wall to allow the Natural light to flow into additional offices created beyond.

Creating ample storage space was a priority for the charity, which receives a number of donated goods for needy children.

The design team re-designed the space and created over storage and cabinet storage wherever possible giving the space a clean, organized look

Covenant to Care-ASID Community Service Office Renovations              

       Business Covenant Covenan   nds- Hartford, CT                                                                                                                                                                                        

 http://medical.fxdesigninc.com/news_IS_Design_Flash_Covenant_to_care.html

INTERIORS & SOURCES MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2005

Photography courtesy of Maggie Cole

COVENANT TO CARE

www.interiorsandsources.com

The ASID Connecticut Chapter’s community service project enabled
a local charity to better meet the needs of neglected children.

    It’s not everyday that a group of highly trained and skilled professional interior designers are able to use their talents to bring aboutproductive change to the office functions of a charity.

But the American Society of Interior Designer’s Connecticut Chapter was given such an opportunity not long ago by Covenant to Carein Bloomfield, CT, an organization that provides for the emotional and physical needs of the state’s abused and neglected children.

    In 2003, Alex Lenox, the acting president of the Connecticut ASID chapter, asked Laura Bordeaux, ASID, of FX Design Inc, in Glastonbury, CT, to chair the chapter’s community service project. Bordeaux had personal knowledge of the charity because she

had mentored a teenage mother through the agency. ASID wanted to help create a better environment for the agency that does their

best to provide for others. Bordeaux was told that the charity needed help with their office organization and layout.

    Two additional designers, Diane Pritt, ASID and Donna Auclair of Jung Brannen Associates in Farmington, CT, volunteered tobecome committee members. Although the former Catholic convent building was once impressive, the CTC offices were reminiscent of 1950’s and 1960’s government issued furniture, and there were bags of donated children’s clothes scattered in the reception area.

    The design team determined to approach this pro bono project just like any other commercial interior redesign, requiring all new

finishes and furniture. Pritt and Auclair scheduled the programming meetings with the staff of Covenant to Care to determine their functional needs. The first objective discussed was how to create an inviting reception area that would reflect what Covenant to Care was all about.

        The team then looked at reducing the size of the conference room, which was previously used as a "catch all” for donated goods and mentor meetings. By downsizing the conference room, they were able to carve out an additional office for the mentor coordinator.

This new office was imperative to lend an element of privacy for meetings with mentors who are assigned to teenagers or teenage mothers to be. The team’s next challenge was to raise funds and solicit donations of goods and labor to complete the new space. The

first manufacturer to step up and donate products was carpet representative Fury Sabato from Bentley Prince Street, Inc. Following Bentley, President Paul Revenue of PAC Group LLC
General Contractors, located in Harwington, CT, agreed to provide construction management services at no charge. After two years the offices are 85 percent complete. The staff moved in on August 8, 2005. Prior to their move-in, Maggie Cole,

ASID Industry Partner donated her services to photograph the new space. The transition from Covenant to Care’s previously unorganized space to their new well-designed offices with all new furniture should provide a great moral boost as well as create

a much more efficient work force. ASID trusts that all their diligent perseverance has created a unique and highly productive environment in which Covenant to Care can continue their tireless efforts to change and improve the lives of thousands of needy children in Connecticut.