Melissa Huff joins Henricksen as Architecture + Design Specialist

(Chicago, IL, January 11, 2021) Melissa Huff, LEED GA joins Henricksen’s Chicago office as an Architecture + Design Specialist.

A respected workplace design consultant and self-described furniture geek, Melissa will serve as a consultative expert who will translate the latest planning, design, and product trends into progressive furniture and architectural solutions strategies. Melissa will collaborate with Henricksen teams to forge stronger relationships in the Chicago architecture and design community and expand our capabilities for gathering and sharing intelligence and insights.

A proponent of leading through knowledge, Melissa has earned a reputation for outstanding communication skills, expertise in workplace and furniture trends, and the ability to develop and nurture relationships built upon ingenuity, trust, and respect. When asked about the challenges ahead, Melissa noted, “the pandemic has resulted in a profound thirst for new ideas about space utilization, co-habitation, and ways of working. Exciting trends that were on the 5-year horizon have accelerated, and concepts like well-being and evidence-based design, which frequently were siloed in healthcare design, have gained new importance in the workplace and education spaces.” Huff added, “Henricksen recognizes that the disruption caused by the pandemic can be fuel for process innovation and overall catalyst for advancements in our industry. I will serve as an expert resource to help translate the latest design thinking into functional strategies, adaptable solutions, and responsible investments.”

Ryan Esche, Principal of Henricksen, said “Melissa expands and elevates Henricksen’s ability to provide leading-edge design and furniture strategies to architects, designers, commercial real estate professionals, and end-users.” Esche added, “Melissa brings enthusiasm, passion, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to learn, understand, and educate to the Henricksen team. As Henricksen positions itself for the post-pandemic economy, Melissa will be influential in elevating our staff’s understanding of trends and project drivers and advancing our ability to create better, knowledge-driven solutions for clients.”

Melissa joins Henricksen from Haworth where she served as Design Market Manager in Chicago for the last 6 years. There, she translated interior design trends, research, and best practices into real-world product solutions strategies. Melissa began her career with Allsteel as a Resource Center Manager and worked as an Architecture & Design Representative for Izzy+.

Melissa is a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia with a BS in Architectural Studies with emphasis in Interior Design. She has been active in philanthropic work with (re)group, a local industry organization whose mission is to engage local communities and inspire career development through design thinking.