DALLAS--Carey Austin is the new CEO of commercial design firm Interprise Design, which serves developers, owners, leasing agents and managers of commercial property, focusing on implementing “timeless but engaging designs.” GlobeSt.com's Anna Caplan recently spoke with Austin about her new role, and firm's exciting future after its recent acquisition of Lee Design Group.

GlobeSt.com: What are your current responsibilities as CEO at Interprise Design?

Carey Austin: As CEO, I help Interprise set strategy and vision for the firm. I also ensure that operations run smoothly to enable our talent to deliver exceptional work for clients while accomplishing the goals we have set.

GlobeSt.com: How did you get into your field?

Austin: I've had a career of leadership in strategy development, creating competitive advantage and overseeing finance and administration. During my career, I've successfully piloted seven start-up organizations, worked in four turnaround situations and built investment portfolios. I have been a CEO of five companies, but “C” level in now eight. I was recruited to the Interprise board 3 1/2 years ago as part of the firm's decision to build a board of people with diverse skills who could enhance the leadership team by adding expertise beyond the design industry. From the strategic and financial leadership I provided as a member of the board, I was recruited to the CEO position.

GlobeSt.com: Tell us about the acquisition of Lee, and how it will affect your firm's trajectory.

Austin: Interprise strategically targeted healthcare design as a direction of growth to complement our strong portfolio of clients in tenant design and national accounts. Lee Design enjoyed a national reputation as an outstanding medical design firm with strong architectural capabilities. We were fortunate to be able to acquire the firm which elevated both our portfolio of medical design and our architectural capabilities.

GlobeSt.com: Your firm recently worked on Galleria II's redesign. Tell us a little bit about the project.

Austin: Plagued for years by a daunting and cavernous space, the vision for the redesign of the Galleria II lobby was to create something new and unexpected. Strategic repurposing of key areas helps capture revenue previously lost to the owner by establishing special event venues, available for rent to both tenants and organizations outside the building.  Key features included in the project are a new tenant lounge with coffee/beverage, donut and bagel stations; collaborative clusters of furniture, which offer “out of office” informal meeting space; and interactive presentation areas to accommodate intimate groups as well as groups of up to 25. We also incorporated a series of interior architecture elements that become subliminal way-finding elements in the spacious lobby.

GlobeSt.com: Over the years, what trends have you seen in office interior design? What can we expect in the near future?

Austin: Not so long ago, office buildings were designed with walled offices and doors that close with only executives enjoying windows. Next we saw modular paneling, and full floors of drab cubes symmetrically connected to create mazes of tiny, fixed offices. Fortunately today, Interprise is designing high-energy, collaborative environments. Different ecosystems are being created within office environments to stimulate and support different kinds of work so that employees may move from one ecosystem to another as their work progresses. We're also helping clients express their brands through design, with lively color, unexpected elements and refreshing spaces that support efficiency, team work and creativity. We are careful in the way we use color, as colors trend. Designing to be timeless and artful is where we excel. Our clients expect a return on their investment, and we work to give it to them.

GlobeSt.com: What current projects that you are working on are you most excited about?

Austin: Grange Hall: Interprise's inventive design of this retail space was recently featured in Architectural Digest. We helped the owners draw from their theater backgrounds to create an emporium in which distinctive vignettes showcase products ranging from clothing and jewelry to home goods.

Dallas Entrepreneurial Center: We're currently working on a refresh of design of Interprise's original work done several years ago. The new space is highly collaborative, offering an energetic, exciting and inspiring environment for technology innovation. 

Burnett Plaza in Fort Worth: We're just beginning the redesign of the lobby of this iconic, award-winning office building. We are creating an inviting new lobby and bringing the building up to today's standards, while respecting and emphasizing the building's beautiful bones.