NEW HAVEN, CT.— Reflecting its continued commitment to innovation in design, the internationally renowned architecture, art and advisory firm Svigals + Partners has announced new leadership in its interior design studio as it also celebrates the career and contributions of Lynn Brotman, NCIDQ, IIDA.
Brotman is retiring from her career as an interior designer next month to pursue personal interests and “plenty of family time.”
The firm has announced that Katherine Berger, NCIDQ, WELL AP, an associate, will assume the role of Director of Interior Design, providing a smooth transition for ongoing projects and longstanding clients of Svigals + Partners.
After 17 years as the head of Lynn Brotman Interior Design, Brotman merged her firm with Svigals + Partners in 2017, and joined the leadership as associate principal. Best known for creating vibrant, inspiring interiors for schools, workplaces, healthcare settings and research facilities, Brotman had collaborated with Svigals + Partners on a number of high-profile works prior to the merger, including Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Conn. Known and published widely, Brotman has penned articles on design methods and spoken at national industry events including NeoCon, a commercial design fair held annually in Chicago.
“As I step back from my duties with Svigals + Partners to pursue other interests and opportunities, I’m delighted and confident about the creative, multidisciplinary team we have cultivated that will take up the mantle of interior design here,” says Brotman. “I consider my mentoring of young designers and architects over the years to be my most rewarding and valuable contribution.”
During her tenure as Director of Interior Design, Brotman strengthened the firm’s strategic integration of architecture and interiors, leading the charge on significant projects such as the Yale Child Study Center and Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Strategic Business Office.
Brotman’s retirement will be recognized with a celebration to be held later this year.
“Lynn has excelled as a collaborator and has inspired us all in how to approach design with passion and professionalism — translating unique brands into engaging environments,” says Chris Bockstael, AIA, a partner with Svigals + Partners. “As Lynn’s successor, Katherine Berger will likewise lead with commitment and creativity. She is an immense talent, and the interiors studio couldn’t be in better hands.”
A graduate of the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston, Berger’s diverse portfolio includes work in the healthcare, education, biotech, and corporate sectors, with over a decade of high-profile work in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Recent projects have included multiple corporate office spaces for Technolutions and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, facilities for Central Connecticut State University, and a new simulation lab and classrooms for Yale School of Nursing.
“Lynn has been an incredible mentor and influence on how we pursue projects to build prosperous, compassionate communities,” says Berger, who is an NCDIQ-certified Interior Designer and WELL Accredited Professional. “We’ll continue with those values: listening to our clients, building relationships, and raising the bar. We are fortunate to have Lynn’s legacy to build upon moving forward.”
