Rachel Hedlund
Interior Designer
Doctor of Law, University of Iowa College of Law
Master of Arts in Interior Architecture, Chatham University
Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature, Bowdoin College
Rachel is an interior designer with a focus on Higher Education and Community projects. She is responsible for creating floor plans and choosing the materials and finishes that best align with the client’s budget and vision. Rachel also works with project managers on the development of construction drawings and renderings, a step crucial to the vision of the project and the overall construction of the design. Rachel’s work plays an important role in creating an inviting environment that sparks creativity and unity.
Get to know Rachel:
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Reading, spoiling my dogs, playing video games, organizing and reorganizing all of my storage.
What are your most impactful projects at DRAW?
Waynesburg University eHive: It was the first project I worked on, and it was a perfect introduction to DRAW and the profession. It was small enough that I could easily wrap my head around it, and the design managed to be precise, creative, and functional, giving me an inspiring breadth of experience in my first project (thanks to Chris and Amy!).
Knoch High School Additions and Renovations: I spent a year working on Knoch, and it’s the first project where I’ve seen my design choices become tangible. It was surreal and amazing to visit and have reality replace the Revit model in my mind.
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE): My father received a lung transplant in 2014, and I spent a lot of time at Mayo Clinic over the next 2 years. During that time, I came to understand the critical role design plays in healthcare, and was thrilled to have my first healthcare project be one with personal significance to me.
What is your favorite architectural building?
The Kennedy Center. I visited it a lot when my family lived in Maryland, and it left a lasting impression. It is grand but comfortable, solid but airy, and it focuses visitors on the exterior as much as the interior. It relates to DC’s neoclassical government buildings and memorials and offers a very playful variation. I love that while it is a national cultural center, it celebrates the United States’ friendships and partnerships with other countries through fixtures, finishes, and artwork.
What is your dream destination?
I don’t have a particular destination (though I would like to visit Sweden), but I do have a type of vacation. At some point, I want to rent a house on an island and stay there for a month by myself. I want to know what it’s like to be really alone for an extended period of time. I don’t have a particular location for this, but I would want it to be beautiful, I’d want the house to be old and comfortable, and I would want it to be warm enough to swim.
What is your bucket list item?
Bucket list project to work on: a law school or courthouse. Bucket list item to accomplish: learn to sail.
