Jerilyn Wright was interviewed recently by David Parker of the Calgary Herald. His article (transcribed below) focuses on JWA's success over the years designing space for large multi-floor tenants.
"Wright basking in new projects from Inglewood"
by David Parker - Calgary Herald Oct 30, 2017
Jerilyn Wright goes to great lengths to understand her clients’ needs before directing her team of interior designers when tackling a new project.
When her company, Jerilyn Wright & Associates, was awarded the job of designing the interiors for energy company PetroChina Canada following its move into the Manulife Building at 5th Street and 7th Avenue S.W., she took off to China for a month.
Wright wanted to see for herself the kinds of office environments to which senior executives were accustomed. The result is quite stunning, including her work with 14-foot ceilings on the top floor.
Equally amazing are the interiors of the 234,000 square feet of downtown office space Wright did for Petronas, including a white, lacquered staircase that winds its way up to the executive floor.
Petronas is a Formula One racing supporter, and in the Calgary reception area, a teal Mercedes-Benz race car will be suspended from the ceiling. The transportation theme is carried throughout the floors with “stretched out” cars and barges decorated over the ceilings.
Since Wright established her own company from a small Mount Royal Village office more than 30 years ago, the business has grown to serve many of Calgary’s major corporations, many within the oil and gas industry.
Her company has designed 15 million square feet. She bid to design space for TransCanada Pipelines when it relocated to Calgary from Toronto. She was shortlisted and the awarded the job to welcome the company into 425,000 square feet in what was then the Petro-Canada Centre.
Wright also won large contracts such as the space requirements when Dome and Amoco merged, requiring 720,000 square feet of office space. More recently work has been completed in the Dome Tower for Enerplus which occupies six floors in the TD Square Complex. Six years ago, Wright moved her business to Inglewood. It is home today to a staff of 13, including four associates and an in-house graphics team who work alongside the designers on many of their projects.
The number of projects won and completed by JWA has meant that Wright has enjoyed her most successful three years in her business history.
And this year is ending on some rather high notes with the rebranding of all of the Bellissima Fashions throughout Alberta and B.C, and JWA is looking forward to the move of the Band of Nova Scotia into space it has designed in Brookfield Place by year-end.
Wright is enjoying a busy practice in Inglewood, but like many other successful Calgary business people volunteers her time currently as a board member of Calgary Opera and Ability for Good.