IIDA Elevates Abby Scott to College of Fellows

Abby Scott, NCIDQ, IIDA, AIA Allied, LEED AP, interior design principal at HDR, has been elevated to the College of Fellows of the International Interior Design Association, the organization’s highest and most prestigious honor. 

This recognition celebrates Scott’s exceptional 22-year career and underscores her longstanding commitment to IIDA’s goals, mission and future, including serving the organization on regional, national and global levels. Notable appointments include a remarkable 11-year tenure on the IIDA Great Plains board of directors, including a term as chapter president, where her leadership resulted in the chapter being named IIDA’s Small Chapter of the Year. 

“I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this recognition,” said Matthew Whaley, managing principal at HDR. “Abby has an innate drive to mentor upcoming generations of interior designers and architects, provide key clients with inspirational and award-winning designs, and avidly engage in the community.”

Since being named IIDA’s Member of the Year in 2020, Scott has continued to advance in her roles and responsibilities within the IIDA. Today, she serves as vice president for its international board of directors. She works closely with the group to juror awards, conduct financial reviews, and strategize special initiatives to support the organization’s continued growth.  

Based in HDR’s Omaha, Nebraska, architecture studio, Scott, known for her strategic vision, spearheads numerous significant projects, from complex healthcare environments to innovative global headquarters buildings and culturally iconic libraries and museums. Her projects have consistently garnered the highest design awards from the IIDA and local and regional AIA chapters. 

Scott’s influence extends beyond the IIDA to other industry organizations, including Women in Healthcare, where she serves on its board of directors as the justice, equity, diversity and inclusion chair. She is also an active member of Women in Architecture, the American Institute of Architects and the Commercial Real Estate Women Network, further solidifying her commitment to the local design community and interior design profession. Outside of the industry, Scott’s empathetic nature inspires her volunteerism with Omaha ForUs and Magdalene Omaha to help fellow Nebraskans lead more equitable lives in the face of hardship.