From: Pierre-Yves Rochon, Inc. Press Release, January 2012

As interior designers, Pierre-Yves Rochon, Inc. (PYR) prides itself on clear communications with its clients, both through our graphics and our words. The language of our design solutions for hotels around the world (including the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower) can be primarily visual. But communication between the offices in Paris and Chicago can be tricky when moving between English and French.

PYR launched an initiative to have the staff in its Chicago office more fluent in French last year with language classes at their offices. The Chicago staff are enthusiastic about this opportunity, and have since been able to use their improved language skills while traveling to the Paris office or with colleagues traveling to Chicago.

However, an important part of this initiative is to have the staff comprehend the full breadth of French culture and traditions. To appreciate the great films of Godard and the New Wave, the important dishes of French cuisine, the artists and artisans, and the new trends of luxury  and fashion; these are critical elements to understanding their colleagues and the heritage of the firm. And for them to be presented in French would be ideal.

As part of the Lunch and Learn series within the office, PYR would be happy to host people who would like to present a topic on French design, fashion, trends, cuisine, art or something related to those, in French.  Please contact Annabelle Marsh if interested. She can be reached at 312.980.7749 or annabelle.marsh@pyr-design.com

About Pierre-Yves Rochon:

Founded by Frenchman Pierre-Yves Rochon in 1979, PYR is world-renowned for its award-winning luxury hospitality interior environments. Our design philosophy centers on creating a refined yet comfortable atmosphere that celebrates elegance and warmth. We aim to add value, raise standards and enhance each property’s brand and guest experience. These ideals have led to numerous awards for the interior design of five-star hotels, fine restaurants and private residences.

To accommodate global demand for our interior design services, we opened a North American office in Chicago, Illinois in 2006. This increased capacity has allowed us to serve a greater number of prestigious hotel owners and operators internationally. PYR is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Perkins+Will, Inc., a global multi-disciplinary design consultancy specializing in urban planning, architecture, interiors, branded environments and planning and strategy. This ownership structure provides PYR with a strong corporate base and extensive global resources.