Posts by Chris Opsaul
One Foot in the Past, One in the Future
A centerpiece of the New Deal of the 1930s was the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The rich legacy of CCC buildings continues to have a powerful impact on the visitor experience in our state and national parks by contributing to a sense of place and forging connections. CCC-era structures are linked to…
Read MoreMozaic East: Anything but Traditional
Solar Builder announced that the MoZaic East project has been picked as the Editor’s Choice Award winner for the most stylish project of 2020. Congrats to everyone on this terrific recognition — your vision of making this installation “anything but traditional” is truly compelling! https://bit.ly/3m0Kz9t
Read MorePassenger Terminal World’s 2021 Showcase: A Bright Future
In Passenger Terminal World’s 2021 Showcase, Alliiance shares how both passenger experience and equity can be significantly improved by industry developments – now and in the future. https://bit.ly/3280pYf
Read MorePassenger Terminal World’s 2021 Showcase: The Year Ahead
Eric Peterson, principal and Aviation Studio leader at Alliiance, describes how technology in airports will have an increasingly critical role in the 2021 Showcase of Passenger Terminal World. https://bit.ly/3p1quBN
Read MoreRiverland Community College: Transportation, Trade, & Industrial Center Grand Opening
Riverland Community College celebrated the completion of its new $10.1 million Transportation, Trade and Industrial Center at the Albert Lea campus! The project transformed portions of the campus by replacing obsolete and derelict spaces with new state of the art classrooms, makerspace/automation lab, student support spaces, and upgrades to the auto and diesel labs. A…
Read MoreUniversity Enterprise Laboratories Receives 2019 Top Projects Award
Alliiance is pleased to announce the University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) Renovation and Addition project is among Finance & Commerce’s Top Projects of 2019. UEL is a private, not-for-profit biotechnology incubator, founded in 2003 with partnership assistance from the University of Minnesota Foundation and the City of St. Paul. Their mission includes providing new biotechnology companies…
Read MoreWilliston Basin International Airport: GLC AAAE Commercial Airport Project of the Year
The Williston Basin International Airport wins its third design award! The Great Lakes Chapter of the AAAE selected the project as the Commercial Airport Project of the Year. The functional, capacity, aesthetic, and amenity improvements of the terminal have dramatically transformed the passenger experience into a state-of-the-art, world‐class facility. “The Alliiance team worked tirelessly over…
Read MoreWorking Together Apart: Moments That Matter
What happens when you build something, and nobody comes? In this final episode with user experience designers, Sangam Napit from US Bank shares how he engages clients to mitigate failure and the importance of designing from a human-centered approach.https://youtu.be/eJcvp5HuD_0
Read MoreWilliston Basin International Airport: ENR’s 2020 Colorado/Wyoming/Dakotas Best Project Winner
Alliiance is pleased to announce that the Williston Basin International Airport is among ENR Mountain States 2020 Best Projects Winners! The competition spans across a seven-state region that includes Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In addition to this award, this airport previously won the 2020 Airport Business Project of the…
Read MoreWilliston Basin International Airport: 2020 Airport Business Project of the Year
Williston Basin International Airport was named the 2020 Airport Business Project of the Year! The flexible, right-sized project is a product of planning and teamwork and was designed to meet the flying needs of Williston’s current and future travelers. https://bit.ly/3dqpujG
Read MoreThe Drive-In Revival
by Brad Githens, Design Professional As with so many different types of businesses, the restaurant has been highly impacted from COVID-19. But rest assured, it will survive and evolve into something even greater. Conceptually, within the restaurant business if they want to be successful or even survive, they must adapt. It is necessary to make…
Read MoreAdventures in Nature – Reinforcing our Fundamental Needs
by Paul Anderson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C and Evan Hall, AIA COVID-19 has Twin Citians seeking nature more than ever. Being cooped up at home has placed us in front of computer screens, phones, and TV to a point where nature is the only remedy to this new extreme of cabin fever. Visiting parks are…
Read MoreHigher Education Lab Classes Respond to COVID-19
by Anna Pravinata, Mamie Harvey, Kristen Salkas, Justin Wilwerding, Teddy Gustafson This is the second article in a series intended to study the impact of COVID-19 on learning that typically requires in-person, on-site interactions. The first article “Teaching Design Studios during COVID-19” dealt with design studio courses, including architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. University…
Read MoreWorking Together Apart: Ideation and Innovation
How do we lead creative, dispersed teams to promote innovation? In this episode of Inspired Design Ahti Hujanen, Chief Technology Officer of Glympse, shares their user experience design process and how they push innovation and build successful teams.https://youtu.be/y6kkZ10P4VU
Read MoreCampus Culture and Student Engagement: Impacts From The Pandemic
With all of the concern around social distancing and online learning, how is campus culture and student engagement being impacted? Gain a deeper understanding of the issue in this conversation between Alliiance’s Ken Sheehan, AIA, LEED AP and Dr. Ryan Langemeier, PhD, AIA, Dean of Academic Affairs at Riverland Community College, as he shares insights…
Read MoreTeaching Design Studios During COVID-19
by Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP and Justin Wilwerding, MA, CID, IDEC The tsunami of change wrought by COVID-19 has required colleges and universities to rapidly pivot to sustain the education process. In particular, design studio courses, such as architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design, are historically problem-based, collaborative, and hands-on courses. These courses foster…
Read MoreResearch Labs Begin Phased Reopening
Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP and Mamie Harvey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C share guidelines to reconfigure lab space to maintain social distancing in the most recent Tradeline article. Read the full article https://bit.ly/38cD2i5
Read MoreTwo Alliiance Projects Receive 2020 AIA Minneapolis Merit Awards
Two Alliiance projects – the University Enterprise Laboratories Renovation and Addition as well as the University of Minnesota John T. Tate Hall Renovation – were honored with AIA Minneapolis Merit Awards. Read on to learn more about these dynamic projects. University Enterprise Laboratories University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) is a creative renovation, with a new addition,…
Read MoreThe Restaurant of the Near Future
by Bruce “Albi” Albinson, LEED AP Recently my wife and I ventured out for dinner to one of our favorite local restaurants. We wanted to shake the Covid craziness out of our systems and see what the current landscape looked like. Being designers, we were curious to see just what was taking place in this…
Read MoreWorking Together Apart: Collaborating and Innovating
Can we successfully collaborate while working dispersed? Absolutely. Learn key aspects to effectively collaborate to drive innovation in this conversation between Alliiance’s Inspired Design host, Rochelle Maresh, CID, LEED AP, and Brian Rowe, Human Centered Design Integrator, as he shares tools and processes on how he has been working with dispersed teams for years.https://youtu.be/JUJeu_ez3OQ
Read MoreA Safe Return to the Research Lab
Considerations for Re-opening Laboratories by Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP and Mamie Harvey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for laboratory environments. Labs were shut down within a matter of days to comply with the “stay-at-home” order. The University of Minnesota recently developed the Sunrise Plan to assist university employees…
Read MoreCOVID-19 – Opportunity for Innovation
by Deb GiL, CID, IIDA, WELL AP, LEED AP ID+C and Rochelle Maresh, CID, LEED AP Regarding our ability to affect change, Steve Jobs said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”While current events are causing significant challenges, they are also providing many opportunities…
Read MoreWorkplace Newsletter – Winter 2020
Research The Role of Organizational Culture in Workplace Design Scholars in management, corporate real estate, and human resources recognize work engagement as the best measure of productivity in the business world today. Similarly, recent research in these, and related, fields has identified the significant impact that communication, collaboration, and workplace relationships have on the development…
Read MoreWhat’s the Buzz About Field-Based Research Lab Design?
High-impact research requires world-class facilities. The University of Minnesota Bee and Pollinator Research Laboratory is a flexible and collaborative field-based research environment that supports critical discoveries on pollinators’ health. Historically referred to as the “farm campus,” the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus is made up of low buildings with sloped roofs and silo-shaped structures…
Read MoreAmber Sausen Receives AIA 2020 Young Architects Award
Alliiance is proud to announce Amber Sausen has been selected by the American Institute of Architects as a recipient of a 2020 Young Architects Award. This prestigious award honors individuals who have made significant strides early in their careers. Amber will be presented with the Young Architects Award in May at the 2020 AIA National…
Read MoreWelcome Rochelle Maresh to Alliiance’s Workplace Studio Leadership
We’re excited to welcome Rochelle Maresh to Alliiance’s Workplace Studio leadership. As a recognized workplace strategist, designer, and project leader, Rochelle thrives on working closely with clients to advance business goals, foster employee engagement, stimulate innovation, and promote organizational wellness. Dedicated to the future of the design profession, Rochelle believes in giving back through mentorship…
Read MoreWhy Space Matters: Building a Community of Innovation
Mamie Harvey of Alliiance and Diane Rucker of University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) presented at Customer Focus North 2019, an event that discusses “breaking down silos to focus on people and experience.” Featuring the recently completed UEL expansion in St. Paul, Mamie and Diane focused on why space matters to drive innovation and the link between…
Read MoreGroundbreaking at Riverland Community College
Riverland Community College broke ground on September 23rd on the new Transportation, Trade, and Industrial Education Center. This exciting project celebrates technical training, incorporates new, state-of-the-art active learning classrooms, and consolidates the truck driving program onto one campus. Read more about the official announcement from Riverland Community College here.
Read MoreUniversity of Minnesota John T. Tate Hall Wins 2018 Finance & Commerce Top Projects Award
The University of Minnesota John T. Tate Hall was selected by Finance & Commerce as one of the Top Projects of 2018. Sustainable, state-of-the-art, and equipped for evolving technology, the renovation of Tate Hall created a plan for the 21st century building user while respecting the original building and integrating with the larger district campus…
Read MoreEcolab Global Headquarters Wins 2018 Finance & Commerce Top Projects Award
Finance & Commerce announced Ecolab Global Headquarters was selected as one of the Top Projects of 2018. To be eligible, the projects had to be fully completed by the end of 2018. For each submittal, a panel of judges looked at the degree of difficulty, creativity in design, innovative construction techniques, cooperation among contractors and…
Read More50 Over 50: Exceptional People Shattering Myths About Aging
Congratulations to Jens Vange of Alliiance and Alan Howell of the Metropolitans Airports Commission on making AARP Minnesota and Pollen Midwest’s 50 Over 50 list! These “Restroom Remakers” are recognized for their leadership in the redevelopment of the restrooms at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Get to know the other 2019 disruptors and their contributions…
Read MoreTarget Center Renovation Wins 2019 AIA Minneapolis Merit Award
The Target Center Renovation was selected as a recipient of a 2019 AIA Minneapolis Merit Award. The award recognizes a project that exemplifies a story of excellence beyond design, a design that focuses on the public’s interest, and a design solution that embodies all of the influences that shape the building. The Target Center Renovation…
Read MoreMaking the Cut: Top 300 Architecture Firms of 2019
We are proud to announce Alliiance pulled in at #160 on Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms list! See the full list of 2019 rankings here
Read MoreInspiring Women Leaders of the Future
Congrats to Aishwarya Karunanidhi on being a 2019 Beverly Hauschild-Baron Leadership Fund scholarship recipient! Aish’s active involvement with AIA and her thoughtful response about enhancing her leadership abilities helped her land one of fourteen scholarships to attend the upcoming Women’s Leadership Summit. Click here to learn more about the scholarship.
Read MoreSpotlight on Minneapolis Experts and Innovators
Featured in The Architect’s Newspaper, Facades+ 2019 conference co-chairs, Joe Simma of Alliiance and Will Babbington of Studio NYL, discuss the upcoming conference along with Alliiance’s and Studio NYL’s work. https://bit.ly/2IkrQV3
Read MoreAmber Sausen Receives AIA MN Young Architects Award
Amber exemplifies what the Young Architects Award is all about.– 2019 AIA Minnesota Young Architects Award juror comment. It is a great privilege to announce that Amber Sausen has been selected for the 2019 American Institute of Architects Minnesota Young Architects Award. The jury selected Amber for her ourstanding contributions to the advancement of the…
Read MoreInnovations Ahead: UEL Grand Opening
The two-story, 19,000 SF addition to University Enterprise Laboratories’ main building is now open. The project includes 18 labs and a shared work space. It also provides a renovated shared entrance hall and new office and conference rooms. Read the full article here.
Read MoreSneak Peek At Louisville International Airport Renderings
Alliiance and Louisville International Airport – SDF reveal renderings of potential major terminal renovations. Read the full article at https://bit.ly/2I7fTmN
Read MoreAnnouncing Alliiance’s 2019 Promotions
SENIOR ASSOCIATES Paul Anderson RA, LEED AP BD+C Paul joined Alliiance in 2016 and brought with him a deep résumé of public and community-oriented work with a particular focus on environmental learning and visitor centers throughout the Midwest and Alaska. While at Alliiance, Paul has provided business development leadership and design for a number of unique…
Read MoreWelcome Ernesto Ruiz-Garcia Alliiance’s New Lead Project Designer
Ernesto Ruiz-Garcia, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, recently brought 20 years of experience to Alliiance, along with his collaborative approach to designing buildings that are practical, sustainable, and authentic. In joining Alliiance’s design leadership team, Ernesto will lend his talent, synergistic approach, and charisma to projects across all studios, firmwide design initiatives, and in strategic business…
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