SALO, LLC on 20/20!
Incase you missed it, last Friday, August 1st, the offices of SALO, Oberon and NumberWorks were featured on ABC News’ 20/20! Walsh Bishop has provided interior design services for SALO in 2 office spaces within 4 years. They were featured as part of their recent “treadmill desk” study in association with Dr. Jim Levine and the Mayo Clinic.
Check out this interesting and innovative workplace health initiative.
Ruben Suare’s Innovative Mission at Walsh Bishop
Innovation. We talk about it often at Walsh Bishop, but what does it really stand for? The basic definition of innovation is “something new or different introduced.” We know the designers and architects at Walsh Bishop can produce unlimited innovative and creative design ideas, but does reality always support these ideas?
The recent developments of new materials and fabrication techniques has altered the way in which architects think and design. Digital fabrication techniques are changing traditional production systems and enabling architects to integrate processes from initial design through fabrication and installation. In a world that, at its most basic process-driven level has not been altered in many years, these developments are quite radical.
Walsh Bishop’s new Vice President and Managing Design Principal, Ruben Suare, is at the forefront of these exciting changes.
Ruben has held leadership roles in the design, construction and fabrication of numerous award-winning architectural projects. By pairing an architect’s creativity and aesthetic sense with a manufacturing and business industry professional’s pragmatism, Ruben challenges the way manufacturers and architects communicate and do business, and dispels the perceived limitations of both industries.
Ruben’s mission is to allow innovation to flourish and empower Walsh Bishop’s designers. “I started out in architecture, moved to fabrication, which led to manufacturing, and now I’ve returned to architecture at Walsh Bishop” says Ruben. He has paired an architect’s knowledge with executive roles in companies such as CTEK. CTEK is a multi-disciplinary, multi-industry engineering and fabrication firm that is known for fabricating innovative products that have included unusually contoured glass panels for Frank Gehry and artworks for major artists as Robert Graham and Liz Larner. One truly unique project in which Ruben was involved at CTEK was constructing the high-performance futuristic sports car used by Tom Cruise’s character in the movie “Minority Report.”
In 2004, Ruben joined 3form as the Executive Vice President of their Architectural Division. 3form wanted to work like the 21st Century version of a master stonemason, combining manufacturing, fabrication and creative consultation to help architects rethink their design process and the buildings that result. The original idea of architecture was returned to true craftsmanship, but with digital tools. Under Ruben’s leadership, 3form’s Architectural Group was recognized as one of the most innovative in the market.
Ruben’s projects at 3form included inventing the translucent wood panels used to clad the interior of the Alice Tully Hall at New York’s Lincoln Center; developing a new panel characterized by being a mirror when non-lit and transparent when lit for the new Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian Institute; fabricating the main acoustic canopy at the new performance arts center at the Univeristy of California at Fullerton and designing and fabricating one of the first translucent metal twisting facades for a building in Los Angeles.
Ruben has presented these challenges in seminars and conventions at locations throughout the world, including: University of Utah School of Architecture; The Sydney Opera House; MMFX Symposium at the Museum of Modern Art in Indianapolis; the Architecture Association in London; the International Design Conference IDI, 3form and Innovation; Columbia University School of Architecture; Utah State University; McGraw Hill - Innovation Conference; and the Southern California Institute of Architecture - “Business Innovation in Architecture”
Ruben’s work expands the possibilities in architecture and manufacturing. We are thrilled that he has come full circle to join us at Walsh Bishop where he will help us forge a synergy between design, fabrication and construction that blows the doors to our designs wide-open!
Top Project Honors for Walsh Bishop
Finance and Commerce recently awarded “Top Project” honors to two Walsh Bishop projects: Norman Pointe II and CW Lofts. According to Finance and Commerce Editor Michael Krieger, these awards are the first in what is planned to be an annual tradition of honors for MInnesota’s most innovative developers, contractors and architects.
Norman Pointe II is a class “A” speculative multi-tenant office building and the first in Minnesota to achieve LEED Core and Shell certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building is a ten-story, 322,000 square foot building constructed with a precast and clear glass curtain wall. In fact, one of the design priorities was to allow plenty of natural light to reach the interior of each floor. This serves the dual purpose of providing energy conservation along with more pleasant work areas. Other factors that resulted in the LEED certification include recycling rooms on each floor and wood materials that meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines.
This next generation office building has been designed to be more energy efficient and provide healthier work environments with leading edge technology. Each tenant and guest enters the building through an indoor park that includes a five-story waterfall. The park’s amenties include seating areas complete with WI-FI and flat screen TVs intended to allow business meetings to be held in more comfortable environments. The indoor park is directly connected to the walking trails that traverse the entire development.
When the Cream of Wheat headquarters and manufacturing plant in northeast Minneapolis packed up in 2002, it left an empty building that quickly fell into disrepair. This turned around when an enterprising renovation team set out to transform the aging landmark into stylish, contemporary condominiums that are now known as the CW Lofts.
This historic four-story building and 135-foot tower was built initially in 1927. The rehabilitated site preserves and enhances a historic resource and creates a sustainable urban environment while retaining it’s unique character. The site now provides 124 condominiums, common spaces, offices and parking. The highly detailed lobby and office spaces in the existing building have been restored and include a gallery dedicated to the story of the site and company. This redevelopment and renovation maintains the Cream of Wheat legacy and creates a dynamic community through the use of spaces in the building that could never be replicated with new construction.
Schematic Design Moving Quickly!
To maintain a fast-paced schedule, Walsh Bishop has already started the schematic design phase of our new building. Dennis Walsh, Troy Goetz and Stephen Knowles are leading a team that is currently working through three significant issues that will have design and other project implications.
They are:
1. Finalizing plans for the new elevator
2. Determining new windows and daylighting options
3. Exploring geothermal/mechanical systems and needs.
In addition, Andrea Hammel Wollak is leading our sustainable design efforts as we excitedly pursue LEED Core and Shell certification at a platinum-level!
Walsh Bishop is committed to using this space as a standard for what we do and how we live, create and connect. Continue to watch this space for regular updates on our progress!
WBA’s New Office: Designing a Simple + Bold Environment
Walsh Bishop is thrilled to announce that we are now the proud new owners of an office building in Minneapolis’ warehouse district. The property will be built out to accommodate not only Walsh Bishop’s offices, but also other tenants who will be attracted to what is planned to be a simple, elegant and bold environment that allows us to fully practice what we preach.
Walsh Bishop will be moving out of what has been a fairly traditional corporate environment to one that will speak directly to our identity and present an innovative, sustainable and creative environment that supports and promotes the work we do for our clients. The warehouse district of Minneapolis is a hip, design-forward neighborhood full of trendy restaurants, shops and galleries. The building and space we plan to create is not just one with appropriately high standards and performance expectations… it is the type of building environment that should BE the standard, a role model that showcases how the environments we create are designed in connection with the community surrounding it, and as a result of the people who will inhabit the space.
We invite you to watch this space for regular updates as we continue to move forward with this exciting development!
Turtle Creek Casino Grand Opening!
Walsh Bishop and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are proud to showcase Michigan’s newest hotel-casino facility, Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel!
The all new, 360,000-square-foot Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel in Williamsburg, Michigan, is bringing casino gaming in the Midwest to an entirely new level of sophistication, convenience, and comfort. And the unique facility’s striking modern design incorporates many environmentally responsible elements: LEED certified building materials, state-of-the-art under floor ventilation system, large skylights providing daylight to the gaming floor, energy efficient lighting, and areas of green roof. Turtle Creek is one of the first casinos designed to such a high environmental and aesthetic standard.
Turtle Creek’s Grand Opening was on June 24th, so make your reservations now. Get ready to relax in one of the hotel’s elegant suites before checking out an impressive variety of gaming options on the 52,000-square-foot gaming floor. Cruise by the cascading water wall, through the high stakes lounge, sample the distinct dining choices, enjoy the color changing lights from one of the many vistas overlooking the gaming floor, and finally enjoy some great live music in the night club before calling it a day. It will take more than one day to enjoy everything Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel has to offer.
Check out this past Sunday’s article on Turtle Creek Casino on Michigan’s mlive.com!
http://www.mlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2008/07/_the_turtle_risesall_new.html
Jake’s City Grille, Plymouth, MN
We’re pleased to have been awarded another Jake’s City Grille in Plymouth, MN. The Walsh Bishop team is all about developing long term and rewarding relationships with our clients! Since developing the prototype concept for Owner’s Rob and Tony Jacob, we’ve designed three other facilities for the brothers, each meeting outstanding success. The concept for the casual eatery blends the energy of a city café with the comfort of a neighborhood gathering spot. The prominent and open bar creates a welcoming first impression, with the open flames of the wood fired oven adding warmth and a buzz of activity as the chef’s prepare signature dishes. The concept features private dining areas, a patio seating 150 customers with a full bar for Minnesotans craving the summer sun. The Plymouth location will be one of their largest facilities, with over 8,900 SF, but they have no worries about filling up the joint. They currently operate the building as a Jake’s Sports Café – a concept they are phasing out over several years. It’s successful for them, but with an eye to the future and growing competition, they know that their City Grille concept will out perform, not only their current revenue, but their other locations have proven thatit consistently beats the national chains. People are hungry for something unique and different from the homogenized consistency of the franchised restaurant – and the brothers are poised to deliver. Jacob Restaurant Group owns and operates three Jake’s City Grille, two Jake’s Sports Cafés and Esquire Magazine’s 2006 Best Bar in America, Nye’s Polonaise.
Freedom of Expression
Walsh Bishop is excited to talk about our recent work for Crash + Sue’s, video post-production company, in downtown Minneapolis. They asked us to reinvestigate their environment, which is increasingly becoming a creative center not only for their own company, but also an audio studio, where independent artists, web developers, and other creatives share their space. Our design team focused on delivering a dynamic office environment that values self expression and collaboration. The project consisted of reorganizing the entry, social spaces, and corridor to unify the diverse personalities within the offices and studios. The social spaces, as part of the main circulation route, unify the space and create identity, while the adjacent and adjoining rooms remain independent spaces. The studio spaces are lowly lit along parallel corridors to optimize the creation and client review of the studio’s work. The main entrance, lobby, reception, CGI suite and lounge area revel in the control of light and color, creating dynamic experiences. Pixels, parallels, filters, frames and manipulation/control of light and shadow are central to the design. All of the design elements respond to the client’s identity while providing a flexible creative office environment that can be responsive to the various voices within.
A Month of Practice Building
May was a busy month for Walsh Bishop’s LEAP Task Team! At Walsh Bishop, LEAP stands for “Leaders in Environmental Awareness and Protection.” The LEAP Task Team raises sustainability awareness, educates and provides a framework for sustainable design and operational decisions. In May, the LEAP Task Team presented Walsh Bishop’s mid-year sustainability report and created master specifications for indoor air quality (IAQ) management, environmental procedures and requirements for products. In addition, after identifying the industry need for improved logistics and management, the LEAP Task Team developed three tools that will streamline Walsh Bishop’s internal sustainable design process and provide additional value to our clients.The first tool is the Cost of LEED Matrix which identifies historic costs associated with each LEED credit. This document was produced from renowned sources, as well as from input by leading local contractors. It will be a valuable tool for guiding the Owner to feasible LEED points; and will be a great companion document to energy modeling and life cycle reports that are produced to identify payback. The second tool is the Project Management Checklist for LEED. The checklist is based on the services described in AIA Contract Document B214 Standard Form of Architect’s Services - LEED Certification. Using this document will aid in accurate budgeting, staffing, project expectation and production during each phase of the project. Lastly, the LEAP Task Team created the Checklist of Reference Standards for LEED, which will simplify the scope and technical responsibilities required by LEED projects.These innovative tools further enhance our commitment to, and experience with, sustainable design practices.
New Black Bear Gaming Floor Open!
This Memorial Day weekend, many Minnesotans headed to Black Bear Casino to check out the new gaming facility. Doors just opened this past Thursday, May 22, 2008!
The new gaming floor is over 81,000 square feet and holds 2,000 slot machines. Guests can choose from three eateries in the new space: the chic Seven Fires Steakhouse, the casual Buffet at the Bear, or the cozy Sage Deli. And what better way to end your night than by hitting the dance floor at the new Cobalt Nightclub and Cabaret, featuring live entertainment and free admission!
Walsh Bishop proudly worked with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to transform Black Bear into one of the top resort destinations in Minnesota. And that transformation is nearly complete! The 250-room, 12-story hotel tower opened in February, and the convention center will be open soon. Watch for Black Bear’s Grand Opening later this summer!
