Alliiance has over 50 years of experience planning and designing more than 2.5 million square feet of Science + Technology (S+T) space. Our comprehensive expertise spans research and development in both academic and business environments, enhancing our ability to promote a crossover of innovation and new ideas across this spectrum….

by Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA and Nina Ebbighausen, AIA, LEED AP Introduction and Objectives Over the last couple of years, COVID has intensified existing challenges and created new ones within higher education, affecting everything from enrollment and the bottom line to teaching methods and learning spaces. The pandemic…

by Nina Ebbighausen, AIA, LEED AP “[Our job is] not to reproduce the visible, but to make visible.” –Paul Klee   “The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building.” –Louis Kahn   Introduction In our fast-paced and nebulous digital world, architecture that…

by Amanda Arnold, AIA, NCARB, LEED GA Parks and outdoor public spaces are a valuable resource for all, and usage is surging. By providing elements that support and enhance outdoor recreation and socialization, we can respond to current needs, while allowing for flexibility in the future. An unfortunate result of…

by Mamie Harvey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA; and Kristen Salkas, AIA The research industry is booming.  Universities and corporations are looking to expand their research and development capabilities in a quick and cost-effective manner, while incorporating new benchmarks in research standards and hybrid workplace…

by Mamie Harvey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA; and Kristen Salkas, AIA State-of-the-art research laboratories support groundbreaking research and increase the speed of innovation. There are specific ways to maximize the required investment by focusing on efficiencies in square footage, infrastructure, and promoting sharing of…

by Anna Pravinata, AIA, LEED AP, NOMA and Justin Wilwerding, MA, CID, IDEC With contributions from Amanda Aspenson, AIA, CID, LEED AP and Abimbola Asojo, PhD, AIA, IDEC, LEED AP, NOMA, NCIDQ The idea of having a sustainable society gained momentum on the first Earth Day in 1970, just over…

by Nina Ebbighausen, AIA, LEED AP  “In an era where change is a currency, business as usual stopped being good enough.” – Jonathan Ive, Chief Design Officer of Apple It’s no longer news that design-led innovation can stimulate business growth, transform public services, and enhance places and cities. In a…

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….

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

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….

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…

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…

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

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…