New Minneapolis Impound Facility to Showcase New Era Design IdeasWe really are living in a new era with an increased sense of urgency for how we treat each other, live side by side, and respect nature. With the recent revelations about institutional discrimination and community medical responsibility, Clever Architecture has taken a bold stance on how positive, responsive design can help bring our communities closer together, no matter the facility or project. Our recent design for the new Minneapolis Impound Facility showcases several new concepts:
Positive Human Relations We developed a place that had respect for both the employees and the clients of the Impound Facility. It's not an easy thing to get a car towed, but the service is something our entire community needs in order to keep our streets functioning. So we designed a space that is comfortable, approachable, dials down conflict, and shares uses with the community in an effort to live well together. Respect for the Environment Built on contaminated lands, we took an approach to develop a site that was modern, forward thinking, and lives harmoniously with rainwater, plantings, and the facility needs. Our LEED Silver level building compliments the site with a generous amount of natural light and ventilation. Modern Classic Materials Our materials palate for the building and site combined classic, well tested materials with innovative placement and detailing for a building that looks modern and will last the test of time. As with all our designs, we marry the program and needs with an approach that is sensitive to our new Era of human community respect and environmental sensitivity.
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Bidding Under Way For Clever Architecture’s New Service Centric Minneapolis Impound Facility2/18/2020 Minneapolis Impound Facility Entrance and Drive Through Rendering | Designed By Clever Architecture Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved Impound Facility Gets Multiple New OpportunitiesPRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 18 February 2020 Contact Russell Peterson 763 | 226 | 3063 Russ@CleverArchitecture.com Saint Paul, Minnesota | After several years of intense design focusing on improving the neighborhood and creating a more approachable and service-oriented site, building, and customer process, Clever Architecture’s new design for the Minneapolis Impound Facility is currently bidding at the following link: https://comet-fs.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/psc/fs92prdsupplier/SUPPLIER/ERP/c/SCP_PUBLIC_MENU_FL.SCP_PUB_BID_CMP_FL.GBL "Our team spent considerable time analyzing data and looking for opportunities. We were focused on building a good neighbor facility and establishing a customer centric complex that improved image, process, and security,” said Russell Peterson RA CID. “We created an improved flow for movement, used overflow as an opportunity to give back to the community in a flexible meeting space, and repositioned the building to create an intersection on Van White Boulevard that takes traffic out of the neighborhood and gives the City of Minneapolis the opportunity to develop land that had no previous access,” continued Peterson. “We really gave this project every potential opportunity we could!” Some of the other design features include natural daylighting, a custom created durable flooring, safe and modern interiors, functional customer service counter, modern restrooms, and a site that was sensitive to the existing land history and water runoff. End Release CONNECTING YOUR STRATEGY IN REAL TIME DESIGN8 Design Trends In Future Employee Centricity
Workplace Future | Employee Centric DesignPart of the Clever Architecture process in creating a successful workplace is to connect a company's vision and strategic plan to design outcomes. When we do that, we inherently find commonalities between organizations. One such commonality of late is the idea that the future workplace will be designed to attract and retain the most talented and high performing employees creating individual and group efficiency having a positive effect on the company bottom line. We believe partnering with prefabrication expert DIRTT is the perfect way to help our clients in a variety of workforce environments anticipate the future and increase company value. We have identified eight future workforce characteristics or trends that should be considered when making important space and design decisions. 1. Employee Focused Experience We know there is no one identical employee. People work differently. Even in the same job or task. For years companies built seas of open offices or workstations where one space was designed and all had to conform. Now we see a move towards desking where many employees are forced to sit side by side assuming they all do the same task the same way in a very public experience. These two models could not be further from the truth. We believe the focus should be on a variety of experiences in both how an individual works and how they come into contact with others through either group work or casual encounters. This means a predefined variety of work environments that are flexible enough to change as the company grows and employees change. 2. Blended Culture The blended workforce has created a new dynamic. This is not just about diversity in ethnic culture it is about diversity in types of employees that include full time working side by side with temporary and contract talent augmented by artificial intelligence and robotics. Combining this with an increase in virtual workers makes teaming more flexible and creative with greater company agility and profitability. This is a dynamic and changeable environment. 3. Technology + Robotics Integration Ever increasing automation will offer new opportunities for creativity and to increase productivity. In the end creating new tasks and job types and evolving others. Many experts actually believe automation will increase hiring levels, but change the work environment creating the opportunity to morph environments frequently. Spaces that can adapt to these technologies quickly will be a key to the future. 4. Talent Attraction The use of workforce environment as a talent acquisition device has become a new mainstay in design. Providing flexibility within the physical space in addition to remote opportunities changes how the overall environment is built and is changed over time. This includes various opportunities for working singularly and within groups. Technology allows the ability to be more mobile within the physical environment. On site amenities for creativity and play/work are also a driver to attract talent. Newer generations are looking for more than just salary. They are looking for an attractive environment that speaks to the soul of their personality. 5. Changing Jobs As artificial intelligence, robotics, and other technology increases, no one really knows where everything is going. But jobs will change and companies who are prepared will be ahead of the curve and well positioned for profitability. Again, flexibility and adaptability will be key. 6. Increased Humanity More and more companies, driven by the new workforce's desire to help others, are increasingly paying attention to their impact on humanity. Not just being generous and helpful in general, but acknowledging that human skills such as empathy, persuasion, personal service, strategic thinking, problem solving, caretaking, etc. are an intrinsic part of the company's potential. Spaces that reflect and celebrate these characteristics will be the efficiency of the future. 7. Profitable Efficiencies As productivity increases, the need to get the actual work done increases through various techniques including environmental manipulation. Finding ways within the environment to help individual employees become more profitable on a case by case basis will be increasing. This leads to individualized options that can be flexible between employees. Additionally, effective use of materials and modular changeover with an eye towards the environment will reduce expense through recycling and the elimination of waste creating other layers of efficiency. 8. Turnaround Speed With all this increase adaptability and flexibility, there is an increasing need to turnaround workforce environment changes. Thus having a prefabricated system of components with a future view manufactured in a controlled environment off site nd then recycled will be ideal in saving time and money as environments change. DIRTT | Withum StoryThe Withum story is a great example of how a company used ICE and VR to create efficiency and adaptability in design as well as make employee focused design decisions prior to construction.
Clever + DIRTT | The Hive StoryClever and DIRTT created successful and adaptable space in a retrofit for the 3M Hive think tank. The spaces created became so popular that they had to put signs up to prevent other divisions from using their spaces. A variety of flexible and adaptable techniques were used that included fully integrated technology and acoustical controls for open workspaces, enclosed teaming rooms, breakout areas, and conferencing spaces. Author | Russell Peterson ALA CIDRussell Peterson is a strategist and architect with Clever Architecture in Saint Paul Minnesota. He enjoys digging holes in the ground to plant trees and singing unless his daughters tell him to shush. The following resources were used in developing this article:
https://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/how-workforce-will-change-in-2019-6-predictions.html https://www.mercer.com/our-thinking/career/voice-on-talent/five-workplace-trends-shaping-the-future-of-work-which-are-most-important-to-you.html https://danschawbel.com/blog/the-top-10-workplace-trends-for-2019/ https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/13/5-top-workplace-trends-to-watch-in-2019.html https://blog.wunderlandgroup.com/in-with-the-new-8-defining-characteristics-of-the-future-of-work
AuthorRussell Peterson RA CID is a practice leader in the firm of Clever Architecture. He talks way to much and listens even more. The best part of being an architect for Russ is the people. His favorite project is the next project. He is usually reachable at 763 | 226 | 3063 or russ@cleverarchitecture.com. Saint Paul, MN, October 5, 2015 | Clever Architecture is pleased to announce that we have been selected as a featured firm in the latest issue of Licensed Architect magazine.
“It is exciting to moving so quickly,” said Principal and Architect Russell Peterson. “In just a few short months we have more than quadrupled our previous year’s billings and are getting national attention from the likes of Licensed Architect magazine. It really is quite remarkable and humbling.” Clever Architecture was contacted by Licensed Architect after they had reviewed their work and process on their website at http://CleverArchitecture.com. They were impressed by the depth of experience, client range and the project outcomes in such a short time frame. Featured projects in the magazine include: A cabin for two photographers in north central Minnesota; the Native American Montessori Immersion Preschool in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Charles Eastman Ohiyes’A Trail Head in Morton, Minnesota; and new offices for the Transportation and Environmental Planning group of SRF Consulting. “We are already so busy beyond my wildest expectations. I just looked at our workload and realized we have nearly a dozen projects going simultaneously in our office. We are definitely looking to add additional staff in the coming months,” said Russ. “It is exciting to see years of experience and months of planning pay off so quickly.” Clever Architecture is headed by Marcia Stemwedel and Russell Peterson. They are conveniently located in the historic Baker Court Building at 821 Raymond Avenue near Highway 280 and Interstate 94. The firm is a block from the Green Line on University and 5 minutes from either Minneapolis or St. Paul’s downtown. The published article can be found here: http://issuu.com/licensedarchitectwinter2009/docs/lo-res-1 on pages 18 and 19. CLEVER ARCHITECTURE RELEASES ICONIC THEATER CONCEPT FOR MAIN STREET SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS8/31/2016 Saint Paul, MN, May 17, 2016 | Clever Architecture is excited to release its innovative concept sketches for a flexible proscenium theater for the Main Street School of Performing Arts.
“The first viewing of our theater concept was at Main Street’s major fund raiser Spark The Arts. It was so well received that donors were rushing the operations director to see how they could help make it a reality,” said Architect Russell Peterson. “We have been working with Main Street for over a year to expand their performing arts education concept and this theater will be the main feature of their new complex.” “We call this theater the black box proscenium. It has a mirrored teaching stage with the ability to reconfigure the seating into multiple stage presentation types. It also features side flies where sets move in horizontally instead of vertically. It will be outfitted with advanced sound technology, LED lighting systems, flexible seating, iconic house lights and a fully equipped tech booth,” said Peterson, “It is the only theater of its kind in Minnesota and will seat approximately 500 depending on the performance layout.” Peterson continued, “There will be much more to come as Main Street hones in on its new location in Eden Prairie. This theater is the first of three theaters envisioned for a combined advanced performing arts community center and high school. The other two, a white box arena theater and an outdoor summer stock theater stage are currently being developed.” Main Street School for Performing Arts is an award winning, tuition-free charter school currently located in Hopkins, Minnesota. It is one of the country’s leading performing arts high school conservatories with alumni in professional stage practice and at some of the leading performing arts schools both nationally and internationally. Main Street has the biggest performing arts schedule of any high school in Minnesota and features training in music, theater, dance, and musical theater. Its combination of conservatory training, advanced academic classes and an urban community vibe make it unique among Minnesota’s charter schools. It is in authorizing partnership with the University of St. Thomas. More information about Main Street can be found at MSSPAHS.org Clever Architecture, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, is quickly rising among new architecture firms in the Twin Cities. Established only a year and a half ago, this boutique firm promotes unique visions, strategic planning, iconic designs, and buildable solutions. More information about Clever Architecture can be found at CleverArchitecture.com.
McDonald's has been in the news recently for a dramatic sales drop. According to Forbes, net income is down by nearly 30%. United States sales alone are down more than 4%. McDonald's has been plagued by a number of issues world wide including health scares in China and Russia as well as competition from fast casual "healthier" restaurants in the United States. Several sources have cited McDonald's burgeoning menu as the biggest problem. Some might say that it bit off more than it could chew. But from a retail designer's standpoint the biggest issue of all is that McDonald's is having an identity crisis as originally mentioned in The Economist from January 2015. As McDonald's expanded globally they started making local adaptations, which for the most part is a good idea. Brands around the world do that frequently with great success. Everything is local. But in order to fend off competition from the likes of Starbucks and Chipotle, McDonald's entered an era of redesigning all of its restaurants. It developed a new, more European approach it branded McCafe. Then it imported those design features into its American regular McDonald's restaurants. An article in Lab Brand from 2011 sheds some light, "According to French designer Philippe Avanzi, the newly designed spaces are trying to enhance customer experience and attract a younger crowd... In order to reach out to them, McDonald’s has decided to change the original design of stores. The first step in their design strategy was dropping the 'clownish' red that for so many years has been the key element of McDonald’s interior and exterior decoration. This red has now been replaced with more subtle colors, such as light oranges and greens. Another change has been the upgrading of the chairs from industrial steel to wooden and more colorful stools. In some cases, leather chairs have been used..." Attracting and retaining a younger crowd is good, but they forgot one thing. The McDonald's theory was always "get them when they are young and you will retain them for life." So it pushed out the young kids (the red, iconic shape, the clown, the playland) in favor of the young adult millenials (streamlined, hipster colors, european cafe, wifi). The result is a suburban, non descript retail box with a yellow swoosh and an upscale hospital cafeteria inside. (See new design samples below.) Additionally, they made regional changes from one landscape to another resulting in a cacophony of designs that have removed it from an iconic brand. Here are two screenshots from searches of McDonald's images: exteriors and interiors Can you make out the brand? I'm not sure the public can. Now imagine this approach being applied across all areas of the restaurant, food, service, quality control, uniforms, signage... I think you can see where this is leading. It isn't just that the menu got to big and out of control, so did the rest of the restaurant. And it started with the idea that they needed to attract hipster millenials on a regional basis to boost sales. Obviously, it didn't work.
By Russell Peterson
Russell Peterson | ALA CID is an architect, interior designer, blogger and founder of Clever Architecture in Minnesota. He has designed a number of prototype projects for iconic brands including Life Time Fitness and Vision World. He can be reached at russ@cleverarchitecture.com. Photos assumed in the public domain unless otherwise notified.
In the meantime, if you are worried about productivity and the health of your employees, give Clever Architecture a call or send us an email. We can provide numerous solutions to fit your need and budget.
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