The Foundation Architects Designs New Brewery

The Foundation Architects recently completed a project for Badger Hill Brewing Company.

One of the new endeavors that we’re seeing more of are microbreweries. They have unique needs from the perspective of space use. Often there are two distinct areas. One for brewing beer and another for serving beer. Each must address things such as seating, equipment and movement.

Another part of the design process is consideration of mechanical and utility elements. For a brewpub that incorporates tour groups another layer of safety and presentation must be incorporated.

For Badger Hill the work also included coordination with the local authorities to gain proper permits. Of course the end result is what we’re most interested in—great beer!

Be sure to stop in and try their really good stout beer named Foundation. Coincidence?


The before photos by Brian Kaufenberg for The Growler Magazine.

The after photos by Aaron Davidson for The Growler Magazine.

Local NHL Couple Develop Event Center with The Foundation Architects

A project that has been in the works for a few years came to light in a Star Tribune article yesterday. The client is local couple Jamie and Jordan Leopold. Their vision is for a wedding-focused event center in a visually appealing spot. After a few site reviews and initial discussions with local municipalities a spot along the Mississippi River in Brooklyn Park has been selected.

Many projects draw community interest, but this project has garnered more than typical attention because of the purpose (event center), location (along the river) and ownership group. Leopold's are a NHL family, Jordan plays defenseman for the St. Louis Blues. Born in Golden Valley and a U of M alumni the local ties run deep. Jamie, in a presentation to the planning commission noted that the capacity of just over 300 makes it a great wedding reception spot. Access to the river flats for a unique ceremony will add to the attractiveness of the event center.

The one-story building at 9510 West River Road (where 610 crosses the Mississippi) includes an expansive deck with views of the river and a defining tower to provide wayfinding to guests.

Read the Star Tribune article.

Save the Date: September 16, 2014

Do You Remember 1994?
We do! September 16, 2014 is a milestone for us. So many great projects, great clients and great days for The Foundation Architects. We are excited to celebrate this milestone, and hope you'll join us. Stay tuned for details. Or call us at 612-340-5430 if you want a sneak peek at what we're organizing!

Building a Better Stadium

There are a number of examples of new stadiums—all here in the Twin Cities! The Minnesota Twins home, Target Field. TCF Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Gophers. The "X" as Minnesota Wild fans describe Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Even Target Center, home of the Minnesota Timberwolves, has had a grass rooftop added and new plans for enhancements. Of course, the new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings is top of mind as we witness it growing from the foundation up in dramatic fashion.

Each stadium has brought a unique value to their fans and communities. However, many continue to see these expanses as underused, expensive and extravagant when there are so many community needs. Recently, a designer of events on a grand scale dove into stadium designs at the conceptual level. The outcomes of the work provide some interesting and thought-provoking ideas.

For instance, consider sliding down seating areas into a temporary pool in the playing area. You'll find the visuals and ideas a fun escape (especially if you are near the construction of a stadium).

Image credit: The Rockwell Group

Is Angie's List Helpful?

Many homeowners rely on Angie's List to get honest feedback about professionals. However, some providers are critical of the business and question its usefulness. According to the magazine Remodeling, many of its critics suggest the service charges them a significant fee to advertise without generating many leads. Another issue for some is that just one or two negative reviews can make it hard to generate new leads—and that money spent on advertising can influence how easily those bad reviews go away. Read more about what remodelers are saying and let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you!

Two People Walk into a Bar

Restaurants, bars and cafés are where we go to connect and celebrate with friends. And architecture plays a role in these connections. Recently, the American Institute of Architects celebrated these connections at the video competition Videotect 4: Two People Walk into a Bar at the Walker Art Center.

Want to see which videos won the Grand Prize, Honorable Mention and Viewers' Choice awards?  Go here. The Grand Prize-winning video will be shown at the 2014 MSP International Film Festival in April.

Architecture Minnesota, the award-winning magazine of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Minnesota, puts on Videotect, an annual video competition that invites people to create short videos focused on various design themes. The yearly contest has featured such themes as sustainable transportation and the skyway’s influence on urban life.

2014 Star of the North

The Foundation Architects designs attractive and comfortable dental offices that are customer-centric with a nod to the dentists and staff. Look for us at the Star of the North—Minnesota Dental Association’s annual meeting—April 24–26 at Saint Paul RiverCentre. Learn more.

Glow Home

                                                   Image by Toshiyuki Yano, courtesy of Dwell

Natural light adds a feeling of warmth to a room—now imagine an entire home that’s filled with natural light. Japanese architect Makoto Tanijiri designed a compact three-story home in Hiroshima, Japan, using polycarbonate plastic for the exterior walls and skipping the interior walls altogether so that the light can shine through.

It’s exactly what the homeowner Daisuke Tokuyama wanted for his family of five. The home shines bright—even on cloudy days. In fact, Tokuyama hardly ever needs to turn on a light. And because the one-and-a-half-inch-thick plastic sheets are milky white (not translucent), family members need not worry about being on display for the entire neighborhood—day or night.

This well-designed home is also aesthetically pleasing—glowing like a firefly at night against an urban setting.

View inspired work by The Foundation.

Architecture Goes to the Movies

Architecture Minnesota, the award-winning magazine of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Minnesota, puts on Videotect, an annual video competition that invites people to create short videos focused on various design themes. The yearly contest has focused on such themes as sustainable transportation and the skyway’s influence on urban life.

AIA’s fourth-annual Videotect video competition challenged entrants to show how social interactions are enhanced when smart designs are incorporated into restaurants, bars and cafés. See the finalists’ videos here.

Want to see which video wins? The Walker Art Center will host the show Videotect 4: Two People Walk into a Bar on Thursday, March 13. Videos will be screened at the event and an all-star cast of judges will reveal their picks for the Grand Prize and Honorable Mention prizes. The audience gets to choose the winner of the Viewers’ Choice Award. The video that takes home the Grand Prize will also be shown at the 2014 MSP International Film Festival in April.

The show starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Walker Cinema. Tickets are free.

Medal-Worthy Architecture

Long after Olympic athletes return to their home countries, the buildings that housed them and their sports stand as a reminder to the inhabitants and tourists to the host city. Whether those structures (stadiums, sports complexes and living quarters) are viewed in a positive light depends much on their look and use in the years to come. Here’s a look at some notable structures from past Olympics.

Canada House

Photo courtesy City Caucus via Flickr

Designed by Vancouver’s most renowned architect Arthur Erickson, Canada House was home to the Canadian men’s hockey team during the 2010 Olympics. Two years after the games ended, the units in the building sold for $1.3 to $6 million. The building looks nothing like the others around it with its angled balconies and zigzagged metal panels. Reflected light on the building turns it gold at times.

Montjuïc Municipal Pool

The Barcelona pool was the stage for the diving and water polo events at the 1992 summer Olympics. Originally built in 1929, this public pool has captivated locals and visitors alike with its stunning panoramic view of the city for almost a century. Scott Manson from the Guardian calls it “the world’s best swimming pool”. Its rock star location wowed Kylie Minogue who used the pool as the setting for a recent music video.


 Laoshan Velodrome

Photo courtesy Flickr

Designed by Schuermann Architects for the 2008 winter games in Beijing, the Laoshan Velodrome hosts national and international cycling competitions—and fencing competitions—today. With its striking dome-shaped roof, this multifunctional structure is also aesthetically pleasing.

Let’s keep the conversation going! What are some of your favorite (and least favorite) Olympic structures? We’d love to hear from you.

Best New Products

Great architecture stands the test of time and passing trends—and that holds true with interior design elements as well. Interior Design magazine announced its favorite new products from 2013. 

Which products do you believe will turn into classics?

Here are some of our favorite new products: 

Jeremy Cole Flax Chandelier
Made from 350 handcrafted porcelain ceramic leaves arranged for even light distribution. Learn more.

J.B. Schmetterling Pendant Light
A halogen light source is suspended in the middle of a mouth-blown glass bulb form surrounded by eight intricately handmade insects. Learn more. 

Rakks Shelving, Pole Mounted Systems
A modern design perfect for both residential and commercial use. Learn more. 

View the entire list of products. Feel like they left something off the list? Be sure and connect with us on Facebook to let us know your thoughts.

Interior-Design Trends: Color of the Year

Pantone Color Institute™ announced Radiant Orchid as the 2014 Color of the Year in December 2013. It’s a great fit with some of the biggest interior design trends of 2014, namely that we’re seeing a decline in muted neutrals and an increase in rich, saturated tones.

The idea of a “neutral tone” has been elevated. For example, many may think of the color beige as a neutral but may ignore that a color like navy blue can really shine as a neutral foundation to build a space around.

Sherwin Williams regularly assembles its trend forecast. Note the rich plums and peacock blue in the Curiosity collection and the vividly bright hues of the Intrinsic collection. What colors are calling to you?

The Foundation Architects prides itself on finding unique solutions for each individual client. This sometimes translates into enthusiastically embracing trend reports for some projects while choosing something other than the newest and latest for others.

If you’re interested in a thoughtful consultation about a project that's creative and efficient and also realizes your personal vision, let’s keep the conversation going: call Bob at 612.340.5430 or email at bob@foundationarch.com.

View inspired work by The Foundation.

Smog-Eating Building

Innovative design features are making buildings greener than ever, primarily by reducing a building’s energy usage. But this building in Mexico City takes it to the next level. A new tile, Prosolve 370e, as seen on the exterior of the Torre de Especialidades outside Mexico City’s Manuel Gea Gonzalez Hospital, converts the chemicals found in pollution into less toxic substances.



The tiles are coated with a special pigment that reacts with air pollutants when they're exposed to UV light. The chemicals then break down into compounds like carbon dioxide and water. The pigment will continue to purify the air until the coating wears off.

The unique eye-catching design is certainly a conversation piece, but beyond that, many have described it as a powerful symbol that something is being done to make Mexico City a better and safer place for its inhabitants.

Sustainability and green design is not just a trend to us. It’s an industry standard. The best design is an affordable solution you feel great about now and in the future.View our portfolio.

Let's keep the conversation going! Contact us or connect with us on Facebook.

See You at the Show

This year marks the 88th Annual Minneapolis District Midwinter Dental Meeting on January 31, 2014. 

We’re anticipating the lecture, “A Sound Recession-Proof Practice: Integrating the Team and Creating the Value,” by special guest, Dr. Lou Graham. We look forward to seeing faces new and familiar at the Marriott Southwest Hotel at 5801 Opus Parkway in Minnetonka.

See you then!

See You at the Show, St. Paul!

The Foundation Architects is looking forward to the 2014 Midwinter Meeting of the Saint Paul District Dental Society.

This, the 60th Annual Midwinter Meeting, is extra special—with an exciting new location at the University of St. Thomas in the Anderson Student Center on the Saint Paul Campus.

Check out the programs book for details like parking and for the itinerary.

We're looking forward to seeing new and familiar faces from the St. Paul District! We'll see you January 17 between 7:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.!

Learn more.

Remodel Trends

A recent Houzz and Home Survey shows the trend of increased home remodel continues in 2014.

Here are some highlights:

• Bathrooms and kitchens capture the bulk of remodel dollars and attention. 
• While some homeowners will tackle some projects solo, the majority will look to professionals to address their renovation goals. 
• Minneapolis has one of the highest number of respondents who feel now is especially a good time to remodel or add an addition. 
• The key motivation in remodels is to improve the look, feel, flow and layout of a home. 

What is your outlook for 2014? What would you like to improve about your home? We’re happy to keep the conversation going.

Check out residential remodel projects by The Foundation.

Are You Having a Green Winter?

The Foundation Architects is LEED accredited, which means we are serious about sustainability. Our model of green design and architecture drives all of our solutions. We care about the environment, and so do our clients.

The recent polar vortex has upgraded the topic of weather from just small talk, and many are concerned about keeping warm efficiently. Here are some great tips for remaining green during this frigid season:

Upgrade your thermostat.
There’s no need to overheat an empty home. Programmable thermostats make it possible to reduce the amount of energy used to heat your home when you’re not there and keep it comfortable when you are around, like on the weekend.

Seal your windows.
Reflective window film reduces loss of heat conducted outside your windows and reflects it back indoors. Storm window kits—the plastic sheeting you affix to window frames—are a quick and easy solution for weatherproofing. A simple caulking product can work as a quick and non-permanent seal for spaces and gaps around windows and other spaces that create wasteful drafts.

Reflect your radiators’ heat.
Instead of heating your walls, install heat reflectors—thin sheets that fit behind radiators that push heat into the room instead.

Weatherstrip and block. 
Foam, plastic or rubber strips provide a tight seal around doors or windows and help keep heat in and cold out. Draft blockers—foam plates that fit behind outlets and light switches—serve a similar function and are easy to install with a simple screwdriver.

What are some other creative, or downright simple, solutions you’ve arrived at for keeping warm while staying green?

Nicollet Mall Renovation

A few months ago, the city of Minneapolis started collecting bids from architecture firms nationwide to give the pedestrian street, Nicollet Mall, a complete revamp. The project, schedule for 2016 completion, was just awarded to James Corner Field Operations.

Peter Brown, the project consultant, said the remodel will be “more active and vibrant year round.”

The renovation plans are extensive and designed to invite interaction:

• New lighting
• New paving
• Furniture installation

The last reconstruction occurred in the late 1980s and its design was long considered flawed. The new desing will divide the 12-block street into three zones—Live, Work and Play—each with unique features as their names suggest. For example, the Play zone will use urban furniture such as outdoor amphitheaters to create a more social atmosphere. And in addition to increasing green space, the plan proposes bus stops equipped with coffee shops and newsstands.

Hot List: Eco-Architect Ken Yeang Shares Philosophies

Recently posted on the Architect's Newspaper Blog is a two-part Q&A session with Ken Yeang, considered a founder of the sustainable architecture movement. Read this sampling of Yeang's insights on his industry:

Why has the adoption of these concepts by the building community been so slow?
I am not sure why our concepts and ideas on green design have been slow to gain traction by the building industry and by our community of professionals. It may be because public adoption of new ideas first requires champions by important figures like politicians and leaders in the profession and industry.

Do you feel that net-zero operational energy performance of a tall building is practically achievable on a widespread basis?
If this built form shall be with us for a while, my contention is that we should not negate them, but on the contrary seek to find ways to make them more humane to inhabit and find ways to make them as green as possible. The net-zero operational energy performance of a tall building can in principle be practically achievable, but it will be dependent upon the level of internal comfort conditions acceptable to dwellers.

Do your theories of eco-architecture and bioclimatic design translate easily to climatic zones outside of the tropics?
Certainly the theories of eco-architecture and bioclimatic design are generic and are applicable to all climatic zones—not just in the tropics. However we must be clear that ecoarchitecture and bioclimatic solutions are site specific. What is effective for one locality and for that latitude, climate conditions and local ecology cannot be applicable to other latitudes, other climatic conditions and other local ecological conditions.

Read the rest of the interview here and here. Yeang addresses his education, his design history, his thoughts on where the industry is going and more. It's definitely worth a read.

NYC Promotes Exercise-Friendly Architecture

Taking the stairs instead of riding an elevator or escalator can provide great health benefits over the long run. Especially for workers with sedentary jobs, it's important to have some physical activity during the work day.

The Center for Active Design, introduced by NYC Mayor Bloomberg, was created to address the growing concern over international obesity ranks, but especially in the United States. This group is dedicated to promoting health through designing buildings, streets and neighborhoods that encourage greater physical movement.

Inside their "Key Design Concepts" page is a checklist of suggestions to implement inside buildings to promote more movement. They include:

• Accessible, visible and attractive stairs
• Signage and prompts that encourage stair use
• Circulation spaces for walking
• Outdoor bicycle parking and secure indoor bike storage

Visit their site for more ideas on creating a healthier workplace.