We all have causes that are near and dear to our hearts—mine are all ice cream related.
Don’t judge me.
Others think more globally —thank goodness. A cause that is near and dear to Ken Piper’s heart is Peace House Africa; an organization that educates AIDS orphans in Arusha, Tanzania. Ken and his wife were spotted (by METRO) at a fundraising gala:
Drew Wood delves into the origin of Touchpoint Retail. I love that he used the term brainchild. I’d like to have a brainchild someday.
Touchpoint Retail is blending architecture, design and branding in a novel, one-stop way that proves invaluable for its clients but potentially invisible to the clients’ patrons.
… Based in Minneapolis, Touchpoint is the brainchild of two architects and a branding guy—Nat Shea and Ken Piper, principals and founders of Minneapolis-based architecture and design firm Tanek, and Josh Hanson, formerly with Best Buy among other retail giants—who saw a major hole in the retail marketplace. “Repeatedly over our careers as architects we’ve run into instances where we’re working with a client, and we’re solving the architectural puzzle, and it’s a beautiful space; and then their marketing group shows up and they start putting stuff up, and then our store environment might not even look like what their campaign is, or what their vision is because they’re approaching it from two separate entities,” says Shea of the disconnect he perceived from his perch atop Tanek. Piper adds, “I think somehow it was the excitement of being called in on a job, coming in to do it and finding out all the pieces weren’t aligning, but we were the only ones who knew that.” As architects, Shea and Piper felt as though they were often coming in too late in the process, which marginalized and compartmentalized their efforts. They knew that for a retail space or restaurant to properly materialize, all the parts of the store—from concept to design to build-out to branding—needed to mesh on the same organic level. “I think we’ve changed that model by saying the architecture component is one subset of what Touchpoint does and now it’s a matter of looking at that project as a whole and understanding and designing it from that perspective,” says Shea.
Read the rest of the article here:
-From KARE 11
MINNEAPOLIS — The hip hop and R&B sounds of KMOJ-FM have for three decades been a mainstay of Minneapolis radio. But, what is new, is the station’s studio in a rehabbed building along West Broadway, long known as a center of crime and of poverty.
“It’s been a big boost for us,” said KMOJ General Manager Kelvin Quarles. “It’s good for us to be in North Minneapolis, because we can help change some of the negative perceptions over here, and that’s what our goal is.”
It’s also the goal of the people who helped KMOJ come back to the Northside, a group called Catalyst Community Partners. Most of its members had six figure salaries at some of the city’s biggest corporations, and are now using their experience to rebuild North Minneapolis to the thriving neighborhood it once was.
Read the rest of the story and watch the video here:
That was the most delicious 10 year anniversary party for an architectural firm I have ever been to.
It was!
Nat and Ken were thrilled to see everyone – and for all of you that missed it – don’t worry, the 20 year anniversary party is just around the corner.
The location (Pizza Lucé) was perfect - I heard that Tanek designed that space just so they could have their 10 Year Party in it. My friend (wink) created her own line of greeting cards because she didn’t feel like going to the store to buy one. So I guess it makes sense.
…There isn’t a whole lot to tell about the building block competition because Nat kept pushing small children out of the way – Nat, we get it. You’re an architect.
Some Tanek employees built something – but Nat pushed them out of the way – and knocked over their tower.
Ken Piper was his usual buoyant self… Here he is being the tallest man in the room:
Oh, one more thing! : There was a fantastic prize given to some lucky soul that dropped their name into the cookie jar:
Here are some snapshots taken in the new (crowded) KMOJ lobby: I wish I could have been there … I heard that Ken and Prince got into a pretty loud argument – Usher just kept tipping his hat.
Jay Z had to leave early – something about corporate synergy.
We get it Usher.
The new KMOJ studio sounds great!
