The client needed a collaborative workspace – an inviting environment, a place where visitors would feel welcome and comfortable. We worked closely with The Bremer Foundation on this mission.  The solution is warm, inviting and has Asian undertones – the space uses only a series of sliding doors – no walls. A concept borrowed from Asian design, it allows the room to feel transparent and accessible to all.

Our client understands two things: #1: kids and #2: teeth. That’s their job. Our job was to create an environment that brings those two specialties together. This office is more than “child-friendly”, it’s “child-cheery”. From it’s separate child-scaled entry to it’s Crayola palette, the trip to this dentist will be about as intimidating as a trip to the park.

Something (the pierced and tattooed staff) tells us that Pizza Lucé is not like other trendy, urban restaurants. Or could it be the pizza toppings? …mock duck, garlic-mashed potatoes, banana peppers… Surely this strange and wonderful menu could only be served at a Pizza Lucé. Understanding the client means understanding their customer, and Lucé’s downtown customers are as diverse as their menu. The design had to appeal to this broad range of eaters (and drinkers). Pizza Lucé sits in the Textile building with it’s open beam wood ceiling, original wood floors, cast iron columns and exposed brick – these details were the perfect backdrop for the bold graphics, bright colors, versatile lighting and local art.

“Smart growth” and “adaptive reuse” are more than just trendy buzzwords. They are a necessary part of today’s urban design – more than a facelift, an opportunity to give an old structure new life. This 1924 building has never looked as good as it does today: In fact, Madison Lofts was the recipient of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s  Best in Real Estate award for Redevelopment in Residential work. Nice.

How about a dealership that actually feels like the car it sells? Sleek, well-designed and covered in metal skin, in other words: smart. The smart car dealership was a restaurant in it’s past life but there is no evidence of that today. Black sheets of metal and floor to ceiling glass send a message to the other car dealerships, “Better blow up a lot of balloons.”

Oh, the 1920’s! A decade full of decadence, abstinence, and innovation. Bergstrom Jewelers sprang to life in the middle of this decade and in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Downtown Minneapolis was a thriving retail destination – shoppers flocked to the city in search of treasure.

But, thanks to the Suburban Shopping Mall, downtown has evolved from a retail destination to an entertainment destination. And, thanks to the Shops at West End, Bergstrom Jewelers has a new home. A corner-spot. A new generation of shoppers are flocking to the new retail destination.

Bob Zagaros and Cindi Kranz called on Tanek once again (they had successfully remodeled the downtown location in 2004) to capture and communicate the character of their highly-polished store. Display pillars, a gallery feel, and large expanses of storefront glass make the new Bergstrom Jewelers something special. A bead bar, bridal section, and design station bring a sense of vitality to the environment. And just to keep everyone (men) happy, Tanek designed a lounge with a 60-inch plasma television.

Go West, indeed.