In an effort to create more available space at the US headquarters, SICK was tasked with relocating their manufacturing operation to another building located in Savage.  PCL Construction and KOMA worked together early in the design process to align client expectations to pre-determined project budgets.  The 50,000 square foot facility included office, manufacturing, and warehouse spaces.  Highlights within the design include a Cafeteria that offers “bold” branding elements providing visibility from across the manufacturing areas.  Also, an abundance of natural light washes into the open office space due to full height glass partitions used at the private offices along the perimeter walls.

To better communicate the design with the client, KOMA provided 3-dimensional walk-through’s created by KOMA designer, Kevin Dummer.  “With the parent company of SICK located in Germany, these visuals played a vital role in planning the design. It allowed them to be a part of the process and see what the space looked like in different stages. They received two different models; the first allowed them to walk through the model themselves, using the mouse and arrows to control where they went in the space. This allowed them to explore their new location and get a feel for the layout. The second model was a predetermined route but included the finishes and lighting. With integrated details and customization this walkthrough gave a feeling of ownership and personalization to the space.”

For more information on our rendering process, click here.

To view more photos of the project, click here.

Standing 30 feet tall, the sculpture is an aluminum sphere 20 feet in diameter that rests on a 10-foot circular base made of steel. The sphere’s design is a fusion of globe and basketball representing the world-traveling NBA. It was initially assembled in Minnesota for design and structural purposes, then disassembled and shipped to Houston. Once arriving in Houston it will be reassembled in the convention center for the upcoming NBA Jam Session. It was intentionally designed to assemble and disassemble not only for shipping purposes, but also to allow the sculpture to potentially be displayed in different cities around the country. This need for repositioning created an additional layer of complexity for our engineers to consider when working to ensure the sculpture would be stable and properly supported.

To assist in examining the structure, structural engineer Matt VanHoof created a 3D model of the globe. “We typically work on one plane, and so it was fun to put this into a 3D program, Versa Frame, and figure out how it was going to work.” VanHoof continued, “It is always interesting to have new and unique projects such as this come our way”.

The development of the new salon prototype was an involved, highly collaborative process. Stylists, corporate staff and customers completed questionnaires in order to gather thoughts and opinions not only on the aesthetics of the current salons, but also on the functionality. Kids’ Hair, unlike other hair salons caters to a very specific demographic of children, who are often accompanied by siblings and parents. The new design required designated seating areas for the extra people, many of whom prefer to gather around the stylists as they work.

One of the features KOMA Interior Designers Cindy Nagel and Angela Rohlen proposed was the addition of ottomans in the center of the cutting floor. “These ottomans provide a place for parents to be on the cutting floor and near to their child without infringing on the stylist’s space,” Nagel says.  Another element of the new design is the addition of mobile tool carts, a current trend in salon design and operation. This feature allows the stylist to move from station to station and relocate when needed. In a salon with young clientele, flexibility is an essential component of design and functionality. The new design also integrates entertainment for the siblings and accompanying children. Rather than the typical toys, which can carry germs and break, chalkboard walls and child-friendly activities such as liquid motion circles were installed to engage and entertain children while they wait.

There were many varied challenges to address in creating a new prototype that worked for the stylists, children and parents, but each was an opportunity for a creative approach and outside-the-box thinking. ”All of it was really fun,” said Nagel. “We worked as a team and Kids’ Hair was ready and willing to be hands-on in the process. We took a lot of what they already had, especially the fun graphics, and applied them with a new twist. In the end we hope that the implementation of the new prototype will really contribute to the growth and promotion of the Kids hair brand – after all – that’s what it’s all about! ”

The relationship began when KOMA Interior Designer Cindy Nagel worked with Heartland on a Burger King remodel project in the Mall of America food court. After the successful completion of that project, KOMA went on to provide architecture and design services for the exteriors of five additional free-standing locations.

KOMA worked closely with Heartland to determine the desired look and feel of each individual Burger King location.  All existing locations have a prototype framework that determines the corporate design standards for that building – items such as materials, paints, finishes and colors. These standards provide visual consistency for the restaurants. For some locations such as Oakdale, Minn., and White Bear Lake, Minn., the prototype is less common lending to fewer corporate design standards and more design possibilities. Project manager and KOMA Designer Corey Schmitt explains that “this allowed us to do something completely different, while still keeping the design cost effective and within the corporate guidelines.”

The new design is a departure from the former bright colors and in-and-out feel, explains Schmitt.  “It was fun to see the various prototypes that were built over the years, figure out the design intent behind them and analyze how the designs have transformed over the years,” he says. “The best part, though, is seeing the completed product because it really is completely different.  Working closely together we were able to develop a great end product.”

The Burger King remodel located in Oakdale, Minn. was featured in the Star Tribune. To read all about it, click here.

The facelift project — centered around an update to the main entrance and lobby area of the building — was actually first put into motion in 2007. After some preliminary work had been done, the project was shelved until being resurrected earlier this year.

In addition to freshening the look of the entrance and reception area, Thermo King was hoping to improve the building’s security and add square footage to create a larger, more comfortable and inviting space.

Maximizing Interior Space Without an Addition

After first considering an addition to the front of the building to add square footage, Thermo King and the KOMA design team — consisting of Architect Jon LeNoble, AIA, and Interior Designer Cindy D. Nagel, CID — instead settled on exploring ways to maximize the existing interior space. By claiming an area of underutilized work stations and reorienting the visitor approach, KOMA was able to create a more easily navigable, clean-lined and well-designed space. Entry doors, previously oriented to one side of the vestibule, were replaced and centered with the reception desk placed directly opposite the entry doors, creating a direct approach.

Up to the Challenge

Nagel said, “This project was enjoyable, but it was also a challenge. Finding a way to create a more secure environment for the offices located beyond the reception and waiting areas while increasing their overall size — all the while enhancing access and visibility to the existing stairway and bathrooms — was difficult. We considered the space from a number of angles and a variety of perspectives. I’m exceptionally pleased with the design we created … I feel it accomplished all our goals and creates a space that complements the Thermo King brand.”

She continued, “I think this project also illustrates well how we remain flexible throughout the course of a project. Our goal, regardless of the timeline or the budget, is to deliver creative solutions that meet – or exceed – the goals of our client.”

Keeping Our Cool

An additional component to the project involved sun control. With a number of high exposure windows creating an oven effect on sunny days, Nagel and her team needed to address sun control without negatively impacting the interior aesthetics. The relocation of the reception desk alleviated the issue for the reception staff. To address the waiting area, KOMA specified Flexshade manual shades that cut glare and heat but allow light transference.

MOA celebrated its 20-year anniversary last week and it did so in spectacular style, offering free movies from 1992 all week (A Few Good Men, anyone?), giving deep discounts and bringing in “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro to create an eight-foot birthday cake (which yielded 2,000 pieces of cake). “They did it right,” said Brady Mueller, AIA, Principal Architect at KOMA. “We’ve worked with the mall a long time, and they know how to celebrate. And this – 20 years – is definitely something worth celebrating.”

KOMA has worked with MOA and its tenants for nearly seven years, providing design and engineering expertise on projects ranging from retail stores (American Girl, Bettie Paige) to entertainment venues (Nickelodeon Universe, House of Comedy) to restaurants (A&W, QDoba Grill). “We’ve kind of done it all,” said Mueller with a smile. “And I can honestly say we’ve enjoyed each and every project, and each and every challenge.”

KOMA works with MOA in a variety of ways. In some instances, KOMA will provide complete design and engineering services for a project – structural engineering, architecture and interior design. In other instances, only one or two of the company’s services will be needed. “With MOA – as with all our clients – we bring to the table what is needed,” said KOMA Principal Engineer Jim Krech, PE. “From the beginning, we’ve worked to build a culture and an approach that is highly collaborative. So when other entities – designers, other architects, planners – are involved, our goal is to work seamlessly alongside them, regardless of the nature of our role.”

Mueller continued, “The people we’ve worked with at MOA are all highly competent, highly organized individuals. We’ve appreciated that they bring quality, professional partners to the table… companies and individuals who share our values and commitment to creating intentional, meaningful spaces. And I think MOA has appreciated our flexibility and strength at working as a collaborative team. This has truly been a win-win relationship.”

Krech added, “One of the most impressive things about the leadership team at the mall is their vision. They’re always looking forward, always planning. And it shows. I’ve no doubt that the next 20 years will be as exciting as these past 20 years.”

Evidence of this can currently be found on the mall’s south side where construction on a 500-room Radisson Blu hotel is underway. New tenants are also expected to move into the former Bloomingdale’s location in the near future. And plans are in place for late 2013 expansion toward American Boulevard to the north where an additional 200,000 square feet of retail space, a second hotel and a medical wellness center will be added.

Mueller went on, “We’re really proud of our work at MOA. We’re proud to be a partner of theirs and feel we’ve been able to play a role in their continued success. Our hope is to be able to continue working with them long into the future.”

Recently, KOMA Interior Designers Cindy Nagel, Laura Bauer and Angie Rohlen sat down to share their thoughts on the hot trends in interior design. The conversation veered from colors to textures to furniture and fixtures. Below is a portion of that conversation…

Q: What’s ‘hot’ right now in Interior Design?

Where do we even begin?! There have been exciting trends emerging in every aspect of design from space layout to material, from color to lighting, from texture to pattern. Here are just a few that seem to be getting much of the attention:

- Open space.  Space planning is one of the most important components in design and there’s an apparent shift in how clients envision their workspaces. Plans are more open and the traditional cubicles are being replaced with open desking systems. Glass panels are replacing walls, creating a more open feel and promoting more communication and collaboration among co-workers.

Neuger Communications Group, Northfield, MN

-  LED Lighting is playing a larger role in design as it becomes more affordable. With all the recent innovations, it is an amazing source of possibility and creativity. When it comes to the fixture side of lighting, oversized drum fixtures are especially hot and in many cases have become the stars of the show.

- “Green” continues to be big, bringing the outdoors inside with organic graphics. Wall coverings and carpet tiles, vinyl floor coverings and ceramic tiles – these materials mimic stone, wood, grass and water. Everything in the industry from visuals to colors to graphics are inspired by nature.

- Texture is everywhere! One favorite example is the Soelberg Industries Sculpted MDF, which can be used in a variety of applications from wall coverings to cabinetry and so much more.

Q: What influences these trends?

With so many companies going paperless, design is inevitably impacted. People do not need as much extra storage and filing space. Fewer file cabinets and less storage space means more square footage. Computer equipment is also much sleeker and compact allowing furniture to be smaller.

Inevitably, the economy also influences trends. And in some ways the design community takes a harder hit. The manufacturers have been responsive in bringing quality but affordable products for the end user. This helps us as designers to source cost-effective options. We have learned to use space and materials creatively to stretch our clients’ dollars without sacrificing aesthetic.

Q: Your favorite trend is…

Angie: Rectangular carpet tiles! I have been enjoying this new format and all of the installation possibilities.

Cindy: I love all the texture and I’m excited to utilize new products in innovative and unexpected applications.

Laura: Tangerine Tango!

 Q: Speaking of Tangerine Tango, it is the Pantone color of the year. Thoughts?

We like it! It is by far our favorite nail polish color at the moment (laugh).

Look at it from a fashion standpoint and it’s a great color! But in regards to commercial design it has limited application – trendy colors can be difficult in creating a space that will look fresh for 10-20 years. While we’re aware of the trends in color, we can’t simply and blindly rely on trends because our clients’ brand is ultimately what drives the color decision.

If you’re itching to use the color like (KOMA principal and architect) Brady Mueller, it’s perfect for an accent wall or accessory that is easily switched out every year or so.

For most people, 2D floorplans and other standard drawings can be difficult to read. As programs such as SketchUp, Revit and 3D Max continue to evolve, renderings and walk-through animations become more and more realistic. Additions like functionality for custom materials, lighting and finishes begin to give these renderings an almost photographic quality. “Clients not only see what the space looks like but they can discover what it would be like to be in it,” says Kevin Dummer, KOMA designer. “They can see where their windows will be and how their desks may feel.” The better someone understands the proposed outcome the more they can relate to it, feel it and get excited about it – it becomes real and it becomes theirs.

Step 3: Photorealistic Rendering

Renderings and 3D drawings are not just a benefit for the client. “I have an idea in my head and getting it into 3D helps me to understand it better. And it helps to explore it, play with it and modify it,” says Corey Schmitt, KOMA Designer. It is a tool that can easily bring to life what is imagined. “SketchUp  changed the industry in a way that made it easier for designers to do what they’re trained to do in their heads,” adds KOMA Principal Architect, Steve Iaria.

So what’s next? Using advanced programs for smartphones and iPads there is the ability to “see” projects virtually. “I can create a model, upload it to your phone and you would be able to actually go to the future site and virtually see your building and walk through it using the phone as the viewing glass,” says Dummer. With advances like this and other virtual reality programs, clients as well as the design and construction teams will be able to further understand and experience a project before construction even begins.

The future of architectural visualization is an exciting one. Still, it is important not to forget about the protractors, colored pencils and drafting boards. Iaria says, “Sketching is still an integral tool for design. But the exciting new technology tools that we have at our fingertips give us the ability to do more than we were ever able to do before. When it all comes together, the sky is the limit.”

Step 1: Sketch                                                             Step 2: Initial Rendering

]]> http://komainc.com/2012/08/you-say-technology-i-say-wow/feed/ 0 http://komainc.com/2012/05/kohler-signature-store-by-first-supply-celebrates-grand-opening/ http://komainc.com/2012/05/kohler-signature-store-by-first-supply-celebrates-grand-opening/#comments Thu, 24 May 2012 17:14:17 +0000 Chris Blissett http://komainc.com/?p=1985 May 2012 – Edina, Minn. – The first-ever KOHLER Signature Store, a kitchen and bath showroom that delivers a signature Kohler experience to designers and homeowners, recently celebrated its grand opening at its new location in Edina, Minn. The 3,000-square-foot store’s arrival was made possible in part by the architects at Krech, O’Brien, Mueller & Associates, and it extends Kohler’s long history of using trusted distributors to showcase their products.

Solely owned and operated by plumbing distributor First Supply, the showroom allows visitors to take advantage of expert consultation services and step into fully designed suites featuring products exclusively from the Kohler brands. Working closely with Kohler and First Supply, KOMA architects were charged with taking an initial building concept and then executing it in the existing retail space that was chosen for the new store.

“The basic preliminary concept was developed by Kohler and London-based architect Harvey Langston-Jones,” said Steve Iaria, AIA, KOMA principal architect. “We worked to understand the intent and aesthetic of that initial concept, and then developed a design that carried that concept out in the actual space.”

He continued, “Any time you’re working with an existing space, it can be challenging to consistently apply a design. This instance was no different. But each challenge also presents an opportunity, and I’m thrilled with how we were able to maintain – and even enhance – the aesthetic our client was trying to achieve.”

Also key to the success of the project was contractor JL Sullivan and the teams from both Kohler and First Supply. “As with many of our projects, this was a truly collaborative effort,” said Iaria. “We brought ideas, expertise and experience to the project, but without the focused efforts of our outstanding partners, this space wouldn’t shine in the way it does.”

An aggressive timeline and numerous specialized building subcontractors made it essential to have highly detailed, in-depth plans in place and required a high level of coordination. KOMA delivered documents that kept the project moving forward and enabled JL Sullivan and the numerous subcontractors to work side-by-side with minimal complications or hold-ups. “There were a lot of moving parts to this project,” said Iaria, “and I’m really pleased with how we were able to help keep everything moving forward efficiently while still being consistent with our application of the design.”

Following the opening of the store in Edina, Kohler plans to expand the retail store platform with distributors to the top 20 U.S. consumer markets. The next two are slated to open this fall in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Bühler, a global leader in technologies and services for food production, wanted to develop an innovative facility that showcased its various food processing options and equipment. The facility also needed to fully extend the company’s industry-leading Food Safety Initiative, which seeks to give customers the knowledge, equipment and other resources to fully understand and comply with FDA guidelines. To that end, it was important that the facility itself adhere to specific sanitary standards in both design and operation.

KOMA and longtime partner PCL Construction worked as a design-build team to create and execute the Bühler space.

Mike Lisowski, PE, KOMA principal engineer, said, “An area of an existing structure was identified and we developed plans to create both the various processing lab spaces as well as an observation and meeting room on the second floor. Bühler also has a number of state-of-the-art pieces of processing equipment – mixers, extruders, dryers, etc. – and we needed to accommodate these both spatially and structurally.”

He continued, “Because of the various sanitary guidelines that are in place for a facility such as this, we needed to avoid using some traditional elements that might compromise the FDA standards. For example, we used closed-tube members to avoid flat spaces or ledges where dust might collect.”

KOMA worked closely with Bühler and PCL throughout the design-build process. Lisowski continued, “We’ve worked with PCL for many years and complement each other very well. We both bring a particular set of experiences and expertise to the table, and we deliver a better project because of our collaboration.”

Lisowski was also quick to point out the value of having both KOMA’s architects and engineers involved with the project. “Our structural engineering team works well with outside architects – in fact, we do so on a good many projects – but having our own team involved from a design standpoint allows us to realize efficiencies and deliver even greater value to our client.”

Bühler operates in more than 140 countries and employs nearly 9,000 individuals. It is widely recognized as a global leader in the field of process engineering.