July 2016 – Minneapolis, Minn. – Banaadir Academy located in North Minneapolis houses 300 students each day and is hoping to increase that number in the upcoming years. With the help of The Bainey Group and Krech, O’Brien, Mueller & Associates (KOMA) the school is expanding with a new addition that will provide 2 additional classrooms, offices, a new gymnasium with vinyl flooring, and additional boy’s and girl’s restrooms.
Becoming an Architect
July 2016 – School is out for the summer and with the longer days and warmer weather comes the memories of those good old days when class was no longer in session and time was spent soaking in the short-lived Minnesota season with late nights, bonfires, cabins, and bare feet. Of course we all miss those carefree days every once in a while but I am fortunate to have found a profession that makes work enjoyable (in every season) and makes education something to be desired rather than dreaded.
NeoCon 2016
A few weeks ago, two of our interior designers Cindy Nagel and Leanne Tanguay headed to the Windy City to take in new interior products and trends at NeoCon 2016. They sat down to tell us the best of the best, what to expect in design and the best places to visit the next time you’re in Chicago.
A Look Back…
We said a big congratulations to Alisha this past month when she passed her architectural registration exams and it got us thinking – what was the first project I ever signed…
Maintaining Balance at Work, in Life, and on a Bicycle
If you asked anyone at Krech, O’Brien, Mueller & Associates to tell you something about me it’s that I like bicycles. In the last (almost) 2 years I’ve only driven to work a handful of times, choosing to either walk or ride a bike most days. It’s true that I spend a lot of time with bikes: commuting, exploring, racing, road, mountain, fat or otherwise. What doesn’t always come through is my love for the outdoors in general, and my employment at KOMA has allowed me to maintain a healthy work/life balance in the time that I’ve been here that I’ve come to appreciate even more as time passes.
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New Attractions at Nickelodeon Universe
April 2016, Bloomington, Minn. – Spring is in full swing and so are the new attractions at Mall of America. With the help of the design team at Krech, O’Brien, Mueller & Associates (KOMA), Parkview Meeting + Event Center and FlyOver America – located within Nickelodeon Universe, are open to the public.
FlyOver America is a flight simulation ride that brings guests on an aerial tour of some of the greatest landmarks and regions throughout the United States using virtual flight technology. During the ride, guests strap in to seats and are suspended in the air with feet dangling up to 35 feet above the ground in specialized ride vehicles before a giant half-spherical dome screen. KOMA worked with FlyOver’s team along with technicians, manufacturers and consultants to coordinate the pre-designed three-level ride and screen structure within a newly designed building enclosure in the park. The building is comprised of pre-show exhibits, a 45 foot high theater space, retail areas, box office and administrative spaces, and a renovated park plaza.
“This project presented special challenges that required the team to be both highly creative and detail oriented,” explains Steve Iaria, principal architect. “Our design team needed to ensure that the ride would function properly and give guests a visually and physically thrilling experience.” Located adjacent to one another, soundproofing for FlyOver and Parkview was a crucial element of creating the best experience for guests. KOMA’s design team worked with acoustical engineers to ensure that rider experiences would be truly immersive and not interrupted by the sounds of the park.
The Parkview Meeting + Event Center features 4,000 square feet of private event space along with a 700 square foot balcony that overlooks Nickelodeon Universe. KOMA’s design incorporates perimeter programmable LED lighting and SageGlass LightZoneTM glass in order to give the space a luminescent glow. Customers renting the space will be able to control the opacity of the windows overlooking the park. The space also features a scalloped ceiling, custom carpeting, custom large scale digital wallcoverings, floor to ceiling upholstered banquettes and rich walnut accents. It is equipped with full A/V capabilities, soundproofing and private restrooms and can accommodate up to 400 guests. “The mall was looking to add a modern and upscale event facility,” explains Cindy Nagel, Interior Designer at KOMA. “We knew that in order to compete with the area’s newest event venues, this space would need to have a real wow-factor.”
Source: KOMA News