ENTER

I'm pleased to share my most recent article for ENTER magazine, "Aging in Place. But Which Place?" The piece was published in the print annual and is now available online. As with past articles, I'm indebted to my colleague Carly Hanson for her contributions including research and cartography. https://lnkd.in/g8JRVQyg

AIA Minnesota announced the winners of its annual Honor Awards, the state’s most prestigious recognition for buildings designed by Minnesota architects. The 53 anonymous submissions were reviewed by a panel of three award-winning architects from around the country and evaluated using the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. The Framework outlines a holistic approach to building projects in 10 measures: Design for Integration, Equitable Communities, Ecology, Water, Economy, Energy, Well-Being, Resources, Change, and Discovery. The jury selected 10 projects for Honor Awards, for extraordinary achievements in two or more of the Framework measures. Honor Awards submissions are made in one of five categories: Architecture, Renovation and Restoration, Interiors, Master Planning and Urban Design, and Small Projects. See the award winners: https://lnkd.in/dYAgQgYT

The cabin that architect Elizabeth Close named Thunderhead was completed in 1959 after a nearly two-decade design process. The collaboration between client Jerry Hill and Close Associates was interrupted by two wars, material shortages, and the challenge of building on a peninsula on Lake Vermilion, only accessible by boat or snow machine. I photographed this property a couple of summers ago and have not shared it until now, in part because I haven’t quite had the words to describe the experience. I still don’t. There are times that architecture conveys presence—where walking through (or photographing) a structure you can feel the spirit of the space and the presence of the designers and the people that previously occupied it. Marcel Breuer and Hamilton Smith’s Whitney Museum, the drawing room at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, Albert Frey’s house built into the rocks—Thunderhead is like that. The presence of Lisl and Win Close and that of Jerry Hill and his chosen family still drift on the breezes through the site. Keep reading and see the photos: https://lnkd.in/getpRUff Text and photos by Ben Clasen

When the law firm Maslon set about renovating its office to better support employee health and collaboration, it chose Perkins&Will Minneapolis as its design partner and the WELL Building Standard as its measuring stick. The latter is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being. WELL Certification requires adherence to rigorous standards across air, water, nourishment, light, movement, and other factors that influence workplace experience. The project achieved certification at the Gold level through the integration of advanced ventilation systems, equitable access to daylight, design strategies promoting movement and interaction, and live plant installations that improve air quality and provide visual connections to nature, among other measures. “WELL Certification complements sustainable practice and is about creating spaces where people thrive,” says Anne Smith, senior interior designer at Perkins&Will’s Minneapolis studio. “Maslon embraced a revolutionary approach to law office design, prioritizing well-being, collaboration, and flexibility in ways that challenge traditional legal workplaces. We’re proud to have helped bring this forward-thinking vision to life.” Read more and see photography: https://lnkd.in/gSNX5HsS

Heather Polivka recently wrote an article for Enter, a publication of AIA Minnesota, about the value of emotional intelligence in architectural firms. This is such a great read for anyone working on teams or with clients. "Architects understand how design shapes emotion—light, form, and flow all influence how people feel. Leadership works the same way. Neuroscience shows that our brains are wired to detect social “threats” such as criticism, exclusion, or uncertainty. Even small missteps can trigger stress responses that stifle creativity and innovation." Check out the full article here 👉 https://hubs.li/Q03P8zzN0

So thrilled to share AIA Minnesota’s profile on me and the work we do at the American Swedish Institute in the recent issue of Enter. Bonus that the conversation is with Mary-Margaret Zindren, CAE!

Leading with curiosity and connection, Dr. Molly Steenson, president and CEO of the American Swedish Institute, shares her perspective on crafts, cultures, and communities in the latest issue of AIA Minnesota’s ENTER magazine.   Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gDscfzGm