Side of Design

A hospital addition does more than just expand and refresh a campus—it can improve wayfinding, make room for new spaces, and prompt a broader rethink of how the environment supports patients, visitors, and staff both operationally and emotionally.   We spoke with BWBR Principal Jason Nordling about the Avera McKennan Hospital Women’s and Children’s Inpatient Addition and Remodel , an exciting proj...

n today’s competitive labor market, companies across sectors are grappling with the same question—how do we attract and retain top talent? As organizations grow, evolving industries require increasingly technical skillsets, and people-first cultures that prioritize employee wellbeing continue to rise, leaders are seeking innovative solutions for recruitment and retention.  We sat down with Healthc...

Located in the heart of downtown overlooking Wisconsin’s Capitol Dome, BWBR’s Madison office provides proximity to the ever-expanding markets statewide. Leading the talented, tight-knit team is Leigh Streit, who joined us for this episode of Side Notes to share insights into the Madison market, the opportunities shaping Wisconsin’s future, and the work driving meaningful impact across the region....

At BWBR, we believe in being stewards of exceptional design—which means sharing our team’s unique skills, specialized knowledge, and abundance of passion with the next generation. Many BWBR staff members are involved in fostering young designers, whether that’s helping high school students navigate career paths or sparking creativity in elementary school classrooms.  In this episode of Side of Des...

Senior Planner Jessica Sweeney took a unique path to planning healthcare environments at BWBR. With a background that helps bridge the challenges health organizations face with the solutions architecture can provide, her specialized insight brings key value to our design teams and client stakeholders. In this episode of Side Notes, she shares her fascinating career journey and how it lends itself...

 Quality in design and construction is easy to recognize, but far more complex to achieve. It’s not just about how a building looks when it’s finished, but about the processes that carry a project from concept through construction. In this episode of Side of Design, we sit down with BWBR’s Director of Professional Services Dan Hottinger and Construction Administration Manager Bryan Desma to unpack...

Sustainability, quality assurance (QA), building codes, and specifications—at BWBR, these critical design functions are overseen by Rachael Spires, Associate Principal and Performance Design & Quality Manager. In this episode of Side Notes, she explores how the seemingly distinctive roles intersect, all working together to drive design excellence in powerful ways. If you like what we are doing...

What does it take to create a birth center that truly serves its community—clinically, culturally, and emotionally? The Regions Hospital Birth Center was designed with this question in mind, taking a family-centered approach that integrates the latest care choices with the multicultural needs of mothers in the Twin Cities. In this episode of Side of Design, we take a deep dive into the design proc...

Bringing a building design from concepts and renderings to a completed facility is a complex and technical process. Playing a major part in making it happen is BWBR’s Dan Hottinger , Principal and Professional Services Director, who describes his role as “the bridge between design and putting the design in motion.” In this episode of Side Notes, he shares the latest innovations and challenges he s...

As climate change reshapes the way we live—prompting thoughtful changes both big and small to support sustainability—the design profession must evolve as a key player in reducing waste, deforestation, and other drivers of global warming. One critical lever designers can pull is material selection. In this episode, we’re focusing on FSC-certified wood—a single material choice that can make a signif...

n the latest episode of Side Notes, BWBR’s Education Practice Leader Greg Fenton joins us to take a closer look at the ever-evolving higher education landscape. In a quick conversation packed with meaningful insights, we explore how design can widen the horizons of learning and breathe new life into college campuses, bringing inventive solutions that address education’s greatest challenges. If you...

In the latest episode of Side Notes, the bite-sized version of Side of Design, BWBR’s Healthcare Practice Leader Ryan Johansen joins us for a quick but impactful discussion on the state of healthcare market. In less than 15 minutes, they explore how the industry is shifting from a model centered on treating illness to one focused on promoting wellness—and how design can support this transformation...

In the debut episode of Side Notes, a bite-sized version of Side of Design, host Matt Gerstner sits down with Nate Roisen, BWBR’s Science + Technology Practice Leader, to explore the evolving world of design and innovation in the market. In just under 15 minutes, they cover what excites Nate about the current landscape, the biggest challenges clients face, and what makes designing in this field so...

Healthcare executives juggle decisions worth millions of dollars across multiple campuses while trying to predict a future that keeps changing. Aging facilities need updates, new technologies demand space, and patient needs shift faster than anyone can track. For health systems managing everything from rural Critical Access Hospitals to major medical centers, the old method of planning one facilit...

When BWBR's design team talks about creating spaces that "welcome and work for everyone," it isn’t PR speak or a feel-good talking point. They’re addressing one of architecture's most complex challenges. Truly equitable design requires intention and thoughtful consideration of elements that go far beyond code compliance. Design Leader Lisa Miller, Interior Designer Katie Reed,...

When the lease on their office space expired, Minneapolis-based engineering firm Loucks sought out a team that could help create their ideal work environment in a new location. With help from BWBR, furniture dealership Henricksen , real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield , and some extraordinary luck, Loucks transformed an already promising space into a workplace that supports their culture, enha...

The latest Side of Design podcast pulls back the curtain on PFAS, the infamous "forever chemicals" making headlines for their carcinogenic and environmentally damaging properties, and their widespread presence in many common finishes and materials—from stain-resistant couches to flame-retardant clothing to nonstick pans. Host Matt Gerstner welcomes BWBR specialists Sara Biedenbender (Int...

The most recent Side of Design podcast introduces us to two architecture students whose work demands we reconsider what makes good design. Sierra Espinoza and Pwapadeino Wonosikou, this year's BWBR equity scholarship winners, aren't waiting until graduation to tackle the industry's most pressing questions about who benefits from the spaces we build—and who doesn't. If you like...

The path to professional fulfillment isn't always a straight line, and the stories of some of our BWBR team members prove just that. In the latest episode of Side of Design, host Matt Gerstner and three BWBR colleagues share their fascinating journeys of career transformation, revealing how seemingly unrelated experiences can shape unique perspectives and lead to rewarding careers in unexpect...

Athletic facilities aren't just about sports anymore. As BWBR's Architectural Design Manager Kyle Lunke and Principal Craig Peterson discuss in our latest Side of Design episode, these spaces drive enrollment, enhance student wellness, and strengthen institutional identity.  Venues that welcome fans on game day help foster an incredible sense of community and energy—but the benefits go o...

The research, development, and production that takes place inside science + technology facilities is highly complex and technical. It’s no surprise that the design work that brings these environments to life demands the same level of precision. Design, engineering, and contractor teams partner closely to coordinate the advanced MEP systems and intricate space planning that maintain sterile, safe,...

Employee engagement goes beyond happiness and job satisfaction—those are byproducts of something deeper. As BWBR's Director of People and Culture Tricia Eiswald and Knowledge Manager Kari Shonblom discuss in the latest Side of Design episode, engagement means genuine involvement and enthusiasm at work and in the workplace. Their insights delve into factors that drive engagement, BWBR’s own en...

Despite being a sensitive topic, money is central to any project—managing costs, remaining on budget, and achieving maximum value per dollar spent are all critical to a successful design, whether a new build, a major expansion, or a renovation. So, let’s talk about it. The latest episode of Side of Design from BWBR dives deep into this subject, exploring the intricacies of fee development and its...

Like any other healthcare facility, behavioral health environments must be comforting places to heal. But these spaces pose unique considerations to keep patients safe, requiring thoughtful balance from skilled design professionals to create environments that are beautiful and manage patient risk. Senior Interior Designer Lauren Frank, Senior Project Manager Susan Golberg, and Senior Architect Ell...

Simulation spaces are high-tech, realistic environments designed to train both students preparing for careers in healthcare and medical professionals learning new skills. These environments require both the functionality of real healthcare spaces and classroom elements for teaching and learning, allowing users to practice skills, learn new procedures, or explore techniques that will be applied in...