Earlier this week, we won the Saucony business at Olson. That was a hill of fun. But last night, my wife noticed an item in the latest issue of Mpls St Paul magazine (I suppose you pronounce this periodical’s name as if the city names were not abbreviated but they are which makes me a bit insecure about saying this title aloud).

Olson was cited as the best new office space in the Twin Cities. Our offices in the Ford Center are rather awesome–loaded with manufacturing history as a vertical assembly plant built in 1913 to produce Model T’s and recently given a $42 million LEED compliant overhaul. I believe inspiring environments like ours have a direct impact on the quality of creative thinking.

Happily, I’m in good company with that notion. No less than polio-eradicator Dr. Jonas Salk credited time spent walking along columns and through cloistered courtyards at a 13th century monastery in Assisi, Italy, as critical to discovering his history-altering vaccine. Salk championed architecture’s ability to positively influence the mind, stimulate breakthroughs and encourage creativity throughout his life.

We try to do that everyday too. Particularly Friday’s. Have a good one.

By Dennis Ryan, CCO, Olson