Our CEO has been profiled in the San Francisco Business Times this week. Every week the SFBT profiles small business entrepreneurs and asks telling questions regarding their company, inspiration, habits and focus. If you subscribe to the SFBT then check out the profile, link below. If you don’t you’ll have to wait a week to read it.
Word from the Herd
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Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Phil Murphy interview
Gary Allen KNBR 680AM
February 25th, 2010
by Dickson Keyser
by Dickson Keyser
In late February 2010, Phil murphy appeared with Paul Witkay from the Alliance of Chief Executives on the Bay Area’s top-rated business talk radio program, Gary Allen on Business.
If you missed it, click on following link to listen to the edited version – no commercials!
Runs 36 minutes. Edited KNBR GNU Interview
Happy New Year!
January 14th, 2010
by Phil Murphy
by Phil Murphy
As we enter 2010 we are fortunate to have just completed an energetic and prosperous year. The foundation of all good things at GNU is the dedication of our clients. They’ve given us 10 exciting things to celebrate in the coming year.
1. We are hiring – bucking the trend, we need additional talent to continue our success.
2. We are expanding - we are busy in Southern California so we have created a local office to serve the needs of our clients.
3. We are busy - and excited to be attacking our back-log of business.
4. We are anxious – to spread the word about what’s happening at GNU through the efforts of our newly launched publicity effort.
5. We are gratified – to continue the relationships that we forged through the 104 Lunch and Learn programs we conducted with architectural firms in 2009.
6. We are engaged – in many dynamic projects in areas of healthcare/real estate repositioning/donor recognition.
7. We are eager – to expand upon the work that we have done for Hospitality and Resort clients.
8. We are proud – of being named in the BUSINESS TIMES TOP 50 list of Fastest Growing Companies.
9. We are communicating - with informative and useful points of interest through our blog.
10. We are committed - to the GNU Pledge providing Thought Leadership, thoughtful design solutions and a pain free project management experience in 2010.
Everyone at GNU wishes you health and prosperity in 2010 and beyond.
BGI to BlackRock:
Skyline Rebranding Step by Step
December 30th, 2009
by Dickson Keyser
by Dickson Keyser
Changing out a skyline sign on a 7 story building is never really an easy task. Changing out a skyline sign on a 7 story tall glass curtain wall is enough to make any sign fabricator lay awake at night. Oh and the same rules apply, no penetrating the glass.
When BlackRock acquired Barclays Global Investors, they tapped GNU to assist them on the rebranding effort for BGI’s (19) sites around the globe. And it all needed to be done by December 1st 2009. That gave GNU roughly two months time for planning, design, documentation and implementation for the entire program.
The most labor intensive change-over occurred at BGI’s former Headquarters at Foundry Square, in downtown San Francisco. With ADART having assisted us in the production and install of the original BGI skyline they were our natural go-to partner for this assignment as well.
Terry long of ADART immediately crafted a plan of attack for the removal of the old BGI skyline and install of the new BlackRock skyline sign. One might think it was a simple 2-3 step process. Think again.
Below is the outlined, step by step process that was required to pull off this project successfully, with (2) 12 hour shifts a day and all around the Thanksgiving Holiday:
Tue Nov 24 — First Shift
Install the 3M temporary vinyl reading “Barclays Global Investors”. Disconnect the electrical to the letters and remove the letters from the aluminum backings.
Tue Nov 24 – Second Shift
Continue the scoring and removal of aluminum backing
Wed Nov 25 — First Shift
Remove the remaining letters and remove all letters from the 400 Howard St premise. Remove the vinyl from the interior of the glass curtain wall that shields the 3M adhesive connection from the inside. Continue to remove the aluminum
Wed Nov 25 — Second Shift
Continue to remove the aluminum backing in one foot squares using the special tools
Thur Nov 26 – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Fri Nov 27 — First Shift
Continue to remove aluminum backings
Fri Nov 27 — Second Shift
Continue to remove aluminum backings
Sat Nov 28 — First Shift
Begin to remove the 3M adhesive
Sat Nov 28 — Second Shift
Complete removal of the 3M adhesive. Apply the 3M Saline solution to clean the glass in preparation for applying the 3M VHB adhesive
Sun Nov 29 — First Shift and only shift
Apply the 3M VHB Tape and aluminum backer for the BlackRock letters and begin installation of the Black Rock letters
Mon Nov 30 — First Shift
Complete the installation of the BlackRock letters. Connect the electrical to each letter and test the illumination.
Mon Nov 30 — Second Shift
Install the new vinyl on the inside of the glass curtain wall to shield the 3M adhesive connection of the letters
Tue Dec 1 — First Shift and only shift
Remove the temporary vinyl reading “Barclays Global Investors”, flick the switch for early morning illumination and official Day 1 integration
A HUGE thanks to ADART and their team of extremely professional and knowledgeable fabrication and install staff. A clear proven case that anything can be done with the right partners.
And a HUGE thanks to Kanan Jayachandran, GNU’s Program Manager that saw this assignment through to the end and was constantly in contact with our client no matter what timezone!
Urban West, 1350 Treat
The grass will always be greener
December 8th, 2009
by Dickson Keyser
by Dickson Keyser
The GNU Group has recently completed an identification and wayfinding improvement program for Pera Urban West’s, 1350 Treat office building located in Walnut Creek, California, managed by Jones Lang Lasalle.
The GNU Group’s primary task was to work directly with building ownership and Jones Lang Lasalle to craft a strategy to bring better visibility to the property and it’s tenants through the design of a new monument on the corner of Treat Blvd and Oak St. (pictured above).
Jones Lange Lasalle sought LEED certification in the upgrades and improvements they implemented for Pera Urban West and were able to achieve SILVER certification status. One of the design elements utilized to help gain LEED certification was the implementation of an artificial turf product by Heavenly Greens. Yes, the “grass” surrounding the monument is really artificial turf. Less maintenance and less water utilized, a greener solution (detail pictured below).
The GNU Group is proud to be a part of a forward thinking Design Team and congratulate Pera Urban West and Jones Lange Lasalle on your SILVER certification.
Drive by sometime, you’ll swear you are looking at real grass!
Site corner before new monument below.
Go BLUE DEVILS!!!
October 8th, 2009
by Dickson Keyser
by Dickson Keyser
There is an exciting and ambitious program underway in Davis, California, where the Davis Joint Unified School District (DJUSD) has embarked on the design and construction of a new high school athletic stadium. The facilities include the playing field, bleachers, press box, scoreboard, concession stands, lockers and dressing rooms, and the track and field venues. The GNU Group has been invited by (DJUSD), along with the Blue & White Foundation (B&WF), the school’s philanthropic support organization, to assist in the fundraising program for the stadium.
Key to generating the contributions to meet the program’s goals is effectively recognizing the generosity of the donors. GNU is helping to identify the opportunities for donor recognition and providing concepts for the design and implementation of the recognition program. A key element to the fundraising effort is a Donor Inspiration Presentation that visually depicts the new facilities, the options for giving, how the funds will be allocated and how the donors will be memorialized at the stadium.
B&WF’s representatives will use the presentation to tell a compelling story for the fundraising program and to excite prospective donors regarding the needs. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words – in the case of the new stadium, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Visit www.dhsblueandwhite.org to learn more about this ambitious initiative. The stadium and facilities are being designed by HMC Architects‘ Sacramento office.
ON THE BOARDS: Downtown San Leandro Wayfinding Program
August 21st, 2009
by Dickson Keyser
by Dickson Keyser
GNU is currently working on a new wayfinding program for the City of San Leandro. This program is designed to strengthen the Downtown shopping and business district recognition as well as support the wayfinding needs for visitors to this special area. As planned, the program will cover all major access routes to the Downtown area for both vehicles and pedestrians.
GNU is working along side Main Street Property Services on the assignment. Main Street was responsible for the development of the Downtown San Leandro Design Guidelines. These guidelines for improvements and development will, “assist the City, property owners and businesses in rekindling the community life and retail vitality of Downtown San Leandro while being sensitive to its historic past and modern needs”.
GNU recently developed and presented the following conceptual directions for the sign program to the City. These directions were carefully crafted to incorporate the new Downtown identity as well as leverage special design details from other programs implemented throughout the City. Each design approach will help to reinforce continuity between these civic programs, while simultaneously strengthening the Downtown image, reinforcing wayfinding and enhancing the existing streetscape.
Learn more about the project at the Downtown San Leandro website. Click on the images below for larger detailed view of our work.
Our Lunch & Learn Program
July 24th, 2009
by Jennifer Fitzgerald
by Jennifer Fitzgerald
Too many professional firms are learning that the customer referrals and repeat business that are predictable in good times become far less certain during the economic doldrums that we are currently experiencing. Anticipating that this downturn was not one to take lightly, we decided to take advantage of slower times to reach out to our constituencies in ways that allow us to tell our story while connecting or reconnecting with people that are important to our profession and our firm. Our mandate – have lunch with two bay area architecture firms each week for one year.
We have done 48 presentations to date. We’ve created a format that is both educational and promotional. People have been interested and we have been warmly received. We are also finding that we are enjoying great attendance as most architecture firms are less busy and are able to fit our presentation into their day. We’re serving lunch while planting seeds. Of the many ways firms can speak to their audiences, our Lunch and Learn program lets us be up close and personal while delivering our story. So far we have been invited to participate in several opportunities affirming that this effort is working.
If your company could benefit from GNU’s services and you’d like to get to know us better, please contact Jennifer Fitzgerald, Director of Business Development (925-444-2026). I’ll be delighted to schedule a Brown Bag Lunch for your firm.
