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In early 2020, COVID-19 shuttered an unthinkable number of businesses the public relies on, including dental practices. Now, dentists have reopened their doors with new equipment, new protocols, and a whole new approach to protecting the health of both patients and staff. 

Silvertree Dental found themselves in the same position as other dental practices, ready to reopen for business—but business that was safe and comfortable for everyone in the office. So when they entrusted the team at Brenner to help with these changes, we wanted to reimagine the typical dental office design and look through a different lens. The goal for the new Silvertree Dental practice was to use design elements and finishes to express professionalism, cleanliness, and an enhanced level of patient care. The answer? Biophilic Design elements to help reduce any anxiety patients may feel. 

What is Biophilic Design? 

The concept of Biophilic Design is based on human attraction to the natural world and its positive effects on us. In this type of design, elements of nature are incorporated into a space and shown to reduce stress and increase productivity. This design theory serves to accommodate staff and patient interaction, and also gives patients a better sense of control.  

By considering the patient experience along with the new approach to delivery of care, the Brenner Team was able to create a calming, spa-like environment that isn’t uncomfortable or intimidating to patients. In fact, the new design has raised the bar for the concept of concierge dentistry and provides a welcoming and soothing experience to the patient as well as a better work environment for staff. A new open bay concept helps with air flow and gives a more spacious feel to the office by allowing for smaller bay footprints.

Instead of cold, pristine, and monochromatic equipment and finishes, the updated design incorporates images and colors from nature and materials found in natural settings. Innovation in dental equipment and cabinetry finishes, smaller units, and concealed mechanisms seamlessly integrate into the new concept. Small footprint air purification units, sink bases, aerosol stations and hand sanitation stations are no longer unsightly items in the space; they blend better into the overall aesthetic.   

The staff flow behind the scenes is just as important as the Patient flow.  Understanding how a practice operates on a day-to-day basis is key to designing a proper dental office plan. The interiors should also be a reflection of the practitioner’s personality and flair. In the case of Silvertree Dental, the dentist/owner was intimately involved in the design process.  

The overall layout itself reduces queing of patients and provides proper separation from staff. New technology gives patients control with virtual appointments and reduces the number of patients in the waiting room. The variety of seating options in the waiting area allows for a number of different uses.  

Design can even include health-boosting elements. New fabrics and finishes on furniture pieces can be inherently germ-repellent, and new products for wall and floor coverings are now available with the same anti-viral characteristics. Recent innovations in light fixtures and HVAC diffusers can also be installed to kill viruses. 

The future of the modern dental office is only limited by the pace of innovation. There are more possibilities than ever before to make the dental experience a calming, pleasant one. 

Architect: Brenner Design
Contractor: Alderson Commercial
Dental Equipment: Henry Schein Dental

Each year, March is designated as Women’s History Month by Presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to recognize and honor women’s important contributions throughout American history. Purple is the internationally adopted color chosen to symbolize International Women’s Day as well as commemorate the month itself. 

At Brenner Design, we’re proud to celebrate alongside generations of great women this month! Our business not only shares the purple color of Women’s History Month, but also highlights women-led achievements with our own female founder! We’re celebrating the story and contributions of Diana M. H. Brenner, FAIA  during this month and recognizing her accomplishments over the past 29 years in business. 

Career Accomplishments 

Diana’s deep belief that spaces influence and inspire us has informed her design strategy since the very beginning. Her eye for beauty and function has earned her the title of “first female architect” in several of her projects and accomplishments, including: 

• First woman architect to design a building on the Purdue University campus (Mann Hall). 
• First woman architect to design a building on the Ball State University campus (Ron and Joan Venderly Football Complex). 
• First woman architect to design a sports facility on the Indiana University campus (Terry Tallen Football Complex). 
• First woman (and first person) to be named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects from The Ohio State University (BS.Architecture Class of 1979) and Ball State University (B.Architecture 1992). 

In addition to designing and creating beautiful and livable spaces, her portfolio also includes: 

• 1000+ Design Projects
• 250+ Customers
• 41+ Design Awards
• 30+ Speaking Engagements
• 25+ Articles featured
• 15+ Professional Achievement/Recognition Awards
• 20+ Articles authored
• 3 Board assignments
• 2 Commissions served
• 1 App Created
• 1 Book Published
• 1 AIA Professional Handbook Article Published
• 1 Video Feature Appearance

We honor the continuing accomplishments and success of women in the architecture space and around the world. Hire a woman-owned design firm for your next project!

One of the most extraordinary aspects of design is that it doesn’t just affect a space’s functionality or attractiveness. It affects the energy and mentality of the people who enter. 

Think about the high ceilings and dramatic architecture of the world’s great cathedrals, and the reverence it inspires. Or the sense of relaxation you often feel in well-designed vacation quarters, where stress just somehow fades away. 

Design doesn’t just influence us. It changes us. 

Designing for a Competitive Edge

At Brenner Design, we’ve seen the inspirational effects of a new space firsthand. Diana M.H. Brenner was the first female architect to design a building at her alma mater, Ball State University, as well as the first female architect to design an athletic facility at Indiana University. 

In 2016 we had the opportunity to design the Joan and Ron Venderly Football Complex at Ball State University. The new building was positioned adjacent to the existing Scheumann Stadium and within eyeshot of the existing Ball State University Alumni Center. We worked with Ball State Athletics and the University Architect’s Office to create a physical representation of the new direction for the Football Program. We included a unique feature: a new window positioned in the facility that allows the team to have a direct and inspiring view of their home field. The result? The program had their best recruiting class the following year and attracted first-class staff and coaches. And in 2020, the football team under coach Mike Neu won the Mid-American Conference Championship game for the first time. 

In 2019 Brenner Design had the honor of designing the new Indiana University Football Locker Room. The new Locker Room is located under the existing IU Stadium and hadn’t been renovated since the 1980’s. Our vision was to create a new dynamic home for the Hoosier team. Coach Tom Allen’s LEO mantra (“Love Each Other”) was reflected in the team atmosphere and personal details of the space, which was geared towards the players themselves. The Hoosiers matched a school record with five-straight league victories (1967) before losing at No. 3 Ohio State and have won 11 of their last 14, their most successful stretch in conference games in program history. 

We couldn’t be more thrilled for these teams and their accomplishments, and the role Brenner Design was able to play in creating physical environments to align with their aspirations. These two teams are wonderful examples of leveraging design to impact our mindset and performance. 

Ready to discuss how design can positively impact your space? Get in touch with us! 

When the Indiana University football team walked into the new Terry Tallen Football Complex, they lost their minds—in the best way possible. Overjoyed shouting and whooping filled the complex as players took it all in.

We were thrilled when Brenner Design was selected as the Architect of Record for the renovation of the IU football locker room. The new design included a massive new locker/shower room, Legacy Hall, Players Lounge, plus Sports Medicine, Hydrotherapy, and Coach’s locker/shower room. From custom lockers with wireless phone charging to LED monitors and next-level graphics, every inch of the new space celebrates the legacy of the storied IU football program. 

It All Starts With Vision 

Just like in football, architecture and design wins always start with a vision and common goal. In this case, a truly talented team of interior designers, consultants, athletic staff, facilities staff, architects, contractors, and vendors came together to create a complex that perfectly captures the IU brand. 

The project was named for outstanding design by American School and University magazine this month. We’re honored by the recognition, and were so thrilled with the opportunity to work alongside IU’s wonderful staff on the remodel. What an incredible opportunity working together on a facility that reflects the spirit of IU football. 

Go IU!

In June of this year, Brenner Design completed the Gruene House, a project we designed in Port Aransas, Texas. The Gruene House (pronounced “green”) is the first LEED-registered beach house on the Gulf Coast. And in August, it was directly in the path of Hurricane Harvey.

As we watched the weather reports here in Indianapolis, we saw predictions that the eye would come dangerously close to Port A, as it’s affectionately known. There was little we could do except pray that the damage would be minimal, and the town would be spared.

Houston’s extreme flooding got most of the media attention following Harvey, and Port A was largely ignored. But Port A took a direct hit from Harvey. The category 4 hurricane made landfall, winds reached 132 mph, and an eight-foot-tall tidal surge from the bay ransacked the town.

Buildings were gutted or completely destroyed. Fishing piers and marinas disintegrated, and boats and other watercraft were scattered over land. Harvey tore down all the power lines into town, and wiped out gas and water service, plus phone and internet, for weeks after the storm. Even the local pelicans and terns seemed stunned. (Aerial view, here.)

In early October, our staff visited Port A to help residents by volunteering with our manual labor. We saw first-hand the results of the havoc waged by Mother Nature. Photos do not begin to convey the sheer devastation. Mountains of debris, including appliances, furniture, and more, lined almost every street in the town. Only two restaurants were open. A temporary food pantry was set up for construction workers. Ninety percent of the businesses were shuttered.

Miraculously, the Gruene House survived, in part because of luck. Harvey’s winds came from the north, so the Gruene House was shielded by other homes. The storm surge did not reach the home, and no wind or water came over the dunes from the Gulf.

We also credit the post-Harvey condition of the house to the type of construction materials used and conformance with newer building codes and windstorm requirements. The “envelope” of the house (its walls and roof) is constructed of six-inch-thick Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs), and all the windows and doors utilize hurricane glass. The roof did not suffer any “lift,” so no water infiltrated, as happened to some of the other traditional stick-built homes in the same development. The high-quality exterior paint still looks new, even though hurricane winds have a sandblasting effect on exterior surfaces.

Also, the house was designed as breakaway construction in case of storm surge flooding.  

In the end, the Gruene House lost only one piece of exterior trim (on a trellis) and one rail post cap.  

The painful process of cleaning up in order to rebuild was just starting when we were there. We are optimistic that this beautiful little town will rebuild and that all its residents decide to remain.

Cinnamon Shore, the community where the Gruene House is located, set up a special fund for Port A, and 90 percent of the money goes directly to help the townspeople. Brenner Design is proud to contribute. You can donate here.

Brenner Design also acknowledges the vendors and manufacturers who supplied the quality materials that kept our project safe. Without them, the Gruene House might be severely damaged or gone completely.

• SIPS panels: Noark Enterprises, Inc.
• Windows/doors: Jeldwyn, Allen and Allen Company
• Decks and railings: Azek, ProBuild
• Exterior: Hardi Panel, ProBuild
• Paint: Benjamin Moore Aura, Lone Star Lumber
• Bahama shutters: Port A Storm Shutters

For more information on the Gruene House (and to spend your vacation dollars in an area that can use them!), click here.

How do you design a company that doesn’t exist?

How do you create a vision that endures?

How do you attract customers you don’t even have?

How do you define success?

These were some of the questions we had for the founders at the inception of The National Bank of Indianapolis. Of course when we started working with them, they didn’t yet have a name.

What they did have was relevant banking experience, over 150 years of combined local experience, along with a vision of providing an extremely high level of personalized service to professionals and executives, closely-held businesses and nonprofit organizations. They also had a solid business plan and had recruited well-known and successful businessmen and women to serve on their board of directors. Even with that great foundation, there was a lot of hard work ahead, from regulatory approvals, investors, real estate, technology, and creating an executive team. After all, what else can you expect when you build from the ground up?

The planning started in February 1993 with cousins who had ties to the banking industry. The Bank’s Chairman, local businessman Michael S. (Mickey) Maurer, was already a successful entrepreneur. An attorney and owner of the Indianapolis Business Journal and MyStar Communications, Mickey used his business acumen and connections to forge relationships with companies tired of the old ways of banking. President and CEO Morris L. (Morrie) Maurer came from 18 years of direct experience in the banking industry, bringing financial expertise along with a concept of exceptional customer service, not to mention a vision of what the Bank could be. Joining this winning team were Philip B. Roby, another highly experienced banker, and a group of 17 additional bankers with multiple years of experience in various banking roles.   

Together, they forged the idea of creating a local community bank, one that focused on superior client service, active engagement in the local Indianapolis community, and one that was not bound by the constraints of the large national institutions and the whims of Wall Street. The idea was that all clients would be recognized, welcomed and served in a professional manner. This culture was engrained in every employee hired by the Bank.

The National Bank of Indianapolis opened for business on December 23, 1993. Today, The National Bank of Indianapolis has grown to be the 11^th largest bank in Indiana with approximately $2B in assets, providing banking and investment management services for more than 23,000 account relationships.

In 1993, Brenner Design worked closely with Morrie Maurer to create the first physical space that reflected their values and goals, which would be critical in attracting clients. The corporate offices were designed to be inviting, not staid, while competent and accomplished. Materials like the signature green granite, cherry wood and limestone were selected to reflect a sense of permanence and success. As the Bank developed, marketing materials like logos and signage all tied to the overall design vision. 

Brenner Design and CSO Architects worked in tandem on the design of the first freestanding banking center. The plan is based on a Louis Sullivan-style of bank building (Brenner’s concept), with central banking lobby, teller line and client service areas flanking the sides. The building shell reflects the old-style banking image with faux limestone, gold-toned windows and doors, and the signature green diamond logo. The Bank strictly maintains the image of the original banking center, making small interior improvements over time. Even the exterior signage and the landscape design serves to reinforce the brand; the building design itself is branded and copyrighted. Consistency in design was extremely important and is evident throughout the Bank system.

That first collaboration proved fruitful, and the Bank’s branded image is a hallmark to their overall success. Today there are over 13 locations throughout central Indiana, and Brenner Design acts as the “keeper of the brand” on every location. “Brenner Design has become a trusted advisor on design and facility issues,” said Morrie Maurer.

The downtown flagship building, where they have been located since the beginning, is currently undergoing an exterior façade change to better reflect the Bank’s image. The façade of the first two floors is to be completely re-faced, and the existing upper aggregate panels will be cleaned and re-coated. New improvements include a new stainless steel entry canopy, light sconces, verde granite-faced columns, decorative medallions and replacement of spandrel glass with a durable faux limestone material. A new blade sign will be installed at the corner of the building, and an interior Bank logo sign will be installed above the entry canopy.

Brenner Design worked closely with Morrie Maurer to transform an otherwise non-descript façade from the 1970s to an attractive icon for this successful institution. “Employees and clients alike are excited about the changes and are anxious to see the final result of the facelift,” said Ann Merkel,  Senior Vice President and Chief Market Development Officer. We’re proud to partner with this outstanding local banking institution, working with them to create a trusted entity from the ground up.

College sports is big business. In every athletic conference in the country, colleges and universities are vying for the best, most talented players available. Recruiting is extremely competitive with many factors for the players to consider. During the recruiting process, all aspects of a program are taken into consideration. Facilities are a huge part of the decision. 

With the onset of new sports networks (e.g. The Big Ten Network), income from distributions of profit are divided among component members to operate and improve their respective programs. This is happening in all types of collegiate sports, and the income they receive often gets allocated for new and improved sports facilities. Enhanced facilities lead to better recruiting, which leads to a more successful program.

For the new Ball State University Football Complex, the design focused on overall recruitment. As the saying goes, “You only have one chance to make a first impression.” The face of the facility had to make that good first impression and reflect the seriousness and commitment of the institution to its program.

Initially, the building was to be located on the southeast side of the existing Scheumann Stadium, basically at the back door of the football training center complex. The existing program was utilizing an outdated facility originally designed for training, for team meetings and coaches’ offices. After completing a site study and evaluation of the pros and cons of both the east and west sites, it was Brenner Design’s recommendation to place the new structure at the western location. This put the new complex at the forefront of the stadium proper, in direct view of the Ball State University Alumni Center. An exterior plaza was also planned at the entry, to be used as a drop-off point and gathering place for pep rallies.

From the start, the goal of the building was to create a “wow!” factor to catch the attention of potential recruits. The architectural façade needed to be eye-catching; the interior of the building needed to be equally impressive. The exterior façade was designed to mimic the existing colonnade of the stadium, giving the structure a feel of competitive athletics. The new structure also needed to compliment the entry façade of the existing training center. The view from the plaza into the upper level was planned to include an oversized electronic mesh video screen that could highlight the history and successes of the team, and offer the opportunity to show live action from within the stadium.

The building encases an impressive meeting room that accommodates the entire team, staff and coaches. Large-scale graphics and images of past players double as sound masking around the perimeter of the room. The room’s front stage focuses on the head coach, with a projection screen that can be raised to expose a view of the playing field. The team can access the field directly from the bottom level of the room.

The upper level acts a reception area that starts the journey through the recruitment dance. The area acts to showcase past accomplishments of the team, and to tell player success stories as well as displaying current uniforms and the upcoming team schedule. The recruits are escorted through the facility to meet with managers, staff and eventually the head coach in a presentation conference room. The head coach’s office has a corner view to the entire football field. It can also be used to recruit other coaching staff and entertain influential alumni.

The resulting design enhances the existing football program both functionally and aesthetically. The University and coaching staff love the final design. The impact to recruiting and the overall program will be evident over the next few seasons.* In fact, BSU’s 2017 27-member recruiting class was recently ranked second best in the Mid-American Conference (source 247sports.com). Coincidence? We can’t be sure…

*The BSU Football Complex received an award for outstanding design of an unbuilt project by American School & University magazine. It has been submitted as a built project with the results to be announced later in 2017.