Design firm Alliiance celebrates 50 years

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.—Minneapolis-based design firm Alliiance is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The firm opened in 1970 in a 1910s mansion in the Loring Park neighbourhood and remains in its original building while working on aviation, science and technology and corporate workplaces, civic and community, higher education, retail and more recently in environmental learning spaces.

“I’m so proud of our hundred-plus team of planners, architects and interior designers and our work to create inspired environments for people. Throughout the pandemic we continued to deliver for clients, remained profitable, and are now in hiring mode. Longevity is one of our core strengths—our team has deep experience in our core industries, and many have been with Alliiance for 20 years or more,” Alliiance president Eric Peterson said in a statement.

Alliiance has worked with MSP Airport since 1978 and has 75 employees focused solely on aviation design, a release from the firm stated.

“Alliiance sets the standard for user experience, elevating and enriching the lives of all who use airports — from passengers to airport staff to airlines. We unite people and place through design for airports everywhere from Papua New Guinea to Brazil, Louisville to Spokane – we even have a branch office at MSP Airport to keep our projects on task,” Alliiance principal April Meyer said.

Peterson said the COVID-19 pandemic required the firm to pivot and “initiate several important dialogues.”

“We aligned our firm objectives, looking through lenses of sustainability, quality design, equity, diversity and inclusivity, and we’ve expanded our collaborations, including a partnership for Target Center with 4RM+ULA, a Black-owned firm in St. Paul, Minn. Alliiance has also instituted a new change management consulting service to help clients approach flexible and safe work spaces post-pandemic,” Peterson said.