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We know and respect that there is wisdom in the communities we serve. We honor the diverse cultures of those who will inhabit the spaces we create by leveraging community knowledge, valuing truth and working with humility.
We listen before we plan. We understand before we design. We connect before we create. And when we don’t have everything we need in-house, we find expert partners to enhance our team.We’re our clients’ partners. We’re our communities’ partners. Trust is how exceptional work is built.
We treat sustainability as a standard, not an afterthought. It doesn’t end with certifications – it ends when we’ve responsibly designed and built an environment that is healthy for the Earth, respectful to the land and healthy for its occupants. As stewards of the natural environment … of our clients and partners … of responsible projects, we believe that all that is built well, ends well.
We design with empathy, putting ourselves in the end users’ shoes and truly understanding their needs and the impacts of our solutions on their daily lives. We are grounded in making spaces that look beautiful and function even better. We find opportunities to add value by using our expertise to deliver what our clients need when they need it.
Our design process creates spaces that integrate health and wellbeing into every project — whether new construction or remodeling your office space.
DSGW supports an internal team of architects and designers focused on health and wellness for people who gather, live, work, and learn in our buildings. For us, design for health and wellness is not an add-on—but part of our commitment to holistic, information-based design for clients and communities.
The indoor landscape—its lighting, sounds, tactility and invitation to engage with others—is the next frontier in design for wellness. DSGW studies how interiors can nourish the well-being of people, employees and organizations. Research suggests that healthy employees are up to three times more productive than those who are unwell or often tired and immobile at work.
DSGW tracks new technologies and wellness research–studying indoor air quality, case studies on the psychological impacts and healing effects of natural daylighting, color, and biophilic design.
Our team regularly shares new information through discussion with all of our practice groups; and we continuously apply this knowledge to projects.
DSGW gives clients more. We bring leading-edge architectural knowledge to projects of all scales. We invest time in research into core areas that will give you more. Many of our clients say that our design process creates building that they never thought possible–architecture that is filled with daylight, green design, calming environments and healthy workplaces that elevate the daily lives of employees and visitors.
DSGW brings sustainable design to regions and clients who had never believed they had the option. Our sustainable design expertise offers groups—ranging from clinics to small town commercial enterprises— green buildings that are affordable and reduce energy costs over time.
Our team focuses on green design and how to apply it most effectively for the needs of each client. Like our commitment to design for Health and Wellness, sustainable design is not an add-on for our us, but integral to the programming, siting, and design process from the start.
Because of our long-standing relationships with tribal groups, DSGW is also a national leader in sustainable design on Indian lands, bringing a deep appreciation for the seasonal and environmental knowledge long held by tribes.
Knowledge adds long-term value. The most successful and sustainable buildings will be those that last—architecture that adapts to a changing service economy, emerging market needs, and new ways of living and working. DSGW invests in research-based design today create architecture that stays relevant tomorrow and in the decades to come.
DSGW applies the latest research and best practices at scales ranging from window sealants to geo-thermal engineering systems. Our architects are knowledge leaders in their fields, helping to write national specialized building codes and leading professional organizations. We share our ideas and findings within these knowledge networks. But we also learn much from the experience and case studies of other architects and researchers.
Today, technologies, engineering, codes, and rapidly-evolving construction methods mean that no single person can design a building. DSGW’s ongoing pursuit of leading edge knowledge benefits our clients over time.
Duluth
2 West First Street, Suite 201
Duluth, MN 55802
218.727.2626
Twin Cities / Minneapolis
3479 Lake Elmo Avenue
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
651.784.7924
Virginia
417 Second Street South
Virginia, MN 55792
218.741.7962
Washburn
14 East Bayfield Street
Washburn, WI 54891
715.373.7001
Bemidji
522 Beltrami Ave NW, Suite 109
Bemidji, MN 56601
218.210.0382
