Studio BV OURFAMILYWIZARD, MINNEAPOLIS
Betsy Vohs founded Studio BV in 2015 in order to dedicate her energy and creativity to clients who want transformational design solutions. One such client, OurFamilyWizard, is a technology company that created and manages an app that helps caregivers coparent effectively after navigating the confusion and tension of separation. The platform allows parents to communicate, share calendars and journals, track expenses, and transmit payments. The start-up had grown exponentially during the pandemic and was looking for a larger office, a search that led to the top two floors, spanning 25,000 square feet, of the historic Loose-Wiles Building in the North Loop of Minneapolis. This 120-year-old structure—an enormous volume flooded with daylight from large windows and clerestory glass—was once home to the Sunshine Biscuit Company, which produced Cheez-Its and Animal Crackers there. The building’s unique character (rough brick, exposed steel, recessed niches that once held commercial ovens) is enhanced by the juxtaposition of contemporary furnishings and fixtures, creating an energetic and dynamic workplace. To wit: Surveying the two-story atrium, which is ringed by an open lounge and features a communal staircase, is a constellation of glowing glass orbs reminiscent of fireflies in the dark or stars dotting the night sky.