Our Founder: Thorwald Thorson

Partner 1914-1962

INVISION has grown out of the practice of one man, Thorwald Thorson. After growing up in Forest City, Iowa, he took courses and gained experience in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1903, Thorwald returned to Iowa to teach at the newly-opened Waldorf College, where Thorson Hall became his first building. In 1914, Thorwald opened his architecture practice, marking the founding date of what we know today as INVISION.

1922

Oz Starts Making Blueprints at Age Nine

Ozwald, Thorwald’s son who would later join the firm, would put the original drawing in a large oak frame with glass, felt and light sensitive blue print paper. He and his brother then exposed it to bright sunlight for two minutes, disassembled the frame, rinsed the paper, allowed the paper to dry, and then assembled multiple sheets into one set. Quite the process!

1927

Thorwald Receives Registration No. 83

The Architectural Examining Board was created in Iowa and Thorwald Thorson was one of the first in the state to be registered.

1933

Young Oz Studies the Trade

Oz Thorson followed in his father’s footsteps and began to study architecture at the University of Minnesota. He graduated in 1937.

1935

The Work Progress Administration Forms

When the WPA offered to employ farmers, who were unskilled in the industry, to carry out public construction projects, Thorwald leveraged the opportunity. He evolved a new concrete form construction system using modular, interlocking, movable and reusable wooden forms that allowed for more structural opportunities. The process was simple and labor-intensive, a perfect fit for what the WPA offered.

1914

The Panama Canal

We figured out it’s much easier to cut through than go around.

1924

Television

It wasn’t HD back then, but boy, those fancy consoles were mesmerizing.

1929

The Great Depression

Economic collapse with no safety net. Mass hysteria. The world battled through it but was left with scars.

1930

Twinkies

Those delicious cakes filled with tasty whipped cream hit the street.

Image courtesy of Saputo Inc./Hostess Inc.

1945

Waterloo Office Opens

With the support of industry colleagues, Oz ventured just over 100 miles southeast, from Forest City to Waterloo. He and his wife, who did interiors, began in a small office in their new city.

1947

Adding a Third Dimension

INVISION began using stereoscopic photography to create a 3D display of work for clients and prospects. We still have the “red button” Realist viewer and several slides with two photos that, when aligned, create a three-dimensional view.

1952

Office Picnics Signify Great Culture

Thorwald, Oz, Norm and Hovey focused on corporate culture and treated the staff like family, much like we do today. Here, the team gets together at the Rotary Reserve in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

1953

Oz Serves as AIA Iowa President

Oz Thorson led the state’s architectural association for two straight terms.

1956

First Company Plane Took Flight

Oz and Hovey flew the company’s first plane, a Cessna 172, and logged over 3,000 hours flying before selling its latest plane in 1973.

1939

Atanasoff-Berry Computer

The world’s first computer is invented at Iowa State University.

Image courtesy of Manop.

1942

Duct Tape

Sticky yet versatile, it changed HVAC—we found a million other uses for it.

1943

Chicago Style Pizza

They start making pizza differently in Chicago and it catches on.

Image courtesy of Victorgrigas.

1948

Scrabble

We started playing Scrabble and were finally able to use words like quixotry, muzjiks, and zymurgy in conversation.

Image courtesy of thebarrowboy.

1953

The Elvis Phenomenon

Elvis comes out with his first album. He starts shaking his hips and the girls go crazy.

1962

A Young Mike Broshar Makes Diazo Prints

At just 5 years old, Mike started his experience in architecture by making diazo prints, also known as whiteprints. He fed the original drawing into a machine that transferred the plan from tracing paper to light-sensitive paper and then exposed it to light and ammonia. For a large project, he would make 100 sets of 50 drawings.

1965

Oz Honored by AIA

While serving as secretary of AIA national, Oz was honored with membership into the College of Fellows for his notable contribution in service to the profession.

1972

Marketing Made Possible

After investigation in the 60s, the AIA agreed to allow members to submit price quotes, competitive bids, discounts or free work. This was a game-changer in the industry as it created a competitive landscape and, thus, the value of increased marketing efforts.

1972

Bob Broshar Takes a Turn as AIA President

For one term, Bob Broshar joined the list of INVISION partners who served in this prestigious role in Iowa.

1978

AIA Iowa Elects Wayne Snyder as President

INVISION’s partner once again represents architects state-side as the leader of AIA Iowa.

1982

Leading the Nation

Bob Broshar began his term as the 59th President of AIA National, leading the association’s goal, at the time, to educate the public on the value of fine architecture. He was attributed for a shift in the association’s focus, from protecting architects’ interests to increasing public awareness and increasing demand for good design. His leadership at the national level included many efforts internationally as he traveled the globe representing architecture in the U.S.

1983

First Company Fax Machine

With Bob taking the leadership reigns of National AIA, communication was essential and prompted the firm’s first purchase of a fax machine.

1985

First Company Computer Purchased

With a small, green display and a hefty price tag of almost $10k, it’s hard to imagine the company’s first computer was primarily used for simple project management and word processing with a dot matrix printer.

1963

Easy Bake Oven

Children everywhere teach themselves how to cook with a light bulb.

Image courtesy of Bradross63.

1968

The Mouse

No longer merely a rodent, we praise our newfound ability to click.

Image courtesy of Steve Rainwater.

1972

Pong

Playing with a computer becomes more fun than playing with your neighbor.

Image courtesy of Chris Rand.

1974

Rubik’s Cube

Millions play it, but few ever master it.

Image courtesy of Mike Gonzalez.

1976

The Apple One

The first personal computer comes to the market. Made out of wood, it looked more like a TV (especially if the monitor wasn’t plugged in)—but it changed the world.

Image courtesy of Ed Uthman.

1989

Going Digital With CAD

INVISION purchased its first CAD station and ink pen plotter, which changed the game of architectural drafting. This early in the game, the pen plotter took the better part of an hour to create just one drawing.

1993

LEED™ Promotes Sustainability

The U.S. Green Building Council was established to promote sustainability in the building and construction industry. This movement later impacted INVISION’s clients in the Midwest and our first LEED™ certification was received in 2012.

1995

Networking in New Ways

INVISION’s first computer network was created by Mike Broshar himself.

1995

Leading AIA Iowa

Mike Broshar became president of AIA, leading the state’s efforts to be the voice of the profession, promote good design and advocate for the public.

1997

Expanding into the Des Moines Market

Our Des Moines office was a critical moment in the firm’s growth as it increased our ability to serve clients in that area, but allowed us to leverage the area’s skilled workforce and growing business landscape.

1997

Introducing INVISION

The firm’s name changed to INVISION. At this time it employed over 30 staff members.

1997

Hello?

INVISION bought its first cell phone.

1998

Digital Efficiency

INVISION purchased its first ink jet plotter which was capable of producing prints much faster.

2004

Staff Count Hits 50

INVISION grows to over 50 employees.

2006

Building Information Modeling with Revit

INVISION began leveraging building information modeling (BIM) with the purchase of Revit. The new software allowed the firm to produce three dimensional building models that aided in collaboration across the many disciplines of engineering and construction.

2008

Document Sharing Simplified

First electronic document sharing management system. Initially, it was primarily used for construction administration and it began to replace “plan rooms.”

1991

World Wide Web

The web is invented. Thanks for visiting our website :)

1993

Beanie Babies

People of all ages start to collect Beanie Babies.

Image courtesy of Jonny.

1995

Search Engines

Our phone books and encyclopedias started collecting dust.

Image courtesy of altavista.com.

1999

Napster

People started ‘sharing’ music with friends they never met.

Image courtesy of Napster.

2001

iPod

Suddenly we could hold 10,000 songs in the palm of our hand.

Image courtesy of Kyro.

With over 50 staff on board today, we have never been more ready to take on the next challenge. Our team of dedicated experts is diverse in skill, background and opinion, but unified in passion and culture.

2014

Blue Zones Designation Proves Healthy Culture

INVISION is certified as a Blue Zones Worksite after formalizing a program that reflects its culture of healthy work-life balance

2014

Together Again

All former and retired partners got together to share stories and laughter about INVISION and the moments that have defined us. We appreciate our past partners staying in touch and keeping our history alive.

2015

International Leadership in Risk Management

Mike Broshar was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Design Professionals Risk Control Group (DPRCG), a North American network of A/E firms associated with the XL Group.

2024

A Visit to Mars

Our nation will visit Mars. We’d be happy to design the first colony!

2029

Flux Capacitor Redux

We’ll figure out that Doc really was inspired and use his design for time travel.

2052

Spacely Sprockets

We’ll all fly to work (unless we’re riding mass transit).