These two pedestrian bridges replace two 1940s-era bridges that spanned Washington Avenue, connecting the University of Minnesota’s historic Northrop Mall with Coffman Union. Although the original bridges had sentimental value to many former students and faculty, they were in disrepair and not accessible to impaired students, structurally unsound and aesthetically unlike the surrounding architecture. A new design was needed.
The bridges now meet ADA standards for accessibility and have been updated with stainless steel railings and stonework that fits into the campus context. They serve both a symbolic and practical role as a gateway to the campus, creating a sense of arrival that is memorable for students and visitors alike.
A fixture of University of Minnesota campus life since 1939, the 300,000-square-foot Coffman Memorial Union opened to rave reviews for its elegant Steamship Modern character. Many of the original features were lost during a renovation in the mid-’70s. The goal of its second renovation was to restore many of the attributes of the 1939 building while also appealing to current and future students.
The project fulfills student needs for academic services, retail and entertainment, and social opportunities. The renovation also establishes a visual and pedestrian circulation corridor that links the historic Northrop Mall to the Mississippi River. Major program elements include a new central University bookstore, study lounges, computer lab, food service and dining, conferencing and assembly spaces, and a multipurpose theater.
Awards
- Facility Design Award, Association of College Unions International (ACUI)
The University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management is one of the most interactive business learning environments in the United States. There were four goals for consolidating programs into one new 285,000-square-foot building:
- Enhance the school’s community and increase interaction
- Strengthen teaching excellence
- Establish a closer link with the Twin Cities business community
- Develop a global, multicultural perspective
Awards
- First Place, Institutional Category, ASID Minnesota Chapter, 1998
- Honorable Mention, Product Design, Boardroom table, ASID Minnesota Chapter, 1998
Client Quote
“The building creates cohesiveness for the school and reinforces our identity. It pulls it all together for us.”
Mike Houston, Professor of Marketing
Target Plaza South, the 1,200,000-square foot second phase of Target Corporation’s urban headquarters campus, presents a specific response to each face of its context. To create a unique form within the skyline of Minneapolis—while merging into the street walls of the neighborhood—became the goal of the client, the neighborhood, and the design team.
Qualities in material reflectivity and density, floorplate size, and building height became community issues rather than considerations of only those involved in developing the building. Human scale and connection to the history and design of the street influenced the design of the building’s base; rather than designing a singular, sculpted object that could be placed in any urban context, Target Plaza South is uniquely reflective of its place within the south Nicollet Mall neighborhood.
This complex has completely rejuvenated the south end of Nicollet Mall. Target Corporation has brought nearly 6,000 people to a block that was relatively empty. The design of the building provides retail frontages at street level with businesses that serve this large population. Restaurants and bars on adjoining blocks are significantly more animated than previously. The project team’s vision was to make the south end of Nicollet Mall a better place to live, work, and play, thereby creating a more sustainable urban environment. The finished project succeeds in realizing this vision.
Awards
- 2003 Honor Award for Architecture, American Institute of Architects—Minnesota
- 2003 Award of Excellence—Office Built-to-Suit more than 150,000 SF, National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP), Minnesota Chapter
- 2002 First Place—Contract/Private Sector, Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Interior Designers
Minneapolis and St. Paul, the two largest cities in Minnesota, make up the Twin Cities. With both cities growing culturally and economically, the Metropolitan Council and Metro Transit (METRO) looked to find a public transportation solution to connect the two communities. Using local, state and federal funding, the $957-million, Green Line project, which opened in June 2014, was approved.
Originally known as the Central Corridor, the project is comprised of an 11-mile light rail transit (LRT) system. It links the downtowns of both cities and includes 18 new stations with stops at the state capitol complex, the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus and Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. As an integral part of the region’s transportation network, the Green Line shares one mile of track and five stations with the existing Blue Line LRT in downtown Minneapolis and provides access to the Northstar commuter rail line and the historic St. Paul Union Depot, a gateway for bus and AMTRAK service.
As prime engineering consultants, our transportation professionals worked with the Metropolitan Council to complete the project on time and within budget. AECOM was responsible for all aspects of the project design and also provided support for the Metropolitan Council’s project management, project controls and construction management groups. Specialized services provided by the firm include:
- Retrofitting the Washington Avenue Bridge across the Mississippi River in lieu of a new bridge, saving more than two years and approximately $75 million in project costs;
- Designing specialized floating slab track sections to mitigate noise and vibration at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota Public Radio;
- Building the line at grade on Washington Avenue through the University of Minnesota’s East Bank and converting Washington Avenue into a transit mall;
- Providing extensive utility relocation and accommodation throughout the length of the project, especially in downtown St. Paul;
- Designing streetscape enhancements along the corridor and incorporating public art into the station design;
- Utilizing a diagonal route in downtown St. Paul and creating what St. Paul officials regard as a major development opportunity; and
- Adapting an existing abandoned warehouse into a 5,000-square foot vehicle maintenance facility, and replacing the existing building’s monolithic façade to fit better within St. Paul’s downtown historic district.