Stinson Technology Center
500 Stinson Blvd., Minneapolis , Minnesota

The original 1919 warehouse construction offered 23,000 sf open floor plates and provided interesting architectural opportunities to enhance and incorporate the brick and timber construction and large windows into an inviting and warm open office setting. The renovated facility currently houses over 375 UCare employees in a modern office setting, while retaining the look of the original 1919 warehouse. From the exterior, the building looks much the same as it has for the past 85 years, minimizing the impact on the neighborhood.

The renovation has introduced daylight to permeate the workspace. The inviting palette of interior materials was selected to compliment the exposed masonry and timber, infusing the space with warm tones and rich, saturated accents. The accents were placed to provide visual clues, indicating the location of shared or public spaces to UCare’s employees and guests. Technology was integrated beneath the access floor, allowing the timber ceiling to remain uncluttered and contributing to the open feel of the space.

Developing 21st century work space in an early 20th century building is always a challenge, but adapting a former warehouse to office space compounds that challenge. Floors are uneven, structure is not always regularly placed, and vintage masonry can be a challenge, with softer brick and walls that are no longer true due to building settlement over time; but it was these features that brought 500 Stinson its charm. The team made the decision early on to expose the masonry walls, heavy timber structure and wood decks – a decision that drove the aesthetic, with color used to draw attention to shared spaces, light fixtures for the open office with an uplight component to highlight the exposed wood deck and structure. The project was completed in Summer, 2006.