AIA Minneapolis, Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, and Preserve Minneapolis announced seven recipients of the 2021 Minneapolis Preservation Award. The winners were recognized during a virtual event on March 18, 2021.

This year’s award winners represent accomplishments in preservation, rehabilitation, new construction in historic districts, advocacy, education and individual career achievement.

New Construction

Second + Second

Snow Kreilich Architects, Solaris Redevelopment Co., TEN X TEN Studio, Elan Design Lab, MBJ, Major Mechanical, Collins Electric, Weis Builders, TM Lighting, Marx | Okubo, New History, Serigraphics, Summit, VONDELINDE

SECOND + SECOND represents a successful design of a modern multi-family development that thoughtfully weaves itself into a historic district and creates a lively and material rich landscape at the streetscape and courtyard. The project filled in a former surface parking lot and brownfield site, and stitched back together a block-long stretch of the historic North Loop neighborhood. Rather than mimic the era, the design team worked to evoke a modern interpretation of the historic context through the materials selection, massing and ordering of the façade.

Historic Restoration, Rehabilitation or Adaptive Reuse

Peavey Plaza

New History, Coen + Partners, City of Minneapolis, Peter Hendee Brown, Global Specialty Contractors, Tillett Lighting Design Associates, Fluidity Design Consultants, Barr Engineering

More than a decade after its cascading fountains ran dry the City of Minneapolis and their consultants rehabilitated the National Register of Historic Places-listed Peavey Plaza by restoring the Modernist landscape icon while improving accessibility, safety, and sustainability. Highlights of the rehabilitation project included the restoration of fountains, concrete terraces and amphitheater seating; reconstruction of historic light fixtures; adding more durable and environmentally friendly paving materials; and updating lighting. To make the space ADA-accessible, new concrete ramps were installed and the central basin raised to allow users of all ages and abilities to access all levels of the plaza.

Hosmer Library

Noor Companies, Damon Farber, New History, Inspec, Professional Project Management, Inc., Kvernstoen, Ronnholm & Associates, Morgan She Photography, Corey Gaer Photography, LEO A DALY

The Hosmer Library project, which rehabilitated a Tudor Revival library to meet the needs of the community, demonstrates Hennepin County’s commitment to preservation and adaptive reuse of its historic community libraries. Maintenance issues, including old restrooms, failing HVAC systems, water infiltration, tired worn niches, deteriorated windows and terra cotta trim, a leaking roof, and an outdated layout made it difficult for staff to work in and manage services. Through the County’s efforts to improve the building while maintaining its historic charm, the Hosmer Library has been rehabilitated, refreshed and updated so that it provides a welcoming and open door to serve its South Minneapolis community for the next 100 years.

Preservation Gem

Milwaukee Avenue Porch

Charles Levin Architects, Lynn Brofman and Charles Levin, Align Structural, Inc., James Steele Construction

Owners Brofman and Levin looked to update a dilapidated side entry to their 1884 duplex in the Milwaukee Avenue Historic District. The narrow and small side lots in the district posed a design challenge to create a functional space while honoring the architecture of the house and neighborhood. Levin, an architect, went to work to design a two-story small addition complete with a side entry, storage, and 3-season porches for the lower and upper units within the existing footprint of the original side entry. Careful craftsmanship and material choices blend the new addition seamlessly into the house and neighborhood.

Grassroots, Advocacy and Education

Christina Langsdorf and Ezra Gray

Christina Langsdorf and Ezra Gray have dedicated the last 10 years to restoring, salvaging, and advocating for homes within the Healy Block and Sunnyside Addition, a collection of late-19th century homes in Minneapolis’s Wedge neighborhood. Their efforts to restore a home at 2109 Bryant Avenue S. led them to become active members of preservation through the development of community based education and outreach to convince people of the environmental and cultural benefits of preservation.

Save the Boards to Memorialize the Movement

Save the Boards to Memorialize the Movement epitomizes the power of grassroots efforts for preservation, advocacy, and education. Co-founders Leesa Kelly and Kenda Zellner-Smith created a powerful physical preservation movement to collect the murals created in moments of protest, pain, and healing that appeared on hundreds of buildings throughout Minneapolis following the killing of George Floyd. Presented through the medium of street art, the project highlights the interrelatedness of art and the built environment. Thus far, the Save the Boards to Memorialize the Movement has collected and preserved over 700 murals.

Steve Murray Award

Dick Kronick

Writer and scholar, Dick Kronick is a self-taught architectural historian who has contributed to countless publications and online editorials on Minneapolis and Minnesota’s built environment over the last forty years. Notably, Kronick co-authored the update of “A Guide to the Architecture of Minnesota,” in 1978 with co-author Tom Martinson, is a Purcell and Emslie expert, is the editor and chief for the Preserve Minneapolis Minneapolis Historical website. Dick has shared his passion and knowledge of architectural history freely. He has led walking tours, written scholarly articles, delivered lectures. Through Minneapolis Historical he has produced a tremendous body of readily accessible architectural information found online at no cost. That achievement is reflective of his collaborative and generous nature and of his lifetime achievement in understanding Minneapolis’s history.

 

About the Partners

AIA Minneapolis

AIA Minneapolis is the largest of three AIA Minnesota chapters with more than 1,600 members. Centered in Minneapolis, the chapter territory includes the southwestern portion of the state. As a large chapter, AIA Minneapolis participates with other large chapters nationwide to focus attention on significant issues facing members. The chapter provides leadership, networking, and outreach opportunities for its members.

Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission

The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) was formed in 1972 to serve as a citizen advisory body to the Minneapolis City Council. The HPC is part of a nation-wide network of groups dedicated to the preservation and celebration of our local and national heritage. The Commission holds public hearings on matters related to preservation twice each month. Projects that come before the commission are administered through professional preservation-planning staff in the City of Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED). These meetings are specifically held so that the Commission can hear from the public on matters related to heritage preservation. The public is welcome to attend and highly encouraged to participate.

Preserve Minneapolis

Preserve Minneapolis is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minneapolis by recognizing, preserving, and revitalizing the architectural and related cultural resources of the city of Minneapolis. Founded in 2003, the group was originally brought together to attract the 2007 National Trust for Historic Preservation conference to the Twin Cities. Preserve Minneapolis hosts monthly discussions and tours highlighting preservation activities in Minneapolis.