Architect
I.M. Pei & Partners / HKS
GC
Opus Corporation
Completion
1992
Contract Value
16.9m
Building Type
Commercial / Storefront
Technology Type
Design-Build, Shadowbox, Skylights, Special Geometry
Facade
Comprehensive design/build facade program including over 350,000 sqft of custom unitized glass and granite curtainwall system designed to accommodate the complex geometry of varying grids, forms and interfaces
Glass
1/4 inch monolithic Solarscreen Stainless Steel (VS) Reflective; 1 inch insulated glass unit with Solarscreen Stainless Steel (VS) reflective coating by Viracon
Description
This high-rise tower transitions to an illuminated crown, while a mid-rise tower and glass winter-garden help define this L-shaped building site
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This L-shaped building site posed unique design challenges from its dense urban context. Bordered by a public park, the bustling streets of downtown Minneapolis, and a variety of neighboring buildings, the architect’s solution speaks to each of these considerations in turn. A 56-story tower, the second tallest in the city, is arguably the most distinctive in the skyline. An adjacent 20-story mid-rise scales the complex to the building mass surrounding the site. Retail at the podium level and a winter-garden across from the park integrate the building into the public domain at street level. The tower form transitions from a rectilinear plan at the lower levels to radial at the top, where an illuminated crown provides the exclamation point on the unique building design. The facade system of granite and reflective glass throughout serves to unify the disparate elements of the building.
Enclos provided a complete design/build facade program including over 350,000 square feet of custom unitized curtainwall, custom storefront at the podium level and a clear glass skin to the 7-story winter-garden structure.
First Bank Place plays a key role in the Minneapolis skywalk system, providing shelter from sub-zero winters by means of bridges to neighboring buildings. |
