urbanMSP

What's happening with their former building once they move into this one? Or is this just an expansion per-say

An expansion. We currently rent 4 floors of Marquette Plaza, and those departments will be moving to the new building when its complete. I think that the people at the call center in Roseville will also be moving downtown, but I'm not sure about that.

If only they still had people in Ren Square.

An expansion. We currently rent 4 floors of Marquette Plaza, and those departments will be moving to the new building when its complete. I think that the people at the call center in Roseville will also be moving downtown, but I'm not sure about that.

I worked at that call center for about 2 months many years ago... worst work experience to date!

From the Marq4 webcam, it looks as though they are possibly pouring the foundation for a tower crane for this building.
It's hard to tell from the webcam, as you can't zoom in, but that sure looks like a foundation.

From the Marq4 webcam, it looks as though they are possibly pouring the foundation for a tower crane for this building.
It's hard to tell from the webcam, as you can't zoom in, but that sure looks like a foundation.

I was quite surprised that the Marq crane went up before the Xcel tower crane. With Xcel having started demolition before them and all. I still think it will be winter before we see any major progress on vertical construction.

That's more or less what I expected. In addition to the Xcel site being larger and having a much bigger structure on it, 4Marq can start leasing as soon as they finish, where the Xcel building won't be used until the lease at Marquette Plaza finishes up in summer 2016 anyway. I figure Opus will move slower on this one, at least until they finally get the Nic on 5th wrapped up.

30 3rd St S is owned by the city and is marketed at $0 ????

I want it. Let's get it.

Construction as of 9/21: https://i.imgur.com/9EdCVKp.jpg

Construction as of 9/21: https://i.imgur.com/9EdCVKp.jpg

To save confusion, the orange at the front of the photo is from the elevator shaft of the Marq 4.

The base of a tower crane was placed today. That will make, what, 14 cranes in downtown Minneapolis?

Does anyone know why this one is moving sooooooo slow? Is it the concrete shortage, lack of workers, any ideas? I keep sneaking peeks at this during the day and there just never seems to be any progress.

Does anyone know why this one is moving sooooooo slow? Is it the concrete shortage, lack of workers, any ideas? I keep sneaking peeks at this during the day and there just never seems to be any progress.

This wasn't planned to be started until after the Marq4 is further along . They don't plan on moving into this space until July 2016.

I don't know anything official, but I'm guessing its just that there's no particular reason to move quickly. There's still more than a year and a half on the Marquette Plaza lease, so finishing before Spring 2016 doesn't really gain anything.

I'm putting this in the Xcel 401 thread, but this is really about Xcel 414 across the street. I worked in this building for a summer in college, and the only disappointing part of the building was the narrow windows. Looking at this: http://danwhittaker.com/tea/mod/HTML/sld070.htm They could easily reclad the exterior with larger windows. But is there any value to keeping that 60s architecture with extremely narrow windows?

The main reason why this building most likely will not be changed in because it was designed by Pietro Belluschi. Although it was, in my opinion, one of his worst designs at least material wise and window size, it is still his and he is a respected architect.

Fair enough, though I'm not always a fan of well known architects. Heck, I could see saving one or two examples of Gehry bs and recladding/imploding the rest.

From a downtown resident perspective, I would support leaving it as is. I'm in no way a "everything more than 25 years old is historic and untouchable" kinda guy, but I'd prefer not to change up facades like this just because we no longer like the aesthetic. Renovating it to attract new tenants would be one thing, but that doesn't apply here.

That being said, as a probable future occupant, for the love of god please more windows now.

Fair enough, though I'm not always a fan of well known architects. Heck, I could see saving one or two examples of Gehry bs and recladding/imploding the rest.

you're so right. but please keep our "baby bilbao" at the U.

i did not know the original xcel was Belluschi. so i suppose i will look at this buliding differently now. but it's not his best work not even close.