urbanMSP

So we're paying $100M to make the Target Center look like the Target Center giving birth to an IKEA.

Or... $20m. 80% of the budget is in function and interior spaces...

The exterior is where they likely cut the most from the original budget estimate. I realize the inside and the experience for the fan is the priority, but I think this project's renovation is being shortchanged. It should have been done right. Even a 150 million budget for a project of this scope is modest. Of course , I'm sure city officials area acutely aware of the public's perception this is excessive spending given the subsidy of the Viking's stadium. That said, I think the positive is the architect's are doing the best they can to make it look attractive and it will look somewhat better than the original design.

i prefer the previous schematics as well. yes the exteriors suffer from the budget cutting. target center was built on a very tight site and this makes the building overbearing, blocky. the choice of exterior only added to this. the holy trinity of dt mpls architectural mistakes, city center, block e and target center.

adding glass open up the massing. shelf life of this is 20 yrs. nobody expects this to be a 40 yr solution. we'll be back here in 15 years talking about a new arena downtown just wait.

I am actually impressed they are still making this much happen. I am not sure people are realizing that with the budget cuts we were close to having no significant exterior changes at all! That corner and 1st side are vast improvements.

I will reserve judgement until I see the 7th St & 1st Ave corner. I know the primary entrance and attractive facade is over on 6th, but as someone who used to walk or take the bus on northbound 7th every day, that side matters just as much. The Block E renovation will make a difference, as there won't be the ghosts of Hard Rock and Gameworks past hanging around, but that corner of Target Center should still be made attractive. There's a bend in the street there that gives that corner of Target Center an even more overwhelming presence in the area. It's currently blank walls at the street level (and extra seat storage) with giant ads for Tires Plus up above.

Here's what you see today from Hennepin & 7th: http://goo.gl/maps/POaOv

Will there be anything to enhance the 2nd Ave side?
Edit: How did I never notice that seat storage? Yikes that's tacky. I always pay attention to the big old drive-through loading dock on the 7th side.

along the lines of paying attention to detail in renderings -- i suspect that these were very fast initial concept renderings used to get project buy-in. For example, the 6th st sidewalk is actually a ramp to Target Field plaza and is not present in the rendering. Unless there are definitive plans to change this, in which case there would be no direct ballpark funneling from 1st ave?

along the lines of paying attention to detail in renderings -- i suspect that these were very fast initial concept renderings used to get project buy-in. For example, the 6th st sidewalk is actually a ramp to Target Field plaza and is not present in the rendering. Unless there are definitive plans to change this, in which case there would be no direct ballpark funneling from 1st ave?

Right – I'd think most people (at least on this forum, not necessarily the general public,) don't expect the first render released to be exactly the final result. I doubt they'd be changing that ramp... but so far, this is the best projection we have to go on. Here's hoping it keeps improving.

http://finance-commerce.com/2014/05/mor ... -makeover/

The best news since seeing the renderings last week is that Mortenson has been named to lead the transformation of Target Center. That strange paneled look on the outside shell seems bad enough, perhaps wiser minds at Mortenson will prevail and limit the projected damage.

Also, please bring a design remedy for the oddly protruding box that awkwardly juts out from the superstructure. Please Mortenson, save this from what surely could be a hideous architectural monstrosity.

Please Mortenson, save this from what surely could be a hideous architectural monstrosity.

Given what the Target Center is and the budget I don't think Mortenson or anyone else can save the Target Center from being a hideous architectural monstrosity.

Given what the Target Center is and the budget I don't think Mortenson or anyone else can save the Target Center from being a hideous architectural monstrosity.

Please Mortenson, save this from what surely could be a hideous architectural monstrosity.

Given what the Target Center is and the budget I don't think Mortenson or anyone else can save the Target Center from being a hideous architectural monstrosity.

SO love all the Debbie Downers on this page! Jeez. You'd think there was some open pit sewage treatment plant being proposed here... The Target Center, love it or hate it, is a part of the Minneapolis urban fabric. Aside from going back 20+ years and having it be built differently, or funding another $500+ million arena, it is what it is. But I for one am excited for the transformation of what many of you consider to be a hideous architectural monstrosity.

Thank you! This is what I've been trying to get across. This isn't going to ruin the city, in fact right now it's worse than it can ever be. It has those little square wavy windows on it... just randomly. I've seen centers similar to what Mortenson is going for.

My out of this world optimistic hope is that they do something curvy with the wood. Maybe looking like barclays center http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... n_side.jpg

And honestly, there aren't that many urban arenas of this type getting really beautiful or impressive renovations--there are some, but they're really the exceptions to the rule. It'll never be worse than how Madison Square Garden looks on the outside: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/64090029.jpg

Barclays center is probably the best basketball arena right now from a design stand point.

The only thing worse than MSG on the outside is Penn Station on the inside. So sad to think what used to be there

Barclays center is probably the best basketball arena right now from a design stand point.

It also cost 1 billion which is ridiculous for an arena.

We just need to find some Russian oligarchs to pay for our arenas and we'll be golden.

Well once the Norwegian house opens up maybe they'll give us some of their billions

Please Mortenson, save this from what surely could be a hideous architectural monstrosity.

Given what the Target Center is and the budget I don't think Mortenson or anyone else can save the Target Center from being a hideous architectural monstrosity.

SO love all the Debbie Downers on this page! Jeez. You'd think there was some open pit sewage treatment plant being proposed here... The Target Center, love it or hate it, is a part of the Minneapolis urban fabric. Aside from going back 20+ years and having it be built differently, or funding another $500+ million arena, it is what it is. But I for one am excited for the transformation of what many of you consider to be a hideous architectural monstrosity.

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer at all here, just realistic. I think the Target Center after renovation is going to be much better than what we currently have, but let's face it, that doesn't take much. And your right the only way to really improve the Target Center to either A. go back 20 years or B. Drop somewhere north of $500+ million neither of which is going to happen any time soon.