urbanMSP

Developer Oaks Properties is building a Kaas Wilson designed 104 unit apartment building on land formerly owned by the Metropolitan Council adjacent to the 46th Street light rail station. Bus and vehicle access will be via a two story entry between two sections of the four story building.

I was by here a couple weeks ago and I have to say it is a big building. Buses are accessing the 46th station are using a temporary entry point while construction is going on the western section of the building. The eastern part will also be quite large and I assume its construction will start as soon as the two story permanent vehicle entrance is open. I think the building could have been a bit taller but it still manages to make great use of this previously unused parcel.

Here's the full shot,


DSCN1175 by spectre 000, on Flickr

I actually like it. Hopefully, because if its high level of visibility it is well kept. I did not follow, but did you say that there is another section or tower that has not even been begun yet?

Also, good use of the mansart roof. under-used today, imo.

They've excavated for the second phase of this project -- looking at Google's vertical aerials, I was reminded that cars and buses were temporarily routed on what was an empty patch of grass as the first phase of construction happened. Part of the building is built as a bridge over the regular entrance to the bus stop area. Now that that's nearing completion, cars and buses can go through that portal and the rest of the site can be worked on. Here's an image from the architects' site:

Somehow it's not looking nearly as cheesy as I thought it was going to!

I don't know if this flew under anybody else's radar, but apparently the same architects are planning a revamp of International Education's building on the corner of Hennepin and 8th-- 55 units of apartments in the unused upper floors (the building is about 8 stories).

Should we start a thread in the downtown section for this? Or....is there already a thread that I missed?

Somehow it's not looking nearly as cheesy as I thought it was going to!

It does. I wish I had a photo of this one's progress. I'm not a fan.

Somehow it's not looking nearly as cheesy as I thought it was going to!

obviously their photo paints it the best light possible, so i'm still skeptical

I am actually quite satisfied with how this development is turning out.

It looks like a motel.

It's a bit corny, but I'll take it. The architects claim it was inspired by the Long Island Railroad's Forest Hills station in Queens -- it basically had skyways 60 years before Minneapolis did. Certainly a very different design, though.

For me, it would look considerable better if the yellow/cream areas were a bit deeper in tone. Then I think the building would be a bit more unified and less 'corny' ha.

This is tacky but I don't really mind.

This looks to be about finished.

I like the bus stop underneath....convenient!

Reminds me a bit of Scarsdale NY or Shaker Heights Ohio along the commuter train lines.

It's a cool idea. The execution turned out a bit less whimsical and more cartoony than the renderings promised. Oh well.

It's a cool idea. The execution turned out a bit less whimsical and more cartoony than the renderings promised. Oh well.

Now days things are more 1 dimensional than 3 dimensional. Fewer textures and variety in building materials. Also the building materials tend to be cheap and lackluster. I give them good marks in trying to be something more, but the execution could have been better.

It's a cool idea. The execution turned out a bit less whimsical and more cartoony than the renderings promised. Oh well.

Right notable attempts at character are the eyebrow arches on the top floor, but they quickly loose their charm with the unused space between them and the squared off windows underneath. Could have been avoided by forking out the dough for arched windows. Same goes for the random over use and misuse of trim board (especially on the far right of the panoramic, the little windows that run vertically are cased in for questionable reasons.)