urbanMSP

when i was there over the weekend, i thought i saw a sign indicating the reopening was this weekend. their website is unhelpful so i cannot confirm that.

the new addition is now open. it looks and functions very similar to the way we all know/knew it. nice interior space but i think i prefer the older space...

I happened to catch WCCO's evening news today where they had a story on the expanded building.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/10/1 ... e-remodel/

cossetta's by TBoard, on Flickr

It looks pretty badass in HDR.

It looks pretty badass in HDR.

Yeah, I think it is warming up to me...

Didn't everyone act like the rendering of this building was the Antichrist? It looks fine.

Didn't everyone act like the rendering of this building was the Antichrist? It looks fine.

I think it was the mismatch of the new and existing brick that was throwing everyone off.

While it did turn out better looking than the renderings appeared, this structure is still very ill-proportioned and unsure of itself. The large ground level arches suggest supports for a massive structure that isn't there, the brick doesn't match (in an unflattering way) and this building has so many needlessly different surface materials that it makes my head hurt. I have now said my peace, and hope to never drive past this... thing.

By the way, who was the architect on this?

The antichrist, didn't you read above?!

While it did turn out better looking than the renderings appeared, this structure is still very ill-proportioned and unsure of itself. The large ground level arches suggest supports for a massive structure that isn't there, the brick doesn't match (in an unflattering way) and this building has so many needlessly different surface materials that it makes my head hurt. I have now said my peace, and hope to never drive past this... thing.

By the way, who was the architect on this?

ESG Architects.

The metal work and framing of the windows in the arches help bring them into scale, and all the lights and fixtures definitely help, but it's still kinda weird looking.

The metal work and framing of the windows in the arches help bring them into scale, and all the lights and fixtures definitely help, but it's still kinda weird looking.

What happens when you try to do retro on a budget. You may have some of the features, but they are not in scale with the rest of the building. Also I think they were trying to do too many things likethe second floor outside eating balcony that does not really fit in. It will be a great feature for customers, but not from a massing stand point. The big boxes on the roofs are a big distraction too.

City Pages Article about the space and food at 'Louis' some pictures of the roof.

http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2012/12 ... aurant.php

Just because I was in the neighborhood...


img_8331-edit by Mulad, on Flickr

Regarding the gray box, it wouldn't be so bad if they painted it a light bluish-gray like Disney does with some of their "backstage" ride/show buildings to help them blend in with the sky.

I'm adding it here because it's Cossetta's.

Cossetta's event center expansion on a city-owned parking lot (which would be sold to Cossetta's for $500,000) on Exchange fell apart a decade ago. There were contracts and agreements, but everything that needed to be done didn't get done. Cossetta's restarted planning last year. Then the city cancelled the sale, more or less saying, "it's a decade later, let's renegotiate prices and labor if you are still interested."

Cossetta's is now suing.

http://www.startribune.com/cossetta-s-s ... 420124953/