Ramsey County Roseville Library / Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle
Despite being the busiest library in Minnesota, this building was dark, unwelcoming, dated, and inefficient. A much-needed renovation and second floor expansion completely transformed the 1990s building. Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle’s design, LEED Gold certified, uses the addition of daylit open spaces and views to the outside to accomplish this transformation. More photographs following the break.
Architects: Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd., Architect & Interior Designer
Location: Roseville, Minnesota, USA
Mechanical/Electrical Engineers: Engineering Design Initiative, Ltd.
Structural Engineer: Meyer, Borgman, Johnson, Inc.
Civil Engineer: Pierce Pini & Associates, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Damon Farber Associates
General Contractor: McGough Construction Co., Inc.
Project Area: 70,588 sqf
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Lara Swimmer Photography
Valspar Corporation Administrative Headquarters / Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle
One of the largest global coatings manufacturers with nearly 10,000 employees worldwide, Valspar Corporation has its roots in Minnesota Paints, a small company started in the 1800s. Valspar outgrew its former factory buildings—with their block-long mural that acts as a local landmark—and decided to move further into downtown Minneapolis to two floors of the Ameriprise Building.
Follow the break for drawings and more photographs of the new Valspar Corporation Administrative Headquarters.
Architects: Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Mechanical and Electrical Engineers: Michaud Cooley Erickson
General Contractor: Kraus-Anderson Construction Company
Project Area: 131,000 sqf
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Lara Swimmer Photography
Vision for the Great Lakes at TEDxTalks by Philip Enquist of SOM
This past July Philip Enquist of SOM spoke to the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota as a part of TEDxTalks Mill City series. His focus was to raise awareness and also challenge the Great Lake and St. Lawrence watershed residents to “imagine there are no borders”. This video hits close to home, as I grew up in the Great Lakes watershed region. His lecture is informative and revealing of the responsibility there is to utilize and protect this great resource of the United States.
At the end of the video you find yourself wondering why haven’t we already created a plan for the Great Lakes region. Possibly the size of this region or the international boarder running through it has failed to put it on many people’s radar screens. Either way Enquist lays out an achievable ten point plan (overview after the break) to focus on where this 100 year vision could be a global example of human balance with nature, beyond two nations.
Following Enquist’s lecture the mayors of the Great Lake and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative voted to approve a regional sustainability program.
Bearden Place / Shelter Architecture
Shelter Architecture shared with us their proposal for the Bearden Place Affordable Housing Competition in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
More images and architect’s description after the break.
Bohemian Flats Boathouse Competition winner
John Vierra, an architecture student from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo sent us his winning entry for the AIAS Vinyl Competition.
The Bohemian Flats, located in an old residential area of Minneapolis, Minnesota has a long history of flooding. According to FEMA, the site has a 1% chance of flooding every year. To respond to this history and promote the longevity of the project, the entire structure rests on a PVC (vinyl) floatation system, allowing the building to move in sequence with the unpredictable nature of the site. The boat house also has the ability to move off site and become an extension elsewhere.
Full architect’s description and more images after the break.
