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| Rafter is a 283-unit luxury apartment community located at 333 Hennepin Avenue East in the Northeast submarket of Minneapolis, MN |
Minneapolis, MN – Cuningham
Group, a global architectural design firm, has announced the
completion of Rafter,
a 283-unit luxury apartment community in the Northeast submarket of
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Rafter is located at 333 Hennepin Avenue East in Minneapolis, Minnesota and features luxury, pet-friendly, studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment floorplans, including penthouse options. A seven-story, 279-space attached parking structure serves both retail and Rafter residents.
Rafter is located at 333 Hennepin Avenue East in Minneapolis, Minnesota and features luxury, pet-friendly, studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment floorplans, including penthouse options. A seven-story, 279-space attached parking structure serves both retail and Rafter residents.
Cuningham,which is headquartered in Minneapolis and has deep roots in
the city, was retained by Mortenson Development in cooperation with US Bank to undertake the architecture,
concept design, and interior design of the 26-story, 407,530 square-foot
project, which also includes 6,000 square feet of retail space.
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| Stephanie Thompson |
“The strategy behind this design was to deliver an aesthetic
and amenities that today’s luxury apartment residents crave, while creating a
feel and lifestyle that is distinctly Northeast Minneapolis,” says Cuningham
Group Live Studio Leader Jeff Schoeneck, AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP.
“Those who live in and frequent the area know its historic
buildings, exceptional dining, and flourishing art scene – as well as the
‘rafters’ of wild turkeys that call it home.
"Every choice, from each element of the façade design,
to the interiors, to the property name – everything reflects the eclectic and
unique attributes of this neighborhood.”
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| Jeff Schoeneck |
According to Schoeneck, Cuningham’s concept centered on delivering a true
‘love letter’ to Northeast Minneapolis – a fresh, modern design that emulates
and seamlessly integrates into the surrounding community, preserving
significant elements of its industrial, working-class history.
Jeremiah Johnson, AIA, NCARB, Cuningham’s Lead Designer on the
project, adds: “The Mortenson Development team was visionary in its approach to
this project.
"Rather than developing an oasis that would differentiate the property from the more raw and artistic aspects of the neighborhood, Mortenson and the entire design team recognized an opportunity to craft Rafter as a place that echoes the existing Northeast Minneapolis community.”
Inspired by numerous historical and industrial spaces,
including the nearby General Mills elevators, Johnson explains that the
Cuningham team created a simple, honest material palette to blend into the area’s
unmistakable historical context and fit comfortably, even at its large scale.
"Rather than developing an oasis that would differentiate the property from the more raw and artistic aspects of the neighborhood, Mortenson and the entire design team recognized an opportunity to craft Rafter as a place that echoes the existing Northeast Minneapolis community.”
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| Jeremiah Johnson |
“One significant strategy was the use of paneling to create a distinct
look that fulfilled the developer’s request for a varied and active facade
while keeping costs to a minimum,” says Johnson.
He explains that the property is integrated into the surrounding streetscape via brick base, and the tower’s exterior is a blend of white and textured charcoal concrete that creates a look reminiscent of modern ceramic arts.
He explains that the property is integrated into the surrounding streetscape via brick base, and the tower’s exterior is a blend of white and textured charcoal concrete that creates a look reminiscent of modern ceramic arts.
“By using 15 different molds then rotating and shifting them across the
building’s facade, our designers created a diverse, dynamic look that maximized
variation while minimizing the number of forms required,” Johnson notes.
Ultimately, 442 precast cement panels totaling 540 tons were used to cover
the building.
The property’s lobby boasts a metal screen wall designed by local artists and a striking reception desk crafted by Keith Wyman of Concrete Pig – comprised of welded steel, slabs of walnut, and black pigmented concrete – that is equal parts function and sculpture.
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| Keith Wyman |
According to Cuningham’s Lead Interior Designer on the project Stephanie Thompson, NCIDQ, CID, LEED® Green Associate, Rafter’s interior spaces are also defined by a rich variety of materials – including rough, board-form textures on the ceiling; smooth, exposed concrete columns; and polished concrete floors.
A strategic use of warm wood tones helps balance the
concrete, creating an environment that is simultaneously striking and
welcoming.
“The restrained palette of high-contrast light and dark finishes is
reminiscent of a gallery, which is intended to create moments that showcase
local artists and craftspeople,” says Thompson.
“It was important to
our team and to all project stakeholders that Rafter reflect the neighborhood’s
status as a vibrant artists’ community.
”We achieved this by designing and bringing to life an
intimate, interconnected space that now highlights the local art showcased
within it.”
Photographs, paintings, and sculptures by local artists are placed
throughout Rafter’s shared spaces and on every floor.
Thompson notes that the Cuningham team also saw an opportunity to utilize
the space as an ongoing, evolving celebration of the Northeast community’s
thriving Arts District.
The project team hired two artists-in-residence, offering
each a year lease in exchange for their art, while a shared makerspace allows
all residents access to the neighborhood’s artistic spirit.
Contacts:
Elisabeth Manville / Jenn Quader
Brower Group
(949) 438-6262
