top of page

418 NORTH 3RD AVE

TAB 6.png

client:

status:

COMPLETE

year:

2020

LOCATION:

Minneapolis, MN

sIZE:

USE:

Mixed-Use

collaborators:

Flannery Construction, Inc.
Mortenson Company

VALUES:

Pragmatic
Reuse

VALUE DETAILS:

Adaptive Reuse
Historic Preservation

Constructed in 1884, the Fairfax-Parsons Building stands proudly at 418 N 3rd Ave, nestled within the historic Minneapolis Warehouse District, and is a contributing structure within this district. Detailed within the Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District nomination, this four-story brick edifice mirrors the design of its counterpart at 410 3rd Avenue North, albeit in a two-bay configuration.

Characteristic features of the Fairfax-Parsons Building echo those of its counterpart, including brick pilasters, stone lintels, and an intricately adorned corbelled cornice and parapet. While the rear of the building once greeted the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad freight depot, its front facade now commands attention along 3rd Avenue North. Notably, a loading dock spans half of the building's facade on 3rd Avenue North and extends along the entirety of the southern facade, serving as a shared space with neighboring warehouse structures.

AWH Architects embarked on a journey to evaluate a historic structure, aiming to transform it into a vibrant commercial space. Their initial task involved conducting an assessment of the building and devising a concept design and fit plan for its conversion. Following the completion of this phase, the next steps involved a core and shell reconfiguration of the building, marking the beginning of its transition into a mixed-use facility. The primary goal of this phase is to remodel and rehabilitate the core and shell of the building, with the aim of creating a 'white box' environment to appeal to prospective tenants and users. Throughout this stage, the designers meticulously addressed various aspects, including the developmental core and shell elements such as lobbies, building shafts, elevator, and stair cores, as well as the layout of corridors and leasable areas. Moreover, they undertook exterior rehabilitation work, focusing on masonry and windows, while introducing new windows on the west side facing public storage. Additionally, a comprehensive Master Sign package, inclusive of a roof sign, was developed to enhance the building's visual identity and presence.

bottom of page