Archives

  1. Washburn Lofts, 4th Floor Loft

    New, simple, modern additions complement the old mill’s re-exposed concrete shell and a graffiti-covered brick wall. An enclosed box in the center of the loft houses more quiet functions, including a study (that doubles as a guest room with a Murphy bed concealed in the millwork), bedrooms, and bathrooms. The open living and dining area and adjacent kitchen provide space for entertaining and offer stunning views of the Mississippi River. High-quality, neutral material choices provide consistency throughout the space, from the bleached wood floors and tiled bathrooms to the white walls contrasted with dark-stained oak millwork.

  2. Aimia U.S. Headquarters

    Following the success of a previous tenant improvement project in a suburban office park, Aimia hired the same MSR design team to design its new space. With its new office, Aimia has moved to a mobile working employee strategy. Offering a limited number of dedicated workstations, the new environment instead features diverse spaces to accommodate varying work styles and meeting requirements. Employees can choose to work from home, in the office, or on the road while traveling, depending on individual schedules and needs. Three different color-coded (green, blue, and purple) neighborhoods provide differentiation and facilitate wayfinding.

  3. Trolley Quarter Flats

    Located on the Wisconsin River on the edge of downtown, the site presented challenges. A dilapidated, but structurally-sound trolley shed and wood super-structure (used to lift carriages off the trolley platform for repairs), located on the site, were the last remnants of Wausau’s street trolley system, which operated from 1906 to 1940. Understanding the historic significance of these structures, the developer and design team preserved and incorporated them into the design. The 40-unit complex includes private outdoor areas for all dwelling units, private garden plots for each ground level unit, play and study areas for children inside and outside the building, community space for adults, and parking. It has served as a catalyst for further revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood and to strengthen Wausau’s downtown.

  4. McAllen Main Library

    With an area equivalent to nearly 2 1/2 football fields, the building is the largest single-story library in the U.S. The designers had the old store interior and new mechanical systems painted white to form a neutral shell for patron and service areas, which are designated with color. Primary program areas—including community meeting rooms, the children’s library, adult services, and the staff area—are located in quadrants of the building. This clear organization allows easy wayfinding and customer access from a central service spine, delineated by a patterned wood ceiling that runs the length of the building.

    MSR Design led the design of the building interior and furniture selection as part of a team led by McAllen-based firm Boultinghouse Simpson Gates Architects.

  5. Open Book

    A renovation of three conventional, historical buildings, the center responds fully to the client’s goals by embracing budget limitations, the buildings’ existing conditions, and the missions of the three organizations. The design incorporates literal detailing and judicious editing in the lyrical composition and intervention of old and new.

  6. Atrium Lofts

    After completing the Trolley Quarter Flats, the MSR  Design project team noticed an abandoned building next door with an interesting history. The Marathon Shoe Company East Side Plant was the best remaining representation of a leading industry in the City of Wausau in the first half of the 20th century. MSR Design provided analysis, guidance, and encouragement to preserve the historic factory, leading to its placement on the National Register of Historic Places by Preservation Design Works. Working with MetroPlains Development, we transformed the historic structure into market-rate and affordable housing. To retain the building’s character, the design team preserved the large volume, open floor plate, and few internal walls. The design enhances daylight throughout the space, using clerestory windows to fill the central volume and large windows in each unit.

  7. Washburn Lofts Condo

    This home in the Washburn Lofts renovation focused on making the home function well for entertaining. The new owners regularly entertain large groups; but like most homeowners they wanted the home to feel intimate and warm when it is just the two of them. The living room, dining room, guest suite, and media room were completely remodeled and the kitchen was relocated. The new owners also added a walk-in pantry, a wine room, a bar, and a laundry room. In the primary living areas, walnut paneling and cabinetry was chosen to continue the shelving kept in the library, while the concrete floors were ground down to change the luminescence of the concrete.

    Kitchen cabinets were salvaged from the previous primary and service kitchens for use in the laundry room and the new pantry. The media room and guest suite switched places to provide a direct connection from the guest bedroom to the guest bathroom. The former flour mill’s exterior walls were uncovered to let them become an important part of the home’s décor.

    MSR Design selected new furnishings, lighting, and rugs for the entire home, provided guidance on placement of art and where to place future artworks, and worked with a steel fabricator to design new large-scale art pieces for the entry.

  8. Crane Island Summer Home

    Owned by the same families for generations, the 14 summer cottages on Crane Island in Lake Minnetonka comprise a National Register Historic District. Located on the site of a demolished cottage, this new summer home delicately fits into the historic context, while respecting the Midwestern architectural character cherished by residents. Designed to celebrate casual summer living, the house accommodates frequent guests, as well as spaces for retreat. The project also entailed relocating a small historic shed on the property and converting it into a guest house. The design breaks down the scale of the house by creating two linked gabled structures to better match the scale of the other island homes. Each gabled part has slightly different detailing to convey the sense of accretion over time. The ensemble of structures on the site (including the main house, guest house, and existing water tower) provides an ideal relaxed environment for the activities of the family and their guests.