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. Wooddale Church Youth Center

   This renovation turns closed space inside-out and provides access to daylight for all classrooms and gathering spaces. New wayfinding and circulation paths create community connections, while providing secure spaces for pre-K and elementary school youth. Energizing color, playful graphics, and complementary materials establish variety and help navigate visitors to various areas and activities. The church knitting club also enjoys meeting on the spinner seats in the new space, demonstrating that all ages can find inspiration in environments that stimulate creativity and learning.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative Lydia Apartments

   This expansion and renovation to a 3-story affordable housing building adds 40 new dwelling units in a 6-story addition. The existing 40 dwelling units were remodeled as well as all the common spaces including a new integrated front entrance, reception desk, elevator, and bike storage area, as well as a larger, upgraded community kitchen. New staff office space and office space for the support services and property management providers were also added. Programs provided to residents living at Lydia support formerly homeless residents in finding work, building life skills, learning job skills, and managing substance use disorders and mental health issues.

   The 6-story addition builds on the building’s mid-century quality by composing a strongly vertical addition that compliments the horizontality of the original building. The addition was pushed back away from the street to provide a more gracious front yard buffer along a busy street. The ground floor contains a glass pavilion that allows visual transparency through the building. The parking court behind the building was sized to meet the needs of the staff, residents, and visitors by successfully appealing to the city to lower the required parking count to match real needs since almost all residents walk, bicycle or use public transit. The apartments come completely furnished with linens and personal care products, since many residents are transitioning from homelessness.

8. The Rivers 5th Floor Condo

   This end-of-corridor unit features three exterior walls with exposures to the north, east, and west and views of the Mississippi River. This configuration allows natural light to flood the space and provides a continual visual connection to the landscape. Project success involved full engagement by the design team, contractor, and client.

9. Washburn Lofts 3rd Floor Condo

   Located within the historic Washburn Lofts, this condo renovation reconfigures the space so that it functions well for holding large parties. The new owners regularly entertain large groups, but they also wanted the home to feel intimate and warm for just the two of them. The project features remodeled main living spaces (including the living room, dining room, guest suite, and media room) and a new kitchen, walk-in pantry, wine room, bar, and laundry room. In the primary living areas, walnut paneling and cabinetry complement the existing shelving in the library, while the concrete floors were ground down to adjust their luminescence. We salvaged cabinets from the old kitchen for the new laundry room and pantry. We also switched the locations of the media room and guest suite to provide a direct connection between the guest bedroom and guest bath. The design also involved exposing the former flour mill’s exterior walls to serve as an integral 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.

10. Winslow House Condo Private Home

    The clients hired MSR Design to help them right size their current Minneapolis home. Creating space for regularly entertaining friends and family became a primary design driver. Completely gutted and reconfigured, the condominium offers a large master suite, contiguous entertainment spaces, and a home office that take advantage of beautiful views across the Mississippi River to downtown Minneapolis.

    The home includes a service kitchen for entertaining and a primary kitchen, which opens into a dining/living room for casual entertaining with the fireplace wall acting as a visually unifying agent for the more public spaces. Teak paneling and cabinets and a five foot long, white porcelain cantilevered peninsula complement the white-on-white kitchen.

    The design also incorporates the clients’ extensive art collection. Simplicity, careful choreography of spaces, feature lighting throughout the home, and timeless furniture selections characterize the design of this warm, modern home. Interior design was provided in collaboration with Jodi Gillespie Interior Design.