The University UNITED Annual Awards
are presented to outstanding projects that have been built during the prior year
that meet the guidelines of transit-oriented development and enhance the quality
of life along the University Avenue corridor.
2007 Award
Winners
December 13, 2007
Overflow Espresso Café
The
Annual Awards Program of University UNITED recognizes high quality design in buildings,
landscapes, streetscape elements, or programs that have been undertaken during
the year that meet the guidelines of transit-oriented development and enhance
the quality of life along the University Avenue corridor.
Awards
Panel:
Richard Fischer, AIA, Representing the St.
Paul Chapter of the AIA
Tim Griffin, AIA, St. Paul on the Mississippi Design
Center
Beverly Oliver Hawkins, Ph.D., CEO Model Cities
Linda Mack, Architectural
Critic
Jun-Li Wang, Hamline Midway Coalition
Randy Schubring, Chair, University
UNITED
2007 Project of the Year
Gordon
Parks High School
1212 University Avenue, St. Paul
Gordon
Parks High School brings the activity and vitality of student life to the corner
of University Avenue and Griggs Street. Saint Paul Public Schools has succeeded
in building a high quality facility directly on University Avenue, taking advantage
of pedestrian and transit access, and also providing a strong visual accent which
will serve as a model for future development.
Programming
for this site started in February, 2003, when a vacant 3M manufacturing building
was purchased by the School District. Pat Quinn, Executive Director of Plant Planning
and Maintenance for the District, presented schematic designs to a number of community
groups starting the following year. Construction of the 33,000 square foot building
commenced in 2006 and was completed in November.
This
elegant two story structure, designed by Wold Architects, is built to the street
but creates some inviting relief on the corner with an attractive plaza. The large
expanse of glass at the entrance serves to showcase the activities of the alternative
learning environment inside and to welcome the students. The slope of the glass
walls emulates the design features of the car dealership showrooms once prevalent
along the Avenue. Principles of environmentally friendly design were incorporated
into the building; Saint Paul Public Schools intends to apply for LEED Certification.
To help strengthen ties between the school and the community, the building was
also designed to be available to neighborhood groups. The building was constructed
by Jorgenson Construction, Inc.
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| Project
of the Year, Gordon Parks High School
1212 University Avenue, St. Paul |
2007 "Uni" Award Winners
Overflow
Espresso Café
2929 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis
This
neighborhood gathering place is a complete design environment that successfully
integrates high quality landscaping, architecture, interior design and graphic
design. It is located in the former Kemps Building, originally built for the Caterpillar
Tractor Company. The building, now known as the Prospect Park Business Center,
was converted to an office use by Dave Barnhart. The Overflow Espresso Café
was created by his daughter, Molly Barnhart, in a 2,000 square foot former loading
dock which is raised slightly above the street level. The two story Cafe has an
entrance overlooking a meandering stream, waterfall, pond, fountain, and wooden
deck. The waterfall motif on the outside carries through to the interior with
an oversize ceramic coffee cup which also serves as a fountain. It was designed
by Tom Lane, Professor of Ceramics at the University of Minnesota, who threw the
large cup and saucer on his wheel and hand stamped each letter of interesting
quotations in the clay. He also designed and constructed the pump system to create
the overflow of the cup. The architect for the project was Sjoquist Architects,
Inc., and the contractor was Arbuckle Construction, Inc.
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| "Uni"
Award Winners, Overflow Espresso Café
2929 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis |
Transportation Mural
1831 University Avenue,
corner of Fairview
FORECAST Public Art Works and Muralist Scott Murphy
FORECAST
Public Art Works has been honored several times previously with "Uni"
Awards for their ongoing annual grant program bringing high quality public art
to University Avenue. This year, FORECAST partnered with property owner John Kachel
of Major Tire Co, to commission a mural on the side of his building at 1831 University
Avenue. There was a call to Minnesota artists, and artist Scott Murphy was selected
by a community panel. The winning design evokes images and memories of University
Avenue's history as a transportation corridor and is intended to excite residents
for the future of light rail. Given its highly visible location at the corner
of Fairview and University, the artist working on the site attracted considerable
attention. As part of the interaction with the curious spectators, artist Scott
Murphy modified his original design and incorporated some suggestions. Since its
completion in September, it has attracted a steady stream of visitors who have
lined up to be photographed as part of the crowd scene in the foreground of the
mural.
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| Transportation Mural, 1831
University Avenue, corner of Fairview
FORECAST Public Art Works and Muralist
Scott Murphy |
AIA 150
This
year the American Institute of Architects (AIA) celebrated its 150th Anniversary
as a national organization and local chapters around the country marked the occasion
by volunteering for community service projects. The St. Paul Chapter of the AIA
selected the Central Corridor (University Avenue) as its project and over fifty
design professionals volunteered to work with property owners on over a dozen
sites. The goal was to create "visioning studies" showing how their
properties could better connect to the light rail project, and as well as a variety
of design options on how the sites could be re-developed over a twenty year period.
This "Block-by-Block" planning exercise brought about closer ties among
the adjoining property owners, local government officials and the community, and
planted seeds that will bear fruit in the years ahead.
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| AIA 150
(American Institute of Architects) |
The
Metro Award
University UNITED presents "The
Metro Award" annually to an organization or person(s) who promotes closer
ties between Minneapolis and St. Paul for the benefit of the entire region. This
year, The Metro Award is being presented to Mayor Chris Coleman of St. Paul and
Mayor R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis.
Minneapolis and Saint
Paul are known as the Twin Cities, but for well over a century have had a relationship
that was defined more by competition than cooperation.. From the very beginning,
the two cities fought over the use of the Mississippi River, transportation, census
reporting, and commerce. Occasionally these disputes have ended up in the courts
or the state legislature. More recently, the rivalries have been focused on things
like professional sports stadiums and the biotech industry.
Fortunately,
the Mayoral election of 2005 has brought about a major thaw in relations between
the cities. Chris Coleman and R.T. Rybak, even before they were sworn in, had
a highly publicized lunch together and publicly vowed to work together. This post
election goodwill has played out in a number of concrete ways with the two Mayors
collaborating on advocating for Local Government Aid and the Central Corridor
light rail project, reducing cross-border economic raids, and planning for the
Republican Nation Convention. Recently, they established the Mayor's Initiative
on Green Manufacturing, a task force made up of representatives from both cities.
The Mayors collaborative approach is grounded in a recognition that issues such
as the environment and economic development can best be addressed as part of a
regional solution - that the competition is no longer between cities but rather
between regions. With this approach, the Mayors have earned the gratitude of residents
and businesses on both sides of the city line and have hopefully laid the groundwork
for ongoing cooperation between the cities.
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| The Metro Award
Mayor
R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis | The
Metro Award
Mayor Chris Coleman of St. Paul |
For
information about the Award Winners, click
here.
2006
Award Winners
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| Project
of the Year, Carleton Artists Lofts
2285 University Avenue, St. Paul |
Metro Lofts
2680 University Avenue, St.
Paul |
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| TCF Bank
Branch
459 Lexington Parkway, St. Paul | U-Garden
Restaurant
2725 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis |
For
more information about the Award Winners, click
here.
2005 Award Winners
