In 2018, we partnered with Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) to renovate approximately 47,215 SF of the second floor of their campus T-Building, which houses the Student Affairs Department. The space remained occupied during construction and the project was completed in five phases over five years. In a commitment to optimizing the student experience, Minneapolis College was looking to integrate the core values – Student-Centered, Inclusion, Community, Excellence, and Integrity – into the fabric of the space.
The existing second floor of the T-Building lacked transparency and wayfinding for the four departments located there. This can be daunting to any visitors, but perhaps especially to the first-year, first-generation students, as well as students with diverse social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Overall, it presented various barriers to education that Student Affairs seeks to assist. Additionally, the dated interior did not offer inspiration or reflect the College’s passion for supporting the lifelong success of its students.
Glass storefronts gave the needed transparency to open sight lines, allowing students and guests to navigate with confidence. We also added lit columns to mark each department and to reinforce signage with visual cues for department entries.
Each department utilized a Minneapolis College branding color, including intense shades of green, pink, purple, and blue. Thoughtful use of these colors interspersed with high contrasting neutrals created a vibrant, bright interior that reflects the personality of the College and its diverse students.
Interdepartmental collaboration and space utilization were the focus of back-of-house and ancillary program areas. Multiple break rooms were combined into larger, brighter spaces to serve staff. Conference rooms, computer labs, and multi-functional rooms were located off public corridors to allow maximum flexibility and access for all departments. College standards were implemented for employee workstations, realizing efficiencies and flexibility while gaining square footage for other needed program areas.
Located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, adjacent to Loring Park and the arts corridor, Minneapolis College continues to support the success of over 9,000 students. We are proud to have been a part of the successful renovation of their Student Affairs department.
More images of the project can be found here.
