Two different organizations wanted to share a space together. One was an investment advisor aiming to grow capital, the other a foundation aiming to give it away. Despite the seeming differences they shared a common purpose: to do their work for the benefit of the community. Our goal was to bring them together in a way that encouraged serendipitous co-mingling while preserving the privacy and identity of each.
Project Highlights
Size: 8,000 sq. ft.
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Timeline: Completed 2025
Typologies: Commercial Architecture - Interior Remodel - Biophilia
Project Collaborators
Mortenson Construction (General Contractor)
Juxtaposition Arts (Custom Artwork)
Blu54 (Lighting Consultant)
Twin City Acoustics (Ceiling Subcontractor)
Sonus Interiors (Carpet Subcontractor)
Knowing All The Angles
Making matters difficult was the building layout, which imposed a prominent 45 degree angle in the middle of their space. We worked to make this angle less an obstacle to be overcome and more an opportunity, a locus for the two organizations to intermesh. Towards this end, the carpet and ceiling tiles offered a unique opportunity to resolve the geometric tension of the angle. These two materials are the stock items of any typical office renovation. But by cutting them diagonally we created right triangles that we then arranged in unique patterns, turning these conventional elements into something far more than the sum of their parts.
The patterns of right triangles also allowed us to imbue the offices with some subtle secondary meanings. The central pattern, the one located at the nexus of the two offices, is an eight-pointed star. This star is a motif in the arts of different peoples all around the globe. Of particular relevance were the traditions of Dakota quiltmaking and Islamic decorative art. Not only do these cultures have fascinating and intricate histories, but they are both central to the community in which the two organizations operate.
