Mill City Studio

In the historic Mill Works building in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, a fresh and modern office space showcases the design chops and exciting culture of a rapidly-growing 30-year-old architecture firm. With a design that is quintessentially Minnesota, spaces and materials reflect all that is cool and clever about the organization and its place in the world. Project rooms, huddle spaces, and library take on the character of a cabin in the woods with the texture of the dark burnt wood siding and the warmth of the interior birch plywood paneling, and green acoustical panels flank the “cabin” as a metaphor for a woodland setting. Agile, flexible spaces support all of the ways the employee teams collaborate with clients and one another and, at the entry, a gallery with a kitchenette provides a communal and welcoming area and opportunity for display. Work stations and informal work areas are placed along the expansive window wall taking advantage of the flood of soft northerly natural light and elevated views of the Mississippi. Small touches give a nod to the company’s culture, including lighthearted murals with a Minnesota theme are installed in the toilet stalls and huddle and conference rooms are named for local colloquialisms.