COUNCIL CHAMBER'S HISTORIC REDESIGN WINS 2002 AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS MERIT AWARD
Minneapolis (March 28, 2002) Visitors to the Minneapolis City Council Chamber have been pleasantly amazed at the meticulous work that went into the historic renovation of this seat of government. This past week, the Minneapolis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects agreed with that assessment. On March 21, the Chapter presented lead architect Scott Helmes of Skaaden-Helmes Architects of Minneapolis, the 2002 Merit Award at its first annual Merit Awards luncheon at International Market Square. The yearlong redesign of the Council Chamber by Minneapolis firms of Skaaden-Helmes and MacDonald & Mack Architects restored the architectural magnificence of prominent Minneapolis designers Louis Long and John Bradstreet. State-of-the-art audio-visual technology was installed and integrated into the ornate plasterwork which was recreated using existing remnants found behind false ceilings. Two 7-by-10 foot reproductions of John Bradstreet's original murals also adorn the walls of the chamber. Some of the criteria used in selecting the recipients included client/team satisfaction upon completion of the project; technical innovation; environmental responsibility; and budget. The non-obtrusiveness of the technology and new A/V room as well as the compatibility with television standards were also cited as significant factors. Others receiving merit awards were the Playwright Center and the Downtown School. Eastside Neighborhood Services, East Village Neighborhood Housing and the Rathskellar Cafe in the State Capitol won honorable mentions. The American Institute of Architects comprises some 300 chapters across the country, organized to serve the needs of architects at the national, state, and local levels. More information on the Minneapolis Chapter is available at www.aia-mn.org. For more information on the Minneapolis City Council Chamber and tours of City Hall, visit www.municipalbuildingcommission.org. Vaman Pai Communications Department City of Minneapolis 350 South 5th Street - Room 301M Minneapolis, MN 55415-1300 612.673.2123 952.365.6588 (pager) [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." ----- Charles Schultz ----- _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
