Bridge Square / Lower Loop / Gateway
Whichever name we call it, the original central neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota is full of architectural wonders of yesterday. Washington Avenue, Nicollet, and Hennepin Avenue bisect near the Mississippi River to create a flowing and ever-changing city center.
From the first established city hall to hotels—this central neighborhood in Minneapolis has gone through many iterations and identities since the beginning. A thriving business district turned into hotels and boarding houses, to erecting multiple governmental buildings and performative rehabilitation in City Beautiful and Urban Renewal.
201-229 Block of Nicollet Avenue
Before 1961
Before 1961
The influence of larger urban buildings can be significant, yet the urban fabric of the Gateway District that made this area great was the rows of businesses lining the streets and the character of human-centered architecture.
Before Minoru Yamasaki's white cast concrete with green marble corporate cathedral of 20 Washington, an entire business corridor existed. From clothing stores, lunch counters, liquor stores, bars, and medical offices, this was the original Minneapolis city center. The resilience was tested, with changes from shoe stores and medical offices towards long-term hotels and liquor stores. The political timing was perfect for complete clearance rather than true rejuvenation, and we are now only left with a handful of documents from the era of Minneapolis before Urban Renewal.
Gayety Theater
1909-1980
Opening in 1909 on the corner of Washington Avenue N and 1st Avenue N, this theater held nearly 1,200 guests. By the roaring ‘20’s it transformed into an infamous vaudeville and burlesque space, so much so that the city council eventually determined to force its closure while restructuring of the business occurred.
In 1941, it was transformed for a double-feature movie theater. It was renamed in honor of former governor Floyd B Olson. Floyd’s widow sued the theater to strip his name from what was still thought of as a racy burlesque space. The name reverted back to Gayety.
In 1945, a nightclub was planned. It never came to fruition, and although it became an underused building during Gateway District’s Urban Renewal project, the zone of destruction was one block east, and this building remained.
In 1970, Minneapolis announced a legitimate theater would return, just like how the State, Orpheum, or Pantages theaters were saved, also within downtown. It never came to fruition and was razed by 1980. The site has been a vacant parking lot ever since.
Next door, Gayety Annex, remains. The tile entrance still reads Gayety Annex in green and white penny tiles. It is now known as Runyon’s.
In 1941, it was transformed for a double-feature movie theater. It was renamed in honor of former governor Floyd B Olson. Floyd’s widow sued the theater to strip his name from what was still thought of as a racy burlesque space. The name reverted back to Gayety.
In 1945, a nightclub was planned. It never came to fruition, and although it became an underused building during Gateway District’s Urban Renewal project, the zone of destruction was one block east, and this building remained.
In 1970, Minneapolis announced a legitimate theater would return, just like how the State, Orpheum, or Pantages theaters were saved, also within downtown. It never came to fruition and was razed by 1980. The site has been a vacant parking lot ever since.
Next door, Gayety Annex, remains. The tile entrance still reads Gayety Annex in green and white penny tiles. It is now known as Runyon’s.
Academy of Music
1871-1884
Temple Court
1886-1953
Located on the southwest corner of Hennepin and Washington Avenues, this Hall hosted everything from casual parties to formal concerts. With iron columns, the theater inside had a capacity of 1,600 persons. In its short life, the building was owned by many notables, including streetcar baron Thomas Lowry and former Minneapolis Mayor Dorilus Morrison.
Gateway was booming, so much so that the plethora of new theaters became over-saturated, and when the Grand Opera House on Nicollet and 6th opened along with the continued success of the iconic Pence Opera House one block north, it seemed to be the end. It closed in 1883 as a theater space, and pending demolition was instead transformed into a taller version of itself for office space by being completely gutted while adding floors, close to what we would call façadism today.
As Minneapolis tends to love fires on holidays (see Thanksgiving Fire of 1982, Christmas Fire of 2019), on Christmas Day 1884 the Academy of Music succumbed to flames. Ironically, the Academy was also lacking adequate fire stairs, and at a costly endeavor to add them it was a part of the reason of its original theater closure. The day it burned was a high of 15 below, and a low of 30 below Fahrenheit, encapsulating the structure in ice.
It was immediately replaced by E Townsend Mix’s Temple Court building, which opened in 1886.
Gateway was booming, so much so that the plethora of new theaters became over-saturated, and when the Grand Opera House on Nicollet and 6th opened along with the continued success of the iconic Pence Opera House one block north, it seemed to be the end. It closed in 1883 as a theater space, and pending demolition was instead transformed into a taller version of itself for office space by being completely gutted while adding floors, close to what we would call façadism today.
As Minneapolis tends to love fires on holidays (see Thanksgiving Fire of 1982, Christmas Fire of 2019), on Christmas Day 1884 the Academy of Music succumbed to flames. Ironically, the Academy was also lacking adequate fire stairs, and at a costly endeavor to add them it was a part of the reason of its original theater closure. The day it burned was a high of 15 below, and a low of 30 below Fahrenheit, encapsulating the structure in ice.
It was immediately replaced by E Townsend Mix’s Temple Court building, which opened in 1886.
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E. Townsend Mix, the architect renowned for the Metropolitan Building in Minneapolis and the Mitchell and Mackie buildings in Milwaukee among many others, designed this building on the southwest corner of Washington and Hennepin. Anchoring the historic center of the city, it eventually became known as the Gateway Bank Building.
Although a much more simple version of architecture than many of Mix’s portfolio, it still stood proud until it was stolen from us in the 1950’s in the name of Urban Renewal and lackluster rehabilitation after fire. One of the first buildings to go in the district, the vacant site on the corner of our main streets escalated the decline of the area.
Sitting empty since 1958, after many proposals 270 Hennepin was built in 2021. A vacant two story retail portion of the apartment building sits where Temple Court once was.
E. Townsend Mix, the architect renowned for the Metropolitan Building in Minneapolis and the Mitchell and Mackie buildings in Milwaukee among many others, designed this building on the southwest corner of Washington and Hennepin. Anchoring the historic center of the city, it eventually became known as the Gateway Bank Building.
Although a much more simple version of architecture than many of Mix’s portfolio, it still stood proud until it was stolen from us in the 1950’s in the name of Urban Renewal and lackluster rehabilitation after fire. One of the first buildings to go in the district, the vacant site on the corner of our main streets escalated the decline of the area.
Sitting empty since 1958, after many proposals 270 Hennepin was built in 2021. A vacant two story retail portion of the apartment building sits where Temple Court once was.
Hotel Stone
1899-1961
Located at 254 Hennepin Avenue, the mid-rise was designed by Warren H. Hayes, an arts and crafts-style architect notable for churches around the United States in the 1800’s.
Originally named Sykes Block, this office building was built in 1899 during an expansive boom in Minneapolis. Wealth and population was growing fast, and so was the city’s dedication to perceived permanence through architecture. As the area demographics shifted and downtown offices moved south, this mid-rise was converted into a hotel like many buildings in the district.
Although still in use, Urban Renewal stole this building from us in 1961. The FDA built a suburban two and a half story building on this block, and was razed in the 2000’s. After many failed proposals the site sat empty until the opening of 270 Hennepin, a 21 story apartment building, in 2021. It is across from the new Four Seasons Hotel.
Originally named Sykes Block, this office building was built in 1899 during an expansive boom in Minneapolis. Wealth and population was growing fast, and so was the city’s dedication to perceived permanence through architecture. As the area demographics shifted and downtown offices moved south, this mid-rise was converted into a hotel like many buildings in the district.
Although still in use, Urban Renewal stole this building from us in 1961. The FDA built a suburban two and a half story building on this block, and was razed in the 2000’s. After many failed proposals the site sat empty until the opening of 270 Hennepin, a 21 story apartment building, in 2021. It is across from the new Four Seasons Hotel.
St James Hotel
1916-1964(?)
Just off of Hennepin at 12 N 2nd Street, this 12 story building was one of the tallest in Gateway District besides Nicollet Hotel. It was torn down in mid-century sometime between 1963 and 1965. Advertised as fireproof, this hotel served the transient population of Gateway.
The lot remained empty until 2017 when stick built Maverick Apartments opened.
The lot remained empty until 2017 when stick built Maverick Apartments opened.
Metropolitan Building
1890-1961
Originally the Northwest Guaranty Loan Building, Architect E. Townsend Mix designed this Richardsonian Romanesque tower on the corner of 3rd St S and 2nd Ave S in downtown Minneapolis. One of the earliest skyscrapers in the world, its main interior space opened for a 12 story atrium, which passively filled the building with light and fresh air without having to use electricity.
This building helped place Minneapolis on the map, with extravagant rooftop parties and elegant ironwork with carved stone throughout the building.
Dirty politics of Urban Renewal and an unnerved city government, rumors say the owner was eventually (literally) dragged out of the building for demolition to start in December of 1961. The building owner was never completely compensated even when the Supreme Court of Minnesota handled the case. A six story building constructed in 1980 now sits on this site.
The Metropolitan Building may be gone, but we like to believe its destruction solidified preservation in Minneapolis. (It did not.) Just a few of this type of high quality building still exists in Minneapolis—with the Masonic Temple, The Lumber Exchange, and City Hall embodying much of what the Met had. Milwaukee City Hall could be considered a sibling of the Met, with a very similar interior atrium space. Same goes with the Lumber Exchange’s remaining original facade.
Pieces of this building are littered around the city—from museums to an outdoor space on Nicollet and 26th.
This building helped place Minneapolis on the map, with extravagant rooftop parties and elegant ironwork with carved stone throughout the building.
Dirty politics of Urban Renewal and an unnerved city government, rumors say the owner was eventually (literally) dragged out of the building for demolition to start in December of 1961. The building owner was never completely compensated even when the Supreme Court of Minnesota handled the case. A six story building constructed in 1980 now sits on this site.
The Metropolitan Building may be gone, but we like to believe its destruction solidified preservation in Minneapolis. (It did not.) Just a few of this type of high quality building still exists in Minneapolis—with the Masonic Temple, The Lumber Exchange, and City Hall embodying much of what the Met had. Milwaukee City Hall could be considered a sibling of the Met, with a very similar interior atrium space. Same goes with the Lumber Exchange’s remaining original facade.
Pieces of this building are littered around the city—from museums to an outdoor space on Nicollet and 26th.
Minnesota Loan and Trust
1885-1911
Across from the current Central Library, and where 301 Nicollet’s 20 story mixed-use complex will break ground in the coming months, this property sat as a vacant parking lot since the mid century Sheraton-Ritz was razed in 1990.
Located at 313 Nicollet, this building was designed by Isaac Hodgson and Sons in 1885. The Victorian era in Minneapolis used Gothic Revival as a way of opulence—although it fell out of style soon after, even the firm who designed it shifted to modernism the years after.
The bank eventually began affiliation with their neighbor Northwestern National Bank a block away at 4th and Marquette in 1908. There was no need for the building on Nicollet, and given how dramatic the shift in style was by 1911, the bank completely moved operations and the building was torn down to be replaced by a more modern look.
By the 1920’s, Northwestern was gaining enough prominence to build a much larger building on the 600 block of Marquette. The Thanksgiving Day Fire of 1982 destroyed the building, but the 56 story replacement on the same site designed by Cesar Pelli opened in 1989.
The bank is now known as Wells Fargo.
Located at 313 Nicollet, this building was designed by Isaac Hodgson and Sons in 1885. The Victorian era in Minneapolis used Gothic Revival as a way of opulence—although it fell out of style soon after, even the firm who designed it shifted to modernism the years after.
The bank eventually began affiliation with their neighbor Northwestern National Bank a block away at 4th and Marquette in 1908. There was no need for the building on Nicollet, and given how dramatic the shift in style was by 1911, the bank completely moved operations and the building was torn down to be replaced by a more modern look.
By the 1920’s, Northwestern was gaining enough prominence to build a much larger building on the 600 block of Marquette. The Thanksgiving Day Fire of 1982 destroyed the building, but the 56 story replacement on the same site designed by Cesar Pelli opened in 1989.
The bank is now known as Wells Fargo.
Great Northern Depot
1913-1978
At the height of City Beautiful, this central depot was to serve James J Hill’s expanding empire. Duluth, St Cloud, even Milwaukee and Chicago were common trips from here at Hennepin Ave and the river.
Amtrak took control in 1971, which subsequently built the infamous Midway station to consolidate both St Paul and Minneapolis depots centrally between downtowns in 1978. Midway closed in 2014 and moved all Twin Cities operations to St Paul’s thankfully still standing and newly renewed Union Depot, originally built in 1917.
The site is now largely the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis—their third built location within Gateway. The remaining land was turned into West River Parkway, which connects downtown green space to Minnehaha Falls and Bdote. Remnants of the station exist, with the Stone Arch Bridge now famously pedestrianized on what used to serve the corridor into St Paul and eventually Chicago.
Minneapolis, the largest city in the tri-state region, does not have a train depot to this day.
Amtrak took control in 1971, which subsequently built the infamous Midway station to consolidate both St Paul and Minneapolis depots centrally between downtowns in 1978. Midway closed in 2014 and moved all Twin Cities operations to St Paul’s thankfully still standing and newly renewed Union Depot, originally built in 1917.
The site is now largely the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis—their third built location within Gateway. The remaining land was turned into West River Parkway, which connects downtown green space to Minnehaha Falls and Bdote. Remnants of the station exist, with the Stone Arch Bridge now famously pedestrianized on what used to serve the corridor into St Paul and eventually Chicago.
Minneapolis, the largest city in the tri-state region, does not have a train depot to this day.
Nicollet Hotel
1924-1991
On the corners of the center of our city, Washington, Hennepin, and Nicollet, the Nicollet Hotel was added to the NRHP in 1987. It was torn down four years later. The land remained an empty lot until 2019, when the new Gateway Tower started construction on a 36 story modern glass structure. Still under construction today, it will be offices as well as Four Seasons Hotel.
Minneapolis Post Office
Still serving the greater Minneapolis metro, and in particular Gateway District of ZIP 55401, the Streamline Moderne Art Deco building sits at 100 1st St—spanning nearly three blocks from Hennepin to 3rd Ave. It was designed by renowned firm Magney & Tulser. Major additions added in 1992 meticulously replicated the facade, expanding back towards the river where passenger rail lines used to function and W River Parkway exists today. The original public interior space is preserved, with one of the longest bronze chandeliers in the world, marble terrazzo floors, bronze teller cages and accents, and sandstone walls.
Main Post Office
1889-1961
On the corner of Marquette and 3rd Street S—the Main Post Office embodied America’s civic pride, with Beaux Arts architecture by Mifflin E Bell for a price of $1,250,00 in 1889, or nearly $36,000,000 today. It was torn down in 1961. The lot remains a parking lot to this day.
City Hall
1878-1911
Once named Bridge Square, the original city center at the convergence of Hennepin and Nicollet at 1st St stood the first Minneapolis City Hall. Its triangular site squeezed the building on all sides, and given the city’s rapid growth, our current city hall at 3rd Ave and 4th St was constructed from 1888-1909.
Between 1911-12, two triangular blocks between Hennepin and Nicollet were razed to make way for Gateway Park that opened in 1915, now the namesake of the neighborhood. The City Beautiful era park was constructed on this site in hopes to create a space that would make a lasting impression at the main entrance to the city. Although the park was greatly altered and privatized during Urban Renewal, the piece of land City Hall once stood on is still city property. It is currently maintained by Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, with plans to remodel the park currently in process.
Between 1911-12, two triangular blocks between Hennepin and Nicollet were razed to make way for Gateway Park that opened in 1915, now the namesake of the neighborhood. The City Beautiful era park was constructed on this site in hopes to create a space that would make a lasting impression at the main entrance to the city. Although the park was greatly altered and privatized during Urban Renewal, the piece of land City Hall once stood on is still city property. It is currently maintained by Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, with plans to remodel the park currently in process.
Dolphin Staffing Building
1969-2022
Knutson Construction was the contractor mainly responsible for leveling Gateway, and thus in 1969 built their headquarters at 1st Ave and Washington.
With Le Corbusier’s machine idea in mind (for this instance in terms of commercial), the first floor embodies car culture in architecture during the Modern era. The lifted building allows for private vehicles to pull through the bank located on the ground floor.
Approved by Minneapolis and yet to be constructed, this very site is planned to be 27 stories with nearly 430 housing units, street level retail, and be one of eight new or planned towers built within Gateway in the last 10 years, plus the iconic Central Library rebuild. ESG is responsible for the design of the new tower.
With Le Corbusier’s machine idea in mind (for this instance in terms of commercial), the first floor embodies car culture in architecture during the Modern era. The lifted building allows for private vehicles to pull through the bank located on the ground floor.
Approved by Minneapolis and yet to be constructed, this very site is planned to be 27 stories with nearly 430 housing units, street level retail, and be one of eight new or planned towers built within Gateway in the last 10 years, plus the iconic Central Library rebuild. ESG is responsible for the design of the new tower.