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Featured Projects

Lawson Commons

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Visually completing the urban edge of the historic Rice Park district in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, Lawson Commons' brick and stone, woven with glass and metal, creates harmony with the surroundings while providing Lawson Software with a progressive, cutting-edge, high-tech image that reflects its business identity. The masonry massing of the connected parking ramp responds to the open space across from it, while expressive cast-aluminum screens on the parking ramp fill openings, softening the impact of the automobiles beyond and recalling the character of Minnesota river bluffs, rolling farmlands and forests.

Awards

AIA Minnesota, 2001 Divine Detail Honor Award, Municipal Ramp Grilles

Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Commission and Saint Paul Chapter AIA, 2001 Award of Recognition for new construction in an historic district

National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, 2001 Award of Excellence, Downtown Office

Minnesota Concrete & Masonry Contractors Association, 2001 Honor Award for Excellence in Masonry Design & Construction

Solution

Purpose:

To develop a modern office tower to serve as headquarters for a software company in a historic downtown district.

Solution:

Carefully blending brick and stone with glass and metal, BWBR's solution blends the image of a high-tech company with its historic neighbors in a manner that is pedestrian friendly and enhancing to the urban environment.