Hennepin Skyway Renovation

Minneapolis Community & Technical College

The original Minneapolis College skyway was simply a circulation space between the Technical Building and the college parking structure. Positioned directly above Hennepin Avenue, which serves as a main thoroughfare for the city of Minneapolis, the skyway had the opportunity to be more than a just a portal to the campus; the renovation and adaptive reuse of the structure created both a beacon for the campus and a gateway to downtown.

The design intent recaptures and reprograms the underutilized circulation space within the skyway, giving students a social and collaborative gathering space and an informational hub. The cladding on the structure was removed to enhance the visibility of the space, and colored LED lighting pairs with the skyway’s new translucent glass system to establish a dynamic glowing façade that subtly adds color modifications to the interior space. Furniture, glass partitions, and wood slat ceilings are integrated with the repetitive column grid to create a range of spaces within the larger volume and to welcome students through the college’s new energetic “front door.”