Minneapolis Community & Technical College

Hennepin Skyway Renovation

Before image of the skyway and accompanying site diagram showing proximity to downtown locations.
Exterior view of the MCTC skyway with the rainbow light effect.
Exterior view of the MCTC skyway with the purple light effect.
Corridor seating options in the skyway.
Before and after views of the skyway's main corridor.
Interior view detail of seating and graphic film on skyway glass.
Cutaway section diagram detailing skyway's lighting features.
A student visiting the Ask Me help desk at the skyway entrance.

Minneapolis Community & Technical College

Hennepin Skyway Renovation

Minneapolis, Minn.

The original Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC) skyway was simply a circulation space between the Technical Building and the MCTC 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 college 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.”

Size: 3,450 sq. ft.

Components: Student collaboration and gathering space; welcoming “Ask Me” desk; branded interior glass partitions; acoustical wood slat ceiling; color-changing LED lighting and translucent glass curtainwall system

Completion: 2019