Contract Magazine - February/March 2020 - 31

PHOTOGRAPHY: COREY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY

Posted at a prime position in the middle
of Minneapolis's historic North Loop, The Nordic
is a mixed-use development-comprising 205,000
square feet stretched throughout a 10-story
high-rise-that combines office, residential, and
retail space while maintaining a modern warehouse
aesthetic. The talent of Twin Cities-based Studio
BV was tasked with spearheading the design of
the project's lobby, public plaza, and retail spaces,
as well as the art, furniture, and signage throughout
the complex.
A four-season plaza acts as a gateway at
the nexus of The Nordic and its neighboring LooseWiles Building. The plaza blurs the lines between
public and private, play and work, and interior and
exterior environments in an exercise of intentional
overlap. "Our biggest objective was to create
a sense of community," says Betsy Vohs, founder
and CEO of Studio BV. "The building is located
in an old warehouse neighborhood that has great
brick warehouse space, but no green space or
public parks. The Nordic was designed to change
that condition."
The public plaza adopts the role of a figurative
front yard for the neighborhood featuring gathering
spaces awash in greenery with outdoor dining areas,
a custom-designed firepit, commissioned sculptures,
and winter curling courts. Its inviting outdoor oasis
contributes to the daily life of residents, workers,

and visitors alike-and at the same time
accommodates cultural programming and events.
Once inside, guests are greeted by the
ground-floor FRGMNT coffee shop-buzzing with
caffeine and conversation-which cohesively
connects The Nordic's plaza to its 12,000-squarefoot lobby. Elements of The Nordic's exterior
are echoed across the interior: "The communityfocused programming was designed to translate
into the lobby," Vohs says. "We really wanted
to connect the theme of warmth and gathering
around a fire from the plaza to the interior."
The lobby features a bespoke fireplace flanked
by a large concrete plinth that functions more
as a piece of furniture than an added adornment,
activating the space and anchoring the interior
while inviting individuals to linger and lounge
atop its leather-clad cushions.
In a nod to the name of the building, Studio
BV established a modernist aesthetic inspired by
Scandinavian sensibilities as seen through material,
color, and pattern. "In Copenhagen, you see a mix
of texture and details in public spaces that are
often missed or not considered," Vohs says. Careful
touches of tactility, warmth, and Danish decor
are incorporated to balance the raw nature of
The Nordic's concrete construction. Pops of color
abound across the lobby's loose furnishings and
surfacing. Grounding the space with a delicate

yet bold pattern, an illuminated screen installation
is inspired by Swedish textile design, while
an upholstered felt panel system-hand-stitched
with large leather cording-softens the space
as it sweeps its rich indigo-blue hue across
the lobby walls.
A custom crescent-shaped concierge
desk crafted out of walnut wood stands in contrast
with the ash flooring underfoot. Evincing a streamlined structure akin to a Scandinavian ship, the desk
acts as a physical anchor that establishes a focal
point in the large open lobby. Bespoke bookshelves
were incorporated to support The Nordic's whimsical
art collection and to delineate distinct areas of
the interior. "We designed a custom wood bookcase
in concert with an artist who developed 38 small
sculptures for the shelves," Vohs says. "This piece
adds interest and creates a place for small-scale
art in a very large open space." These evocative
elements underscore The Nordic's modernist
milieu while creating a seamless visitor experience
extending from the exterior past the entryway
and all the way to the elevators. -HAYLEY ARSENAULT

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Contract Magazine - February/March 2020

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