Mill City Museum renovation wins national architecture award
American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA Awards are the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture, and urban design. Minneapolis firms were the architects — Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle — and the landscape architects — Damon Farber Associates — of the Mill City Museum.
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The Mill City Museum is located within the burned-out walls of what used to be the Washburn-Crosby mill, once the "world’s largest" flour mill. Originally designed by Austrian engineer William de la Barre, the former home of General Mills and Betty Crocker and a National Historic Landmark is now a Minnesota Historical Society museum that focuses on the stories of grain farming and trading, water power, flour milling, food product development, railroading and stories of workers, the labor movement, and immigrants. |
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Mill City Museum on the Riverfront |
The City of Minneapolis purchased and stabilized the Washburn-Crosby complex on the riverfront through its redevelopment arm, the former Minneapolis Community Development Agency, now part of the City department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED). The City then ‘sold’ the title of the A-Mill portion of the complex to the Minnesota Historical Society as a home for its mill museum. CPED also worked with the Society and private developer, Brighton Development, to assemble the financing package for the office complex above the museum. The City is currently constructing a public parking facility across from the museum that will open later this year and provide parking for museum visitors.
Published Jan. 11, 2005