Henning Larsen, together with MSR Design, is designing the New Public Service Building for Minneapolis. The design focuses on an efficient and effective customer-centric experience, enabling the people of Minneapolis to meet with the City’s public administration ‘at eye-level’.
By consolidating multiple City departments into a new office building adjacent to the existing City Hall, this project will form the new face of public service for the City. “Our aim is to set a new architectural agenda in North America through our knowledge-based Scandinavian design approach,” states Louis Becker, Henning Larsen’s Design Principal.
“It is our hope that this building will foster openness – literally and figuratively – in the meeting between citizens and public servants – by exposing administrative functions and offering easy, equal access to everyone, regardless of age, gender and social background,” says Louis Becker.
The New Public Service Building is designed from the inside out, encouraging a professional, authentic, and vibrant community that reflects the diversity of Minneapolis. At its core is a wholly re-imagined public service model in concert with an innovative and collaborative workplace focused on health, wellness and interdepartmental connectivity.
As an urban gesture, the building volume is elevated to create a ground floor that is visually and physically accessible to the public, while establishing a dialogue with City Hall.
The first two levels promote an open and welcoming environment that creates a sense of community, promotes equity and accessibility and showcases a customer-centric public service model. Source and images Courtesy of Henning Larsen.