The Minnesota Senate Building and AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown by Marriott were honored at the 9th Annual DBIA Upper Midwest Region Awards Celebration with a Design-Build Excellence Award. The Minnesota Senate Building also received the Project of the Year award.
The winning projects were selected by a jury of industry experts, including project owners and DBIA members. The recognized projects exemplify the innovative application of integrated project delivery and unique solutions for project challenges. They exhibit the interdisciplinary teamwork and problem solving that characterize design-build delivery. The honorees were acknowledged at an awards breakfast held on March 15, 2017.
The Minnesota Senate Building received a Design-Build Excellence Award in the Government Buildings category and was selected as the Project of the Year. Designed by BWBR and Pickard Chilton, the Senate Building is a 293,000 square foot facility that includes offices for all 67 State senators and their support staff. It provides a a unique workspace design for over 360 people in a facility that removes barriers and strongly promotes collaboration across political party lines. Designed with accessibility needs first, the building also has a 250-seat hearing room and two 150-seat hearing rooms, providing space to enhance the public’s ability to participate in the legislative process. Additionally, the building houses the Senate media studio and offers broadcasting capability for the entire Capitol campus.
The AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown by Marriott received a Design-Build Excellence Award in the Commercial Buildings category. The AC Hotel is located in downtown Minneapolis at the intersection of 4th and Hennepin in the Hennepin Theatre District. The 9-story, 245-key hotel contains the AC Lounge and Bar, AC Library, media salons, meeting space, boardroom and fitness center, and connects to the Minneapolis skyway system. The facility was designed by Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc. with interior design by Design Force Corporation. It is operated by Sage Hospitality.