University of Minnesota Northrop Mall Pedestrian Bridges

Solving a challenge while creating an architectural icon
When the original pedestrian bridges were built in 1940, they were intended to last ten years. After sixty-two years, structural decay and ADA compliance requirements created a need to replace the two structures that have become icons on the University of Minnesota campus.

The bridges are designed to provide a continuous walkway from Northrop Mall to the Mississippi River. They arch over Washington Avenue with a gentle curving slope that allows for unobstructed views. The new ADA compliant bridges are longer, less steep and feature a heated surface to reduce ice and snow accumulation during the Midwest winters.