(MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.) December 28, 2007 – One of the largest redevelopments in the state is finishing the year with yet another award: the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) has awarded the mixed-use project one of its coveted Design-Build Merit Awards in the Rehabilitation/ Renovation/ Restoration category. Ryan Companies US, Inc., master developer for the renovated former Sears retail and catalog warehouse building, has received 12 awards for the project’s ingenious construction, design and management since it completed the historic preservation project in 2005.
“It truly took a large, dedicated team to bring the lights back in on the former Sears,” said Rick Collins, vice president of development, Ryan Companies US, Inc. “This team-wide recognition of Midtown Exchange from DBIA is the icing on the cake for this project’s award-winning year.”
DBIA recognizes projects for their advanced and innovative application of total integrated project delivery and finding unique solutions for project challenges. In order for Midtown Exchange to be considered for this award, Ryan had to demonstrate successful application of design-build principles, including collaboration in the early stages of the project and the acceptance of single-entity risk. Additionally, Ryan had to document that the project was completed both on-time and on-budget.
This award adds to Midtown Exchange’s list of 2007 award wins, including:
2007 Readers’ Choice Award presented by Affordable Housing Finance magazine. Midtown Exchange was recognized in the Best Historic Rehab category for the Nation’s Best Affordable Housing Developments.
AIA Minneapolis Merit Award. The Minneapolis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Minnesota (AIA Minnesota) announced that it has awarded Midtown Exchange one of its Merit Awards. This awards program was created by the chapter to tell a story of excellence beyond design, reflecting the variety of forces that shape a building.
“Design-Build was critical for us, in order to turn around a project this complex in such a short time frame,” said Mike Ernst, Team Leader, Ryan Companies US, Inc.. This redevelopment effort began in September 2004, ending 21 months later. Project team members included:
| Master Developer and Office/Commercial Developer: | Ryan Companies US, Inc. |
| 1928 Housing Developer: | Sherman Associates, Inc. |
| Townhome Developer: | Project for Pride in Living |
| Hotel Developer: | Ryan Companies US, Inc. |
| Hotel Consultant: | Wischermann Partners |
| Midtown Global Market Developer: | Neighborhood Development Center (with other partners) |
| Coordinating Architect/Building Shell & Parking Ramp: | Collaborative Design Group |
| 1928 Housing Architect/Hotel Architect: | Elness Swenson Graham (ESG) |
| Townhome Architect: | UrbanWorks Architecture |
| Landscape Architect/Urban Designer: | Close Landscape Architecture |
| Interior Common Area Design: | Shea |
| Allina Commons Interior Architect: | Perkins & Will |
| Neighborhood Facilitation: | The Green Institute |
| Leasing and Brokerage: | Welsh Companies |
| Historic Preservation: | Hess, Roise and Company |
| Government Relations: | McGrann Shea Anderson Carnival Straughn & Lamb, Chartered |
| Allina Representatives: | Real Estate Strategies/Nelson, Tietz & Hoye |
Midtown Exchange is a mixed-use historic landmark development in the Midtown district of Minneapolis. The redevelopment team, a consortium of development and community organizations led by Ryan Companies, spent 21 months transforming the site into a place to work, play and live, further connecting the site to the surrounding community and supporting the Midtown renaissance. At peak construction, as many as 750 trades-people worked daily on the million-plus square foot site.
Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a leading national commercial real estate firm offering integrated design-build and development as well as asset, property and facilities management services to customers. For more than 69 years, Ryan has used a single-source approach that offers flexibility in defining the scope of a project and strength in providing effective, timely solutions resulting in a higher certainty of success. In addition to its Minneapolis office, Ryan has offices in Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa.