Burlap Lofts

Burlap Lofts is a newly renovated office building located at 501 1st Ave NE in the Northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis. The buildings sit on the corner of 1st Ave NE and 5th St NE, a bustling intersection near popular destinations like Harmony Coffee, The Herbivorous Butcher, and Conga Latin Bistro. The project features fully renovated Class A loft office suites, a new construction mass timber addition connecting the two buildings, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and over 7,000 square feet of shared interior and exterior amenity space.

The original buildings were built in 1910 to produce textiles, including burlap. The buildings suffered from deterioration and structural deficiencies, but they maintained their strong character with expansive solid brick walls, heavy timber structure and large window openings. Extensive renovation work was completed, including sandblasting throughout to reveal the character of the old brick and wood. Bricked over window openings were reopened and 160 new windows were added to bring natural light into each space. Several beams and lintels were replaced, the brick was tuckpointed, new concrete floors were poured, and new mechanical systems were also installed. ⁠The basements of both buildings underwent extensive renovations, including exposing the original stone walls, new window wells to bring in natural light, waterproofing, and providing the basements with street level access through new stairwells, which will reactivate the spaces as lower level retail or event space.

The main architectural change was constructing a new timber framed building connection, joining the existing buildings together. This new addition creates a grand entrance space from the alley in between the buildings and houses the new elevator. The existing buildings have differing elevations for each level, so careful consideration went into the design of the new addition to ensure the space was fully accessible with ramping that could bridge the gap between the elevation differences. The addition serves as a link between new and old – functionally and figuratively, weaving together classic structures with modern architectural moves and materials.

The interior design intent is to be a well-curated space that has eye-grabbing materials, sculptural furniture, and perfect proportions to create a piece of art in of itself. The artful interior will complement the existing Northeast Minneapolis structure with a modern yet collected essence using found objects that feel perfectly curated as if they were made for space and collected over a lifetime. The furniture pieces will be defined by contemporary oversized forms, with lux materials, tying the NE neighborhoods’ charmed character with a new story in the community.

After passing through the enchanting patio, the lobby welcomes all tenants and guests to a cozy and captivating space. The unique Italian Murano glass chandelier provides a warm soft light that cascades over the curved forms of the furniture, and sets the tone for the bold interiors throughout the buildings.

The second floor boasts the amenity spaces that are available for all tenants’ use. The program was developed to allow tenants to have space outside of their office to entertain, take a private phone call, or grab a cup of coffee with a coworker. Upon exiting the elevator, you are welcomed by an expansive coffee bar. Varied rattan pendants, quartz countertop, and detailed millwork stand out against the existing brick. Around the back corner is the co-working space, complete with different types of seating and a call booth for everyone’s working style needs.

Finally, on the other side of the coffee bar is the lounge. This rentable space is perfect for celebrating, entertaining, or taking a break. The large section and soft seating allow for casual mingling, while the ping pong table with ottomans can convert from conference to conversational seamlessly. The lounge space overlooks the entrance patio below, with the large window allowing lots of sunlight into the space.

From the basement to the fourth floor, the buildings have been brought back to life with modern fire/safety improvements, accessibility, structural integrity, and stunning spaces that inspire creativity.⁠