The Minneapolis Fed
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The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is located at the north end of downtown Minneapolis along the Mississippi River from Hennepin Avenue to Second Avenue North, a site commonly referred to as the Bridgehead Site.
The building design by Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum strikes a balance between the stability, security and strength of the Federal Reserve and the physical and historical significance of the site itself. The design respects the Warehouse District to the south and west and the Mississippi River to the north while meeting the functional needs of the Bank.
Guided tours are available for groups and individuals by appointment. The Bank welcomes adult groups and students, grades 7 and older who are studying economics, banking or finance. The tour consists of a general overview of the Federal Reserve and a walk-through of the cash department. The maximum group size is 40 people.
General Building Information
Architect
Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, St. Louis, Missouri
Interior Design
Walsh Bishop Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Structural Engineer
Siebold, Sydow & Elfanbaum, St. Louis, Missouri
Mechanical Engineer
Michaud Cooley Erickson, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Construction Manager
McGough Construction Company, St. Paul, Minnesota
Telecommunications
Norstan/Fujitsu/FORE
Cost
Approximately $100 million
Timetable
Demolition, Spring 1994; Construction, Winter 1994; Occupancy, August 1997
Lobby Art Commission
Minneapolis artist Aldo Moroni's "This River, This Place"
Procurement Services at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
For more information on doing business with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, please visit our procurement services page.
Plaza and Grounds
In addition to the trees and benches on the plaza, there is a specially
designed bus shelter and a 16-foot diameter city map which orients
visitors and residents alike to the area's historic sites: St. Anthony Falls, the Warehouse District and key buildings in the downtown area. Six beacon lights separate the plaza at the street level from the
handicapped-accessible walkway that leads down to the parkway and
complement the lights atop the Hennepin Avenue Bridge.
Along the plaza walkway that leads to the riverfront are five interpretive exhibits that depict the history of the site. They are titled respectively: A Great Waterfall (1805), Gateway to the West (1875), Growth of Commerce (1895), Civic Improvements (1925) and Transformations (1995). At the base of the plaza is the pergola, an arborlike structure that overlooks the river. The Second Avenue North end of the Bank's property is planted with prairie grasses and wildflowers and surrounded by a decorative wrought iron fence. In all, landscaping includes 148 deciduous trees, 59 evergreen trees and 6,945 shrubs.
Special Features
Conference Center
The conference center, located on the lobby level of the tower, features 10 meeting rooms, the largest of which is the River Room, with auditorium-style seating for 200. Thirty-five other meeting rooms are located throughout the building.
Video Monitors
Video monitors throughout the building continuously display messages and announcements. The new system, which replaces traditional paper-based bulletin boards, is capable of incorporating video clips, photos and animation.
New Address
90 Hennepin Avenue was selected the Bank's new address to signify that the Bank represents the entire Ninth Federal Reserve District (because the Bank is located on the even side of the street, 9 was not an option).
Time Capsule
A time capsule was sealed and placed in the building cornerstone at First Street and Hennepin Avenue in June 1997. Items selected for inclusion highlight current Bank operations, depict employee life, detail construction of the new building, and include current Bank and local news publications. A duplicate set of materials is stored in the Bank's archives to be opened at a later date-perhaps the 100th anniversary of the Bank.
Interview with Gyo Obata, architect,
The Region, September 1992
Riverfront History on the Plaza,
The Region, September 1998
Linking the past and future,
fedgazette, October 1997
Comments at the dedication of the building
"This River, This Place," an epic stoneware wall sculpture of the Ninth Federal Reserve District by artist Aldo Moroni