The Bookmen Stacks condo building in the heart of Minneapolis' Warehouse District is a modernist all-glass structure that could be mistaken for an industrial office complex.
Developer Steve Frenz says that demand for such unique spaces, which offer panoramic views of their urban environments, has increased.
"Glass condo buildings are a recent phenomenon here, which coincides with more people moving back to the core cities," he said.
The trend is also being driven by technology. Developers are now using glass and steel curtain-wall systems similar to those used on skyscrapers such as the IDS Center, built around a concrete and steel structure. They include high-tech double-paned windows with high-performance insulating and soundproofing qualities.
In Bloomington, the Reflections high-rise condos went the extra mile with triple-glazed windows that eliminate the roar of planes taking off and landing nearby.
While Frenz acknowledges that "not everyone wants to live in a fishbowl," floor-to-ceiling glass was a selling point for Tom Berthiaume, who bought a fifth-floor condo at Bookmen Stacks. He can watch the sunrise without getting out of bed. "At night," he said "the cityscape is huge and beautiful."
Here's a glimpse at three all-glass trend-setters.
REFLECTIONS AT BLOOMINGTON CENTRAL STATION
