The 14th-annual Building Community Exhibition is scheduled for Aug. 22 and 23 in the IDS Center's Crystal Court.
A series of models and renderings will explore the recent development boom in Minneapolis and beyond. Highlights will include the new Vikings stadium, the 5th Street light-rail corridor and other projects, said Peter Bruce, the event's organizer.
With downtown Minneapolis' population expected to double by 2025, residential units are multiplying quickly -- a fact that will be reflected in many of the exhibits. "We're building taller buildings, 27 stories for Nic on 5th and another that is 13 stories," said Trace Jacques of ESG Architects, which will have more than a dozen projects on display.
The trend nationally "has been smaller units, more efficient, with more glass. But we are finding that if people can afford more space, they still want that luxury of two-plus bedrooms. One of our penthouse units in Nic on 5th has four bedrooms so we are designing for a variety of tastes. It's not just singles or young couples."
The display is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23.
On Thursday at noon, Chuck Ballentine, of Hennepin County, will discuss the Interchange multi-modal transit project near Target Field. Then Bruce will give a brief "tour" of the display.
On Friday at noon, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin will give a brief overview of rail-related projects, and Betsy Buckley, president of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, will talk about the group's 2025 plan (a blueprint for the city's core). Then, Peter Remes, of First & First LLC, will discuss revitalization projects.
Each session will last 15 minutes, and will be followed by a question-and-answer period.
