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A new look for Peavey Plaza

Posted at 11:06 AM on November 15, 2010 by Marianne Combs (3 Comments)
Filed under: Architecture

Peavey Plaza was named a "marvel of modernism" by the Cultural Landscape Foundation in 2008. Now it's getting a makeover.

Peavey Plaza, that tiered, sunken courtyard next to Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis, is getting a facelift as part of the Hall's renovation and expansion.

Tomorrow, city officials and representatives of the Minnesota Orchestra will interview the four Minneapolis firms and their design teams chosen to interview for the revitalization project. The firms are Close Landscape Architecture, Coen & Partners, Damon Farber Associates, and Oslund and Associates (FYI, Tim Oslund is most recently known for his work on both Gold Medal Park and his design of the I-35 Bridge Memorial).

Rather than hold the interviews in private, the City of Minneapolis is inviting the public to attend. While members of the public won't have a final say in the decision, they will have a chance to see the various proposals and get excited about Peavey Plaza's new potential.

Interviews, each 45 minutes in length, begin at 11:30am Tuesday at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Auditorium 2. They will be preceded by a "meet and greet" session with the firms from 9:30 - 11:00am.

The move to renovate the plaza comes two years after it was named a "marvel of modernism" by the Cultural Landscape Foundation.

Interested in learning more about the history of Peavey Plaza and the intentions behind its original design? Check out Mary Abbe's fine article in the Star Tribune.

Comments (3)

Peavy Plaza is our best gathering place. I do not want to see it shrink or the fountains disappear. We could use a nice dessert cafe as part of Orchestra Hall in the southeast corner which is the one area that is under used. Let's bring back ice skating. If St. Paul can have a rink nest to rice park we should be able to have one in Peavy Plaza.
Beauty and function can go together. Without artistic beauty, people will not enjoy or come as often. The summer concerts are a great draw for downtown and for us that live here a must.

Posted by Yvonne Mullen | November 15, 2010 1:21 PM

I attend several events in Peavy Plaza during the summer and often eat lunch there with co-workers.

Incorporating street food vendors into the plaza would be a fantast addition.

Posted by Shanna | November 15, 2010 2:19 PM

Yvonne and Shanna - sounds like you two should definitely be at the meet-and-greet with the landscape architects!

Posted by Marianne Combs | November 15, 2010 7:31 PM