KA Block Welcomes The Elliot Hotel
The Elliot was planned as a new eight-story luxury hotel at Fifth Avenue and Ninth Street in downtown Minneapolis. The 165-room Autograph Collection hotel by Marriott was part of a comprehensive mixed-use development that also included the new Kraus-Anderson home office, the 17-story H.Q. residential tower and Finnegan’s microbrewery.
Designed by ESG Architects, The Elliot was planned to feature a destination restaurant, bar and meeting rooms, with a connection to Finnegan’s microbrewery. Wilkinson Corporation developed the hotel in collaboration with Kraus-Anderson.
“We consider the Elliot Park neighborhood valuable and are excited to be part of this master plan redevelopment in East Town, Minneapolis,” said Russell Wilkinson, chairman and founder of Wilkinson Corporation. “The Elliot is one of several development projects we are working on in Minnesota.”
The Elliot was designed as a member of Marriott’s four-diamond Autograph Collection, which includes distinctive, high-end boutique and resort hotels. Autograph Collection hotels are independent properties known for their design, craft and connection to the surrounding community.
Coury Hospitality partnered with Wilkinson Corporation to operate The Elliot. At the time, Coury Hospitality operated four hotels within the Autograph Collection: the Ambassador Hotels in Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Wichita.
“We are thrilled to be entering the Minneapolis market with this exceptional new build that will feature the latest designs and standards,” said Paul Coury, chairman of Coury Hospitality. “Each of our hotels offers unique experiences rooted in its personality. No two are the same because no two hotels share the same story. The Elliot will be distinct and aims to showcase some of the most thoughtfully orchestrated hotel experiences available.”
Located in Elliot Park, the hotel was designed to complement the existing historic neighborhood. The exterior included brick, metal-clad bays and large windows. The first floor was planned to be transparent and active, with a streetscape featuring landscaping and large canopy trees for guests, visitors and pedestrians.
A guest vehicle drop-off area and visible restaurant had dedicated entrances from Fifth Avenue. An expansive lobby connected to a mid-block courtyard and included an additional drop-off area.
How Did The Elliot Fit Into the Mixed-Use Block Development?
Kraus-Anderson and ESG Architects developed the master plan for the block. Guided by the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association and the Elliot Park Neighborhood group, the plan included enhancements for the city, neighborhood, employees and business partners.
The development also addressed the Portland Corridor initiative, which focused on the neighborhood’s economic, aesthetic, historic and environmental needs, including housing and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes.
In April 2016, Kraus-Anderson began construction on a new five-story, 100,000-square-foot headquarters to consolidate Twin Cities operations under one roof. The office building was planned as a build-to-suit LEED facility for approximately 300 employees, with capacity for future growth.
Designed by Pope Architects, the headquarters included a fitness center, educational training center, rooftop deck, cafeteria, formal and informal meeting areas and a landscaped exterior. Two levels of underground parking served office employees.
At the time, the project team had completed two major construction milestones: topping off the headquarters building and beginning vertical construction of H.Q., the residential tower.
Learn more about the H.Q. Apartments and KA Block mixed-use development, the The Elliot Park Hotel project, the downtown Minneapolis block redevelopment and commercial construction experience.
CATEGORY: Construction