Project Description
KNOCK Inc. is home to a branding, advertising and design firm whose growth is based on a collaborative business model that brings together a diversity of design disciplines to serve their clients. KNOCK was in search of both a building and neighborhood within the city that could serve to feed this creative culture and become their new headquarters. The project began with the purchase of a neglected 1960s office building located along Glenwood Avenue just north of downtown Minneapolis. We were asked to re-envision, renovate, expand, and create a new KNOCK workspace that enhanced their collaborative work model, conveyed their unique brand and connected the building and interiors with Glenwood Avenue and the unique mix of residential and industrial building stock that surrounds the neighborhood. The renovated space and new addition create a 10,000 sf work space and a distinguished new presence enlivening Glenwood Avenue. The existing building had “good bones” but was in desperate need of repair and updating. As first time building owners, KNOCK required low maintenance, sustainable solutions with maximum performance. In order to achieve this, our sustainable strategies were focused on passive design solutions that offered maximum benefit with minimal initial costs. High performance insulated walls, roofs and glazing replaced single pane glass units, non-insulated exterior walls and a failing roof. This was supplemented with heat recovery units that transfer heating and cooling from exhaust air to fresh air intake. To eliminate the need for artificial light during the day and enhance the work environment, all working areas of the facility have access to daylight through new and expanded window openings along the perimeter of the building and the extensive use of skylights and solar tube light collectors along the interior core. Healthy and local building materials were chosen such as reclaimed walnut for the main millwork pieces of the building and cedar siding for the additions at the front and back of the facility. Most of the existing structure is exposed, minimizing excessive ceiling materials and increasing the sense of openness.