In the Midst of Transformation

As Minneapolis’s “first real public space”, the Crystal Court has served as the city’s symbolic crossroads and town square for decades. See how we plan to evolve this iconic urban park to serve future generations.

The
City’s
Heartbeat

Symbolic crossroads and thriving town square

Crystal Court has served as a central gathering place for the Minneapolis community for nearly 50 years. Known as a “social skyscraper,” the IDS Center is where thousands of people from all walks of life – businesspeople, musicians, artists, athletes and families – can come to meet, make memories, network, and forge and deepen friendships at any time of year.

“One of the few convincing, lively, wholly-enclosed urban spaces of the postwar era”
— Architect Robert Stern, 2005

“The ‘Grand Central Station of a two-level pedestrian railroad network’”

— Architecture Critic Donald Canty, 1979

To ensure our vision for the future of the Crystal Court pays homage to the legacy of its past, we have partnered with local architects and design professionals Perkins and Will and New History, who, like us, fully understand the significance of this special place. We cherish their expertise and deep ties to this community, which will ensure this project is completed with the utmost respect for – and in celebration of – the Crystal Court’s importance to Minneapolis.

We are collectively and carefully crafting a plan that includes installing collaborative seating areas with modular furniture and enhancing the indoor urban garden by adding a larger natural tree cover and green space. An infinity edge fountain will foster a sense of serenity through an engaging water feature.

Creating
Inspiring
and
Sustainable
Workplaces

Making the World a Better Place One Building at a Time

At Accesso, we are firm believers in understanding the needs and expectations of the communities in which we operate. This approach allows us to fulfill our goal of making the world a better place – one building at a time. We look forward to delivering a project to our Minneapolis community that will enhance their experiences in the Crystal Court, while retaining all of the amazing qualities Philip Johnson envisioned for this incredible space.