Ryan Companies US, Inc. Completes Foshay Tower Redevelopment
MINNEAPOLIS (August 8, 2008) – Ryan Companies US, Inc. announced today it has completed the transformation of downtown Minneapolis’s historic Foshay Tower into a modern and energy-efficient hotel. Now called W Minneapolis – The Foshay, the project was the first W development to be completed on time, ensuring it will be ready for its Aug. 13 opening.
"When it comes to understanding our business, and the process of opening a hotel, it was clear to us that Ryan understood where we were coming from, and made the process much easier for us," said Kevin Lawrence, operations project manager, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "They knew what it meant to us to have the project turned over to us on time, and Ryan delivered with a high-quality finished product and a strong work ethic that was shared from the subcontractor level to senior project management. We couldn't be more pleased with the outcome."
The redevelopment team both embraced the building’s historical significance – completed in 1929, the Foshay is on the National Register of Historic Places – while taking advantage of its unique design in the creation of a luxury hotel. Because the Foshay was originally modeled after the Washington Monument, floor dimension sizes decrease incrementally on each level, losing about 50 percent of the floor area from the 2nd floor to the 30th floor, resulting in 57 unique room variations within the 230-room hotel.
Construction workers also uncovered the original ceiling in the main lobby arcade, restoring it to its original state, while the arcade’s marble walls and terrazzo floor were refurbished. In addition, the building’s original lighting was restored in the arcade.
“Anytime you’re working with a building that has as storied a past as the Foshay Tower, you want to be careful that you don’t lose that significance. Ultimately, the historic features of the building enhance the guest experience and adds to the value of the building,” said Joel Schurke, director of development, Ryan Companies US, Inc. “At the same time, you can work around that history and tap into a new-found life and modern vibrancy. We feel we did that in this redevelopment.”
In addition to preserving the building’s history, workers faced unique challenges in keeping the project on schedule. Because the redevelopment took place while building tenants were relocating, schedules had to be carefully managed to avoid inconveniences. The construction also had to be tightly contained due to the Foshay’s site in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. Through the design-build process, Ryan worked around these obstacles for on-time completion.
Tactics to make the Foshay a “greener,” more energy efficient building were also put into place. More than 95 percent of the building’s 750 windows were replaced with new, high-efficiency aluminum windows, which – with their thermal break, high-efficiency double-pane glass and warm-edge technology – will generate ongoing energy savings and increase guest comfort.
LED lights were also used throughout the majority of public spaces, with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting in the back-of-house areas. A dimming system for incandescent lighting on the first and second floors will keep the lights automatically powered to make the most of available daylight.
In addition to the hotel, W Minneapolis – The Foshay will also feature four distinct food and beverage experiences for visitors and guests, including:
• Manny’s Steakhouse, a 250-seat restaurant and bar located on the first floor. A Minneapolis establishment known as one of the area’s premier restaurants, Manny’s will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a unique menu specifically for in-room dining, banquets and meeting spaces.
• The W Bar, a see-and-be-seen lounge accessed from the hotel’s main entry and featuring floor-to-ceiling windows fronting Marquette Avenue.
• The W Living Room, a custom-designed lounge also on the first floor that helps guests and visitors feel at home with cozy seating and side tables.
• The Prohibition Bar, located on the 27th floor, takes advantage of the floor’s beautifully preserved paneling and historic architectural features to provide a club-like atmosphere with breathtaking panoramic views of the downtown skyline, giving guests a feeling of an exclusive “members-only” bar and lounge.
The building will also feature such modern courtesy features as cell phone booths in the hotel’s common area and bike-friendly facilities for the building’s bike commuters, including bike storage, showers and changing rooms.
About Ryan Companies, US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US Inc., a nationally recognized developer, design-builder and real estate manager, has specialized in fully integrated solutions for more than 70 years. Ryan builds lasting relationships with a project delivery model based on full-service customized solutions and total collaboration – pairing the customer’s needs and expectations with the talents of a team of developers, financiers, architects, engineers, constructors and property managers. In addition to its Minneapolis office, Ryan has offices in Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa. Ryan was named the 2007 National Developer of the Year by the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP).
W Minneapolis – The Foshay Project Team
Owner: Foshay Hotel, LLC
Developers: RWB Holdings, LLC / Ralph Burnet and Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Hotel Operator: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Legal: McGrann Shea Anderson Carnival Straughn & Lamb, ltd.
Historic Consultant: Hess Roise
Architect: Elness Swenson Graham Architects
Interior Design: Munge/Leung: Design Associates
Design-Build Contractor: Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Civil Engineer: Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Structural Engineer: MBJ Consulting
Interior Designer: Munge/Leung
Lighting Design: Schuler Shook
Purchasing Agent: Target Commercial Interiors
Editor’s note: Interviews with Ryan executives are available by contacting Paul Omodt at 612-455-1732 or pomodt@psbpr.com