MINNEAPOLIS (May 3, 2007) – Ryan Companies US, Inc. and HEI Hospitality announced they’ve closed on the Minneapolis Westin Hotel. The recently renovated F&M Bank building in downtown Minneapolis is now owned and managed by HEI, an ownership/investment firm based in Norwalk, Conn.

“Because of its unique, historic qualities, and its outstanding location in the core of downtown Minneapolis, this new Westin Hotel is now one of the preeminent hotel properties in Minneapolis,” said Collin Barr, president, Minnesota Region, Ryan Companies US, Inc. “We are very pleased about the transformation, and the hotel’s relative position in the existing marketplace.”

The 11-story, 218,000 square-foot building stood mostly vacant since 2002, when US Bank closed its retail branch. Now open as the Westin Minneapolis Hotel, the F&M Bank building features 214 finely appointed guest rooms, including 19 suites that will predominately serve business travelers. The bank’s historic vaulted lobby has been transformed into the hotel’s bar-restaurant, BANK, which seats 165 guests. Off the main lobby, bankers’ offices have been converted into private dining rooms that can be used for smaller group special dining events and gatherings. The hotel also boasts 13,000 square feet of meeting space, a swimming pool and fitness area featuring the trademarked Reebok Westin Workout.

Built in 1941, the Farmers & Mechanics Bank building features a neo-classical revival style. Ryan lead the project as developer and Design-Builder, and managed the building’s acquisition, design approvals, and nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Elness Swenson Graham Architects served as architect on the project, and Wischermann Partners provided hospitality development consulting services. 

HEI Hospitality, headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is an ownership/investment firm that owns and/or operates 26 first-class and full-service hotels throughout the United States under such well-known brand names as Marriott, Sheraton, Westin and Hilton.

Ryan Companies US, Inc. is a leading national commercial real estate firm offering integrated design-build and development as well as asset, property and facilities management services to customers. For more than 69 years, Ryan Companies has used a single-source approach that offers flexibility in defining the scope of a project and strength in providing effective, timely solutions resulting in a higher certainty of success. In addition to its Minneapolis office, Ryan has offices in Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa.

Editor’s note:    Interviews with Ryan executives are available by contacting Sarah Voigt at 612-455-1784 or svoigt@psbpr.com