Asana Partners, a real estate investment firm, collaborated with NELSON Worldwide to transform an existing event center in Minneapolis’s North Loop into “The Saxon,” a vibrant mixed-use development. The challenge was to unify the building’s three sections, each built in different periods, into a cohesive retail and lifestyle destination. The redesign integrates retail spaces on the first and third levels with offices on the second, maintaining the building’s historic character while introducing contemporary art deco-inspired elements. Inspired by British pubs and cigar lounges, the design blends traditional and modern to create a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere.
NELSON unified The Saxon’s three distinct building sections while preserving its historic elements, using consistent paint, storefront systems, and canopy designs to create a cohesive, pedestrian-friendly street-level presence. The ground floor was redesigned for high-end retail, attracting tenants like Solidcore, while exterior enhancements improved the building’s integration into the North Loop neighborhood. NELSON also designed a flexible spec suite on the second floor and added a new floor to increase leasable office space. The redesign enhances the building’s potential, contributing to the area’s vibrancy and aligning with Asana Partners’ community-focused goals.
