For nearly three decades, the nonprofit education center Juxtaposition Arts in Minneapolis has been fostering creativity and nurturing young artists as it sought to revitalize the area’s West Broadway corridor. Success in that mission led the organization to embark on a new chapter of growth with a physical property expansion that would ensure its future for the next generation of creatives.
The organization’s vision led to a capital campaign launched in 2018. Over the next three years, Juxtaposition raised $11.5 million through state bonds, governmental grants, New Market Tax Credits, low-interest agency loans, private foundations and hundreds of individual donors. Through unforeseen events, such as a pandemic, which complicated fundraising efforts and ballooned construction costs, and civil rights protests spurred by the death of George Floyd that required additional security measures at the property, the organization remained undeterred and finally broke ground on its expansion in 2021.
What emerged this past year was a new 3.5-story center designed by 4RM+ULA Architects in collaboration with the center’s youth artists and community members. The center includes 16,000 square feet of space dedicated to art, including a ceramics lab, a contemporary art studio, a wood shop, an environmental design lab, a “free wall” for aerosol arts, an art library and a cultural archive. The designers also retained a skate park and art plaza in front of the development as permanent fixtures of the new campus and added features such as community gatherings, exhibitions and green spaces.
Juxtaposition’s holistic approach to its new art center will allow the organization to continue its role as a vital force shaping Minneapolis through public art, community engagement, and as a dynamic, inclusive place for neighbors to gather and thrive.
The property was selected as the winner of the 2024 CoStar Impact Award for redevelopment of the year for Minneapolis/St. Paul, as judged by a team of real estate professionals familiar with the market.
About the Project: The design’s expanded outdoor area includes youth-friendly public spaces along a commercial corridor with few places to gather. Its easily accessible location along bus and rapid transit lines also allows the center to act as a hub for local events such as the annual FLOW Northside Art Crawl and Open Streets West Broadway.
What the Judges Said: "This project serves the community well. It's a great example of a community coming together and pooling its resources for a common goal. Great story with an outstanding outcome," said Keith Sturm, principal and CEO, Upland Real Estate Group. JLL Managing Director Brent Karkula said the project would have a positive impact not just on the physical site but the surrounding community as well.
They Made it Happen: Kevin Kuppe, Joanna Hicks and Kristen Murray provided consulting and brokerage services for Element Commercial Real Estate. Paola Sánchez-Garrett, James Garrett Jr., and Nathan Johnson worked on behalf of 4RM+ULA. Satoko Muratake from TEN X TEN provided landscape architecture. The project also included contributions from Aubry Ottley of TRI-Construction, Kelly Parrow of Watson-Forsberg and Roger Cummings, co-founder of Juxtaposition Arts.