Nicollet Avenue will look completely different by the end of 2016.
Thursday, the Minneapolis Downtown Council and the City of Minneapolis announced that James Corner Field Operations, a New York-based architecture firm, will redesign the mall.
The design team will turn Nicollet Mall into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, “Main Street for the 21st century,” said James Corner, director of the firm.
Approximately 20 firms were originally considered for spearheading the project. Three of the finalists presented their visions for the mall to a team of 13 experts Tuesday.
Creating a “pedestrian-prioritized” street that includes color-coded stairs and updated skyways will be the goals of the design, said Corner at Tuesday’s event.
The firm will begin working with the city to create a conclusive design plan for the mall after the team has been officially approved by City Council on Oct. 4th.
For more on the design plans for Nicollet Mall, pick up Tuesday’s Minnesota Daily.
