The McKnight Foundation’s New “Hub for Changemakers”
May 21, 2026
The coffee breakout space for the boardroom with custom, locally made wood light installations. Photo by Gaffer Photography.
PROJECT GALLERY
The McKnight Foundation supports climate solutions in the Midwest, advances equity and inclusion across Minnesota, and funds work in arts and culture, neuroscience, and global food systems. Last fall, the foundation moved into a new headquarters designed to embody those values while providing even more robust support for staff, grantees, and nonprofit partners.
Rather than build new, the family foundation chose to renovate a century-old building in Minneapolis’s Downtown East neighborhood. The decision reflects a growing movement among organizations looking to reduce environmental impact while strengthening connections to the surrounding community.
Photos 1–3: The lobby. 4–6: Boardroom flex and breakout spaces. 7: Library and conference space. 8 and 9: Atrium staircase. 10 and 11: Hospitality area. 12: Creative studio. Photos by Gaffer Photography.
Designed by Studio BV, the 70,000-square-foot workplace draws inspiration from nature with warm woods, natural textures, integrated greenery, and ample daylighting. Reclaimed and mixed woods appear throughout the space—in flooring, custom furniture, and stair details. To reflect McKnight’s commitment to diversity and community, the project team prioritized products from local makers and women- and minority-owned companies for finishes, lighting, and furniture.
Like the foundation’s former home in the nearby Washburn A Mill, the new headquarters was designed to be shared. Complimentary event spaces are available for nonprofit partners and visiting leaders, while an in-house creative studio gives staff and collaborators the tools to produce podcasts, videos, and other multimedia storytelling projects.
“This is more than just an office—it’s a hub for changemakers,” says McKnight president Tonya Allen. “We designed a space where people from all backgrounds can come together to collaborate and get big things done to improve lives in our community and around the world. We’re showing how building owners and tenants alike can express their values and live out their missions through the built environment.”
Photo 1: Large wall for rotating murals by Minnesota artists. 2: Main entry. 3 and 4: Roof deck off café and gathering space. 5: Decarbonized mechanical system. Photos by Gaffer Photography.
The project earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, aligning with McKnight’s Midwest Climate & Energy program. Its standout sustainability features include a fully electric heating and cooling system that eliminates fossil fuels and reduces energy demand, even during Minnesota’s extreme winters and summers. Thermal energy storage tanks heat and cool the building using ice, supported by heat pumps and solar heating.
“The McKnight Foundation’s sustainability initiatives were a key design driver throughout the project,” says Studio BV founder and CEO Betsy Vohs, Assoc. AIA. “As a part of their commitment to the environment, the build-out included a state-of-the-art decarbonized mechanical system. This system allows the building to use ice storage to provide heating and cooling throughout the year, utilizing the energy grid at off-peak times.”
The headquarters also prioritizes employee wellness and accessibility, with features that include bike and transit access, EV charging stations, prayer and wellness rooms, all-gender restrooms, and abundant natural light throughout the building.
Outside, a large mural wall facing U.S. Bank Stadium will serve as a rotating showcase for Minnesota artists and culture bearers—an outward expression of McKnight’s long-standing commitment to the arts. For a foundation focused on building a better future, the headquarters is itself is an important investment.
An array of local businesses contributed to the project, including Studio BV with Mobilize Design & Architecture, 5 by 5 Design, Atomic Data, Avisen Legal with Crowe, Dunham Associates, FORTÉ, Greiner Construction with Action Construction Services, Habitable, Hunt Electric, KimbleCo, Loucks, Modern Heating & Air, NAC Mechanical & Electrical Services and APi Group, Parameters, Ideal Workplace Solutions, Reigstad Engineers, and Trane.
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