Young–Quinlan Building

The Young–Quinlan Building was erected at 901 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1926. Elizabeth Quinlan and her partner, Fred D. Young, owned and operated a women's specialty dress shop when Young died in 1911. Miss Quinlan decided to expand her business and, wanting to have the best in design, consulted with department store managers and owners in New York and Chicago. She hired Frederick L. Ackerman of New York to design a "'beautiful home' for her merchandise."[1]

Young–Quinlan Department Store
General information
StatusComplete
Architectural styleRenaissance Revival
Town or cityMinneapolis, Minnesota
CountryUnited States
Coordinates44°58′28″N 93°16′26″W
Opened1926
Renovated1989
Height135 feet (41 m)
Technical details
Floor count5
Design and construction
ArchitectFrederick L. Ackerman
DesignationsMinneapolis Historic Preservation Commission local landmark
Renovating team
ArchitectEllerbe Becket
Other information
ParkingUnderground garage

Unique to the design of the building is making each of the four facades as if it were the front facade. Typically, commercial buildings were designed to have a street facade that would be the most attractive and welcoming side because it was assumed that other sides would be hidden by adjacent construction. The facades of the Young–Quinlan building look the same with arched windows, columns and decorative elements giving each side the appearance of being the entrance side of the building. A parking garage, a modern innovation for the time, was also included in the construction of the building.[1] The building was clad with rusticated Kasota limestone on the first floor, with brick walls above and stone pilasters and columns surrounding windows. The interior has a marble staircase, crystal chandeliers, and metalwork of iron, brass, bronze, and pewter. One distinctive feature was the last elevator in the city still operated by an elevator operator.[2]

In 1979 staff at the City Planning Department of the Office of the Mayor recommended that the exterior of the building be awarded preservation status.[1] In 1985, renovation of the building for use by multiple tenants was begun by the owners, The 614 Company, and three years later the company sought historic designation from the Minneapolis City Council.[3] The building was designated as a local landmark by the Minneapolis Historic Preservation Commission in 1988.[4]

References
  1. "Young–Quinlan Rothschild Department Store Summary Sheet". Office of the Mayor, City Planning Department. Heritage Preservation Designation Study. August 22, 1979.
  2. Millett, Larry (2007). AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 28. ISBN 0-87351-540-4.
  3. McCauley, Mary Ann (March 8, 1988). "The 614 Company Seeks Historic Designation For Young–Quinlan Building". McCauley & Associates.
  4. "Young–Quinlan Department Store". February 2007. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
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