When it comes to innovative (and crowd-pleasing) architecture, Hennepin County is developing a sterling track record. Here are four of the best:
Maple Grove Library• 8001 N. Main St., Maple Grove• $14.8 million, 40,000 square feet• MSR Design, Minneapolis, 2010• Colorful gathering space illuminated by plenty of indoor-outdoor connections. Excelsior Library• 337 Water St., Excelsior • $5.6 million, 7,200 square feet• 292 Design Group, Minneapolis, 2014• A compact storefront that seamlessly slips into its historic downtown setting. Walker Library• 2880 Hennepin Av. S., Minneapolis • $12 million, 30,000 square feet• VJAA, Minneapolis, 2014• Uptown's chic, user-friendly living room squeezes a lot of design out of a tight budget. Webber Park Library• 4203 Webber Pkwy., Minneapolis • $12 million, 8,300 square feet• Lawal Scott Erickson Architects, Minneapolis, opening 2017• A sensitive, human-scaled plan that suits its parkway address.
