Hilton’s lifestyle brand, Canopy by Hilton, opened its first hotel in Minnesota: Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District. Located in the energizing East Town, the 183-room hotel is part of a large mixed-use development that includes residential and retail components and offers a pedestrian-friendly urban framework along Chicago Avenue from the Mississippi River to the Downtown East development.

Previously home to the Advance Thresher/Emerson-Newton Implement Company, our design rejuvenates the 1904 building into a hotel that connects guests to the best dining, culture, sports, and nightlife in downtown Minneapolis. Located in the heart of the Mill District , the hotel offers guests easy access to both local landmarks and the temperature-controlled Skyway system and the light rail.

“The original structure is an example of the kind of large-scale commercial and industrial buildings that were being constructed around the turn-of-the-century. Converting it has really been a labor of love,” said Principal Ed Wilms, AIA. “The resulting design is one that both preserves the building’s heritage and offers guests a truly modern, energizing atmosphere in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.”

Our design for the hotel’s exterior combines brick with terracotta detailing, helping to clearly define the building’s upper and lower levels. The interior consists of heavy timber construction, exposed wood ceilings, and a central atrium that joins the two structures together, filling the space with daylight. Over 6,000 SF of flexible glass-enclosed collaboration meeting spaces reveal exposed wood ceilings and exterior brink walls.

“Canopy by Hilton adds vibrancy to the fabric of East Town and the Mill District. The shared vision of Canopy by Hilton and DLR Group delivers a spectacular Minneapolis experience,” said George Sherman, CEO and Owner, Sherman Associates. “We were driven to capture the spirit and history of Minneapolis and we are honored to celebrate it with guests, residents, and businesses downtown.”