The Practice

July 13th, 2010  |  No Comments

CRW architecture + design group team

CRW architecture + design group promotes a sustainable workplace by encouraging a life and work balance, maintaining a healthy working environment and promoting green business practices. We seek and make our best efforts to implement sustainable policies in our work and our workplace. We sustain a talented and ever-improving staff by offering competitive salaries and benefits, continuing education opportunities, personal and professional development, and opportunities for advancement.

In our business we must sustain the future of our firm through good business practices. We strive for continuous improvement in all aspects of our individual and firm abilities and challenge ourselves intentionally to raise the bar on our own expectations and performance.

Finally, we believe as architects and designers, that we have a great opportunity as well as responsibility to encourage environmental stewardship. To that end we have six LEED accredited professionals and CRW is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

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Shoppes on Second Retail Buildings

May 8th, 2012  |  No Comments

Under Construction


Coming Soon! Shoppes on Second Retail Buildings located at 16th Avenue and 2nd Street SW in Rochester, MN.

Architectural Rendering


Architectural Rendering

Filed Under: News, Portfolio | Posted By twestby

Iowa School District Phase 3A

April 5th, 2012  |  No Comments

Phase 3A of the Mason City Schools High School and John Adams Middle School food service and dining room addition and renovation project included a major renovation and expansion of the existing food service area along with an addition for a new middle school cafeteria, a renovation of the existing high school cafeteria and the addition of new corridor space to connect the high school and middle school together. Construction of this phase is in its final stages and will be completed this spring.

Renovated High School dining room.

New Middle School dining room is nearly completed.

Filed Under: News, Portfolio | Posted By twestby

Iowa School District Phase 4

April 5th, 2012  |  No Comments

Construction on the F.E.M.A. Safe Room and Multipurpose Room addition at Mason City High School / John Adams Middle School continues to progress. Precast concrete wall panels were recently erected along with the steel room framing being set in place. This 20,000 square foot addition will provide a safe room space for the school as well as provide additional multipurpose space for the school to use for musical performances and other events. Completion of this addition will be in the fall of 2012.

Precast panels with main roof structure being constructed.

Exterior of F.E.M.A. safe room

Interior of safe room looking towards stage area.

Filed Under: News, Portfolio | Posted By twestby

Boys & Girls Club of Rochester, MN

January 12th, 2012  |  No Comments

Schematic Design of Boys & Girls Club

New Boys & Girls Club of Rochester as it will appear when viewed from across Center Street. We encourage all of our friends to support this important project by contacting Jody Millerbernd, Executive Director at 507.287.2316.

Filed Under: News | Posted By twestby

Iowa School District Renovations

March 30th, 2011  |  No Comments

John Adams Middle School

Mason City High School

The Mason City Community School District has undertaken a multi-phase project to renovate the existing John Adams Middle School and Mason City High School in Mason City, Iowa. This project began over a year ago with a masterplanning study that identified deficiencies in educational space, assembly space, building envelope and mechanical/ electrical systems. Based on that study, the school district decided to move forward with several phases of the renovations. The first two phases, which are currently under construction, include the upgrade of the electrical system, an addition to the physical plant and the construction of a building shell for the new kitchen.

This spring the next phase of construction will begin which includes a new middle school dining room, renovation of the existing high school dining room and the completion of the new food service kitchen area. Beginning in early summer of this year the renovation of the entire middle school facility will get underway. This phase includes revamping classroom space to provide an improved learning environment, upgrading the building envelope for increased energy efficiency, new mechanical/electrical distribution systems, installation of a fire sprinkler system and an elevator addition to make the middle school fully accessible. Future phases of work that are currently in design include a multi-purpose room which will serve as a storm shelter and the renovation of the north wing of the existing high school.

CRW partnered with RDG Planning & Design on the architectural portion of these projects and will continue with design work and construction observation services over the next two years as the different phases of this project evolve from design into construction.

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RCTC Anatomy and Physiology Lab

March 30th, 2011  |  No Comments

Completed in August 2011, the Rochester Community and Technical College Anatomy and Physiology Lab is a renovation of 3,500 square feet of formerly unused space in the Plaza Hall Building on the RCTC campus. The project provides two new laboratories as well as a lab prep room for the Science Department.  This carefully researched project maximizes the efficiency of the existing space and features custom workstations, custom cabinetry, and new glazing along the existing hallway, bringing a sense of openness to this section of the Plaza Hall Building.

Filed Under: News, Portfolio | Posted By twestby

Macken Funeral Home

March 30th, 2011  |  No Comments

Macken Funeral Home - Rochester, Minnesota

Interior Rotunda

Riverpark Chapel

The Macken family has been in the funeral business and serving the Rochester community for over 100 years.  Recognizing their need to expand their services and available space, they considered adding on to their 1965 building.  However, this idea faded as current building codes dictated costly upgrades to the existing facility if the building were modified.  Fortunately, the Mackens control ownership of a vast majority of the adjacent, and empty, property with ample space to build and create more of a campus feel.  A spot overlooking the creek was selected for the new 11,200 square foot building. 

The new building was designed to architecturally blend with Neo-Classical style of the original two Macken buildings, but is also a focal building on its own.  The large brick rotunda with its round windows, acts as the central point for the building and is also the hinge on which the plan is turned.  Together with the red brick and the white columns, trim, and decorative railing, the building becomes a cohesive part of the campus.  On the interior, the grand foyer welcomes those entering and serves as a pre-service gathering point.  From there, you can see into the chapel where the large windows fill the space with natural light from the East.  On one side of the chapel is a visitation room, and on the other is a dining hall that can also serve as a second visitation space.  Both rooms are separated from the chapel by a moveable partition that can be opened up to serve a larger assembly.  Flexibility was a key aspect in designing this facility as the dynamics of funeral services evolve toward celebration of life events.

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Kutzky Flats

March 30th, 2011  |  No Comments

Kutzky Flats are finished and for sale:

Kutzky Flats in Rochester, Minnesota

Main Level Interior

Upper Level Interior

Kutzky Flats, a four unit condo building, was designed and built for First Homes in the established urban neighborhood of Kutzky Park.  This historic neighborhood is known for its early 20th century unique and charming homes, as well as a few apartment buildings.  The architecture of the building reflects the historic nature of the surrounding neighborhood, while also keeps in tune to the contemporary, loft style units on the interior.  The use of brick, stone lintels, and a large cornice give the building a vintage feel.  While on the interior, the large windows allow natural light in. The use of transom windows help to pull the natural light into the hallways in the center of the building.  The windows, in conjunction with the open plan and tall ceilings, make these units feel large and airy.

The Kutzky Flats are currently awaiting final approval for LEED certification.  Energy efficiency is among the many sustainable principles applied to this project.  With a tighter envelope and better windows, air leakage and drafts are greatly reduced, making heating and cooling much more energy and cost effective.  Adding to this, both the furnace and the air conditioning units are of higher efficiency, light fixtures throughout are either Energy Star or house compact-florescent lamps, and all the major appliances are also Energy Star.  Other items that make these homes sustainable include the use of harvested rain water, use of local products such as concrete and insulation, and site a design that uses  drought-tolerant and native plants.

For anyone interested in purchasing a unit, please contact:
Chris Flood at First Homes
an initiative of the Rochester Area Foundation
(507) 282-0203

Filed Under: News | Posted By twestby

City Centre Skyway

December 15th, 2010  |  No Comments

City Centre Skyway Final Design

After a long and difficult review and approval process, the City Centre Skyway Project is finally under construction. The 200 foot long skyway connects the Holiday Inn Building with the recently constructed City Centre Office Building. The structural design of the skyway is unique to Rochester’s skyway styles. The steel truss members are exposed to the interior of the exterior wall, thus making for a relatively smooth, contemporary style that also is expected to be less of a maintenance problem due to the city’s large pigeon population.

The design is also dominated by a large gateway arch, leading to the Riverwalk area and the Government Center. This skyway link will give tenants of the office building, and others in the South Broadway commercial area, access to the entire skyway network throughout downtown Rochester. Future plans allow for a link across South Broadway to the West, connecting to the skyway system on South First Avenue.  With this connection, the Skyway System will have a completed “loop” around downtown Rochester. Construction is anticipated to be complete in April of 2011.

Filed Under: News, Portfolio | Posted By twestby

Rochester Broker Exchange

December 15th, 2010  |  No Comments

Broker Exchange in Rochester, MN

As a buyer and seller of computer hardware and component parts, the Broker Exchange recently found that they needed to expand their facility to keep pace with their growing business. As a relatively small company with conservative ownership, they chose to purchase, remodel and expand in a quiet neighborhood on the edge of a residential area in Northeast Rochester. The architectural staff of CRW was commissioned to study and recommend a phased expansion that would allow the company to meet current needs while planning for significant future growth. The resulting phased design of approximately 10,000 square feet resulted in a relatively simple but dramatic “high tech” building. 

Because of the technology focus for the company, a highlight of the design is the striking interior space which mixes warm wood colors and style of the original warehouse building with an open floor plan and mixed earthtone colors. In contrast, the space is dominated visually with multiple flat panel monitors showing various types of information regarding the computer market and company information. The employee break room includes a chain hung punching bag for everyone’s use in working out their frustrations.

Filed Under: News, Portfolio | Posted By twestby

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