RBC Plaza (former Gaviidae II)

[twinkess]

The radioshack is having a closing clearance sale right now.

[at40man]

I walked through this morning, and meh. The way-too-patterned floors and some of the decorative elements from the original early-90s buildout remain, and they don't look good. (I love that sculpture, too; it was originally in the RBC Tower lobby).

I've been a vocal critic of the RBC interior design, but I don't blame them for keeping the floors -- tearing out terrazzo floors is asinine. Terrazzo is one of the most durable (and expensive -- $20-50 sq/ft!) flooring surfaces in existence, so to change it simply because it doesn't go with the latest styles is asinine. With proper care, these floors will last for generations. IMHO, RBC should've done a better job putting in higher-quality materials into the space to match the quality of some of the original finishes.

To contrast, 3M headquarters has been undergoing a "campus renewal project". Many of the buildings here were constructed in the 50s and 60s. While the remodeled interiors are no longer mid-century modern, the original terrazzo and travertine floors were retained. Despite styles having changed over the past several decades, the original terrazzo and travertine is still in great condition and the new highly-modern and slick interior design was done in such a way to complement the floors, rather than compete with them.

[Nick]

P2080001 by streetsmn, on Flickr

P2080002 by streetsmn, on Flickr

P2080003 by streetsmn, on Flickr

[grant1simons2]

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, here's the British popup.

Tweet by Downtown Council

[FISHMANPET]

So what is the point of this place exactly?

[Tcmetro]

I don't think its too uncommon for embassies to send staff around the country to provide services to constituents so they don't have to travel to the embassy to conduct regular business.

[Silophant]

So I had been hoping that the blank walls leading to Centerpoint were just temporary, and that they would eventually reveal an entrance or windows or a display on the wonders of natural gas or something, but they have trim on them now, so they're probably permanent blank walls. Too bad.

[sushisimo]

the wonders of natural gas or something,

True, this wall screams the ghosts of a failed shopping center.

[grant1simons2]

http://cushwakeretail.com/wp-content/up ... Sheet1.pdf

Retail layout for the ground floor on page 4. I wonder if the fireplace, or whatever that was I saw was for a specific tenant or just comes with the building.

[grant1simons2]

DSC_0795 by grant.simons, on Flickr

Glass is up on the front entrance. Also has anyone noticed inside some of the for lease spaces have already been leased? One already has some mannequins being set up and tools with woodwork. And then another one of the rooms has some layouts for a space and some nice glass counter tops being set up. Hmm

[grant1simons2]

WP_20150323_012 by grant.simons, on Flickr

You can faintly see "Nicollet Mall", right under the RBC Plaza part. Will look so great with renovation

[Silophant]

There's now a Len Druskin sign hanging above the door to the remaining retail bay adjacent to the Nicollet skyway. Oddly, there's still "Coming Soon: Affinity Plus" posters hanging on the wall. Guess the credit union will be going in one of the other spaces.

[mnmike]

I think that is left over and that is what was in the spot before? I assume it's the credit union going in.

[Tyler]

The Len Druskin sign? It's new.

[Wedgeguy]

I thought Len Durskin had pretty much moved their whole operation, reg and discount, over to City Center.

[Tyler]

I thought Len Durskin had pretty much moved their whole operation, reg and discount, over to City Center.

They did. But the only thing left is the primary outlet store.

[spearson]

I was actually pleasantly surprised with the interior street level of the building. I walked through the building many times over the last few months while the interior was under construction and had no idea the main level was getting changed to a glass wall between Gaviidae2 and RBC Plaza. It looked nice.

[amiller92]

The Subway "coming soon" sign is back on the space next to Sprout on the skyway level.

[mplser]

I was actually pleasantly surprised with the interior street level of the building. I walked through the building many times over the last few months while the interior was under construction and had no idea the main level was getting changed to a glass wall between Gaviidae2 and RBC Plaza. It looked nice.

I don't think "gaviidae2" is even a thing anymore. My boyfriend works at that Caribou on Nicollet at they call it the "RBC Plaza Caribou"

[Silophant]

The Subway "coming soon" sign is back on the space next to Sprout on the skyway level.

Huh. I had just commented to a friend last week that it was strange that that had never come to fruition.