Alla McKnight Foundation, siamo tutti coinvolti nella nostra missione, sfruttando ogni strumento a nostra disposizione come organizzazione filantropica. Ecco perché era così importante per noi che la nostra nuova sede fosse un esempio concreto di come costruire spazi che permettano alle persone e al pianeta di prosperare.
“People and planet go hand in hand…”
—Tonya Allen, McKnight President
A Legacy of Community Giving
Since 1953, the McKnight Foundation has awarded billions of dollars in grants, supporting causes that span climate and clean‑energy efforts, racial equity and community development, arts and culture, neuroscience, global food systems, rural development, and basic needs like housing and jobs. Over time, we have built a legacy of community‑centered and equity‑focused philanthropy in Minnesota and beyond.
After two decades in our home on South Second Street above the Mill City Museum in downtown Minneapolis, the McKnight Foundation needed more room for our growing team. The expansion also allows us to welcome thousands more grantees, partners, and community members, multiplying opportunities to engage and collaborate. By signing a 20-year lease, we’re reaffirming our long-standing commitment to the community.
Invece di intraprendere nuove costruzioni, la Fondazione ha scelto di ristrutturare e rivitalizzare un edificio storico: l'ufficio è composto da quattro strutture collegate, le più antiche delle quali furono erette nel 1883 e nel 1890, che ospitavano attività commerciali al servizio del crescente distretto molitorio della città.
Then and now: Use the slider below to compare a photo of 921 Washington Avenue South in the 1930s (left) by Arnold Roth courtesy of Hennepin County Library, and in the summer of 2025 (right).
Renting and renovating a 100-year-old building underscores McKnight’s commitment to people and place, bringing new life to storied community spaces. It allows us to stand alongside partners we’ve supported in their innovative efforts to preserve historic community hubs and reduce pollution—like the Sabathani Community Center, Minneapolis American Indian Center, and the Historic Coliseum Building.
A Sustainability Showcase
Our new office is a physical demonstration of our mission to care for people and planet. By choosing sustainable energy and materials, we achieved LEED Gold certification for the building.
To keep the office cozy during Minnesota’s hot summers and chilly winters, we invested in a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system that uses heat pumps and thermal energy storage to reduce pollution and reduce energy costs. The fully electrified system eliminates fossil fuels and adds thermal storage, reducing on-site energy use and easing demands on the grid. Thermal energy storage tanks are large, insulated containers that help regulate building temperature. During warmer months, they produce ice at night, which melts during the day to provide cooling. In winter, the system extracts heat from water stored within the tanks to warm the building, without burning fossil fuels. This is complemented by heat pumps, passive solar energy, and excess heat generated by occupants, lights, and equipment.
Following the guidance of our design partners, we used sustainable building materials and incorporated as many reclaimed elements into the design as possible, while also diverting over 75% of construction waste from landfills.
From the old building, we upcycled wood, signage, and furniture—refinishing and reupholstering them to give them new life. With careful selection of building materials like carpeting, flooring, and fabrics, we avoided sending more than a ton of fossil-fuel derived plastic to landfills. Greener choices helped minimize harmful chemical exposure for construction crews and for everyone who will use the building—now and in the future.
Fully ADA compliant, our new headquarters is located near transit stations and bike and walking paths to encourage healthy and sustainable commuting options, and offers ample bike parking for staff and guests as well as electric vehicle charging for staff.
An Inclusive Community Hub
Before construction began on our new headquarters at 921 Washington Avenue South in Downtown Minneapolis, McKnight partnered with local, diverse business owners to arrive at a shared vision for a welcoming space. We prioritized sustainable design, inclusion, and connection as the foundation for a vibrant hub for changemakers.
Just a five-minute walk from our former office, the renovated building strengthens McKnight’s local ties through expanded meeting spaces that foster equity and belonging—including accessibility features, prayer and wellness rooms, all-gender restrooms, and a range of environments for collaboration and focus. The office also includes an in-house creative studio, which will enable staff and partners to advance and communicate our mission effectively.
An exterior mural wall will be a canvas for Minnesota artists and culture bearers, showcasing work that reflects the richness of local culture and creativity.
Recognizing Our Partners
We extend special thanks to our partners who helped make our new offices a reality: 5 by 5 Design, Avisen Legal with Crowe, Dunham Associates, FORTÉ, Greiner Construction with Action Construction Services, Habitable, Hunt Electric, KimbleCo, Loucks, Modern Heating & Air, NAC Mechanical & Electrical Services and APi Group, Parameters with Ideal Workplace Solutions, Reigstad Engineers, Studio BV with Mobilize Design & Architecture, Trane, and more.
In Their Words:
“From the very beginning, the McKnight team came to the table with clarity, purpose, and a deep sense of responsibility to their people and the community. Their thoughtfulness showed up everywhere, in the materials they chose, the efficiency of the design, and how intentional they were about every detail. It was never just about the space; it was about the impact the space could have.”
– Josh Helgesen, Greiner Construction, Inc.
“At Trane, our mission is to boldly challenge what is possible for a sustainable world. We are thrilled to collaborate with the McKnight Foundation to introduce Minnesota’s first Storage-Source Heat Pump System. Heating with ice may seem counterintuitive, but it represents the future of electrified heating solutions.”
– Matt Spresser, Trane
“This building’s history sparked our imagination. It’s evolved over generations to meet the needs of its community—and now supports the greater good through McKnight Foundation’s work. Being asked to use people- and planet-friendly materials gave us the creative freedom to explore unique, and sometimes more affordable, solutions.”
– Wendy Ruyle, 5 by 5 Design
“McKnight’s new office is a great example of how even a fairly straightforward reuse of a brick office building can be fully decarbonized—and cost-effectively so—by smart design and leveraging federal tax credits still available, even for tax-exempt organizations.”
– Jeremy Kalin, Avisen Legal, P.A.
“Habitable was honored to support McKnight Foundation in selecting healthier materials that not only benefit the staff, but recognize their connection to those beyond the building—communities that suffer disproportionate pollution and chemical exposures from building product manufacturing and waste. This supports their mission towards a thriving planet for all.”
– Gina Ciganik, Habitable
“Thank you to the McKnight Foundation for its stellar example of office space that is good for people and good for the planet! KimbleCo was delighted to be part of the team in the roles of broker and project manager for this vibrant work and community space!”
– Julie Kimble, KimbleCo
“Together with our partners at Ideal Workplace, we not only sourced new furniture to complement McKnight’s beautifully reimagined environment, but also worked hand-in-hand with the project team to thoughtfully repurpose much of their existing furniture. It was essential to divert usable furniture from landfills by embracing sustainable practices through refinishing and reupholstering existing product.”
– Jessica Swanum, Parameters
“Together with our partners at Ideal Workplace, we not only sourced new furniture to complement McKnight’s beautifully reimagined environment, but also worked hand-in-hand with the project team to thoughtfully repurpose much of their existing furniture. It was essential to divert usable furniture from landfills by embracing sustainable practices through refinishing and reupholstering existing product.”
– Jessica Swanum, Parameters
“Working on this project with other diverse suppliers is a testament to how beauty can be created when groups come together to work toward a common goal. McKnight’s new space is a beacon in downtown Minneapolis that will help influence change, worldwide.”
– Tim Harris, Ideal Workplace Solutions
“What excites me most about McKnight’s building is the new design and its impact on the staff, and what it offers for the community.”
– Betsy Vohs, Studio BV