Archinect - News

World's longest elevated pedestrian loop at the Minnesota Zoo officially opens

2023-07-31T16:05:00-04:00

The Minnesota Zoo Treetop Trail, the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop, is officially open to the public. The project, which saw 1.25 miles of a former monorail structure repurposed into a walkway, will take guests 32 feet above the ground and provide new views of and experiences with the zoo’s diverse wildlife, hardwood forest, and wetlands.

The scheme’s design was led by Minneapolis-based Snow Kreilich Architects, alongside engineering firm Buro Happold (known for its work on the High Line in New York City) and landscape architecture and urban design practice TEN x TEN. The construction leader was PCL. Together, the team was committed to minimizing disruptions to the zoo’s animals and guests before, during, and after construction.

“The Treetop Trail marks a new chapter for the Minnesota Zoo,” said John Frawley, the institution's director and foundation president. “As we look ahead to the Zoo’s next 45 years, the Treetop Trail is a major step in furthering connections to nat...

Monorail track converted into elevated treetop trail by Minnesota Zoo and Snow Kreilich Architects

2022-05-04T09:00:00-04:00

The Minnesota Zoo is to begin construction on its Treetop Trail, which will see 1.25 miles of former monorail track repurposed as a pedestrian walkway. Scheduled for completion in summer 2023, the trail will see guests explore hundreds of acres of hardwood forest, wildlife, and wetlands from 32 feet in the air.

Rendering via Minnesota Zoo

The scheme was designed by Minneapolis-based Snow Kreilich Architects, who began feasibility work on the project in 2016, including appraisals of the monorail track’s structural capacity. The architects gave particular attention to five so-called “touch-down” points from which visitors would access the trail.

“These points should hint at what will be explored on the trail and invite visitors to explore nature,” said the architects as well as serving as amenity stations with clear paths to dining, programs, and exhibits.

Rendering via Minnesota Zoo

The design of the scheme was inspired by the New York City High Line, which saw a comparable 1.45-mile...

A Conversation with Snow Kreilich Architects, Recipient of the 2018 AIA Firm Award

2018-02-06T13:33:00-05:00

On this episode of Archinect Sessions Paul travels to Minneapolis to join Ken in a conversation with Julie Snow and Matt Kreilich of Snow Kreilich Architects, winner of the 2018 AIA Architecture Firm Award.

Julie Snow and Matt Kreilich

Julie Snow Architects was founded in Minneapolis in 1995. Matt Kreilich later joined Julie, his thesis advisor from college, to form Snow Kreilich Architects.

Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, wrote in his letter of nomination for the AIA award, “Their body of work is distinguished by a restrained formal elegance and a refined minimal tectonic sensibility while avoiding the nostalgic and technological excesses of our discipline. Indeed, they see architecture as a material practice and a cultural act born of a sensual pragmatism."

Snow Kreilich Architects. Photo courtesy of AIA

This award is great because it didn't come to Matt and I. It came to Snow Kreilich" - Julie Snow

Listen to episode 116 of Archinect Sessions, “A Conversation with Snow Kreilich Architects”...

Minneapolis picks architecture finalists for stadium-area park

2014-11-07T14:33:00-05:00

Three landscape architect-led teams have been named finalists by the city of Minneapolis to design the new two-block long park called the Commons near the new Vikings stadium. [...] The three finalists are: The Olin Studio, Philadelphia and Snow Kreilich Architects, based in Minneapolis Hargreaves Associates, San Francisco, Damon Farber Associates, Minneapolis and VJAA, Minneapolis WORKSHOP Ken Smith, New York and Perkins + Will, Minneapolis