Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art

Helping Artists Preserve the Warehouse District

250 Third Avenue North Minneapolis, MN, 55401

Overview

With its distinctive limestone exterior, the six-story Traffic Zone Center for Visual Arts is one of the most beautiful buildings in Minneapolis’ historic Warehouse District. The Traffic Zone was created to meet the needs of a group of mid-career artists who approached Artspace in the early 1990s because they were being forced out of their studios in another building in the area. Pooling their resources, the artists formed a for-profit corporation that now owns and operates the 23 studios in partnership with Artspace. 

Architect: LHB Engineers & Architects

Development Partner: Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art

Funders: Dayton Hudson Foundation; General Mills Foundation; The McKnight Foundation; Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission; Piper Jaffray Foundation; Winthrop & Weinstine

Financial Partners: Greater Metropolitan Minneapolis Housing Corporation; Minneapolis Community Development Agency; Minnesota Nonprofit Assistance Fund; TCF Bank

est. 1995

Development Type

Working Studios / Commercial Space

Number of Units

23

Total Area

100,421 sq. ft.

Features

All studios feature hardwood floors, high ceilings, exposed brick and beams, and large windows; many also afford views of the downtown skyline.