One of downtown Minneapolis' most recognizable midcentury landmarks is getting a second life. The six-story, Yamasaki-designed building at 20 Washington Ave. S. is slated to trade in its office halls for a 165-room hotel, reopening a facade that has long been catnip for photographers on Nicollet Mall. The move could funnel more consistent foot traffic through a key stretch that links the downtown core to the North Loop.
Developer Rolls Out Hotel Conversion Plan
As reported by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, CDT Realty's proposal would convert the roughly 182,000-square-foot former office property into a 165-room hotel. The outlet notes that the plan calls for preserving the building's signature portico, reflecting pools, and outdoor sculpture garden while adding more public access points where entry was previously limited. That story is the first public report to attach a specific room count to the hotel conversion.
Local Buyer Pitches a Public Gateway
CDT Realty, led by Chad Tepley, bought the property last November and has signaled an intent to pursue historic-rehabilitation tax credits to help finance the work, according to Star Tribune. Tepley has told reporters he wants the site to function as a public gateway instead of a locked-off corporate campus. He has not disclosed a sale price or named a hotel operator.
Why This Midcentury Box Matters
The six-story structure is a midcentury landmark designed by Minoru Yamasaki, known for its long white columns and reflective pools, and has been largely closed to the public for years, according to property listings and local reporting. A commercial listing places the building at roughly 187,000 square feet and notes its 1964 construction, while local trade coverage documents the developer's intention to reuse the Washington Square site and its landscaped plazas, including the portico and pools. Those features are central to Tepley's pitch that the building should be experienced by visitors, not just office tenants.
Downtown Hopes for a Shot in the Arm
City boosters say turning the 20 Washington block into a hotel could help trim downtown office vacancy and pump more daytime and evening activity into the Washington/Hennepin corridor. "It really is a bit of a crossroads for downtown," Adam Duininck, president of the Minneapolis Downtown Council, told the Star Tribune. The project would take a large single-tenant office off the leasing rolls and replace it with a use that is designed to send guests out to nearby retailers and restaurants.
What Happens Next
Before any construction can start, the developer plans to seek placement on the historic register and apply for state tax credits, steps that can take many months and typically require detailed preservation plans. Per reporting by Finance & Commerce, Tepley has not yet announced a hotel operator or a firm construction schedule. Public filings and permit notices in the coming weeks should reveal whether the hotel concept progresses into an official application.
For downtown watchers, the conversion will serve as a test of whether pairing preservation with hospitality investment can jump-start a prominent corner of the city. More details are expected to surface as the developer files plans and pursues historic credits.
