Miro Apartments

Miro Apartments is a 7-story, modular multi-family development that has brought much needed housing to the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis. Rooted in a “Design for the People” ethos, the project built local support through spaces that feel authentic to the community. 127 units, retail, parking and amenity spaces are packaged in an “L” shape where modules are oriented to maximize unit area and create a dynamic building massing.

Miro was designed from conception to be cost effective and relied on the use of precast and modular to meet that goal. The concurrent off-site construction approach for both the podium and housing components delivered increased schedule savings and minimized exposure to winter protection costs. The podium level precast exterior walls are a sandwich design with integral insulation and include inlayed brick rather than traditional or panelized brick. This method allowed smooth transitions to the metal panels on the modules above, saving both time and money with the reduction of complexity in mod to podium connection details. An assembly such as this also creates a tighter envelope, reducing building operations costs. As one of only a handful of modular projects located in Minneapolis, Miro Apartments helped set a standard for innovation and boldness. The use of angled or irregularly configured modules placed in key locations maximized the utilization of the site, making more units possible and delivering larger areas devoted to amenities.

The facade expresses the modular setting sequence in a mix of warm, neutral colors. The exterior material palette is comprised of brick and glass storefront at the base and metal panel and fiber cement lap siding cladding the modules. A mix of warm greys, browns, black and white creates a timeless finish.

The interior design reflects the vibrancy and diversity in the Harrison neighborhood with an eclectic, urban feel. The amenities include a sleek and modern foundation of exposed concrete and warm wood tones. Layered pops of color, dimensional texture, eclectic art & vibrant greenery give this project playful energy. The stand out element is the double-height lobby at the front corner, showcasing the energetic interiors within and connecting to the neighborhood outside the front doors.

The Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis has historically been underserved by housing and Miro was designed to strengthen neighborhood connections through thoughtful site design. Ground floor retail spaces help activate the street and contribute to local economic activity, while the building’s massing intentionally creates space for a shared futsal field with the neighboring brewery, encouraging community gathering and recreation, and creating synergy with other local businesses. Inside the lobby, local muralist Moonjuice Art was commissioned to paint a dramatic, double-height mural that shines through the building’s expansive glass lobby façade. In the evenings, the illuminated artwork becomes part of the streetscape, sharing local creativity with the broader community. Together, these elements demonstrate how modular design can honor neighborhood identity while delivering critical housing quickly and affordably.    

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