Constructed in 1917, Northstar Center East was a grand, 13-story office space in downtown Minneapolis until falling into disuse. Now, the historic building has been preserved and reimagined into Groove Lofts, a 217-unit development that will support the city’s revitalization efforts and provide an attractive housing option.

Collins was enlisted to design and install the building’s electrical and technology systems, including fire alarm, audio/video systems, access control, smart home amenities, and more. The project proved especially challenging because it required balancing historic preservation with new technology requirements, and because the building is interconnected with other structures.

Collins is proud to have contributed to one of the first post-pandemic, large-scale office-to-apartment conversions in the Twin Cities.