Hennepin County Government Center Window Replacement Project

The Hennepin County Government Center is a 24-story office building consisting of two towers connected by catwalk bridges on several floors, forming an atrium enclosed by glass windows. It houses the county’s courts, attorney offices, law library, and various administrative and social services. Originally built in 1977, the original windows had never been replaced, sparking the Window Replacement project.

We began by conducting a thorough assessment of the building and its occupants with Hennepin County. High-traffic areas, sensitive spaces, and any specific requirements or restrictions imposed by the facility users were identified. In collaboration with the design team, we took inventory of all windows in the building and prioritized the replacement based on a variety of factors, such as occupant needs and the overall logistics of the building.

Stahl collaborated closely with Hennepin County to divide the building into manageable sections and developed a detailed schedule outlining when each phase began and ended. With facility stakeholders we established a clear communication plan to inform occupants about the renovations to their specific workspace. We also provided detailed information about the schedule, potential disruptions, safety measures, and a plan of how the construction team would minimize inconveniences.

Pedestrian and Worker Safety Priorities
To keep pedestrians safe, Stahl utilized sidewalk enclosures and pedestrian protection systems on the road beneath the skyway and between the two office towers. At the interior of the building, we installed temporary barricades, partitions, and signage to separate construction areas. To mitigate noise and maintain comfortable temperatures for occupants we created temporary window enclosures. To protect the construction team, anyone near an exposed window was tied-off to a Lifepoint System, providing fall protection for both workers and equipment.