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Courtyard Studies of International Market Square and IDS Center
International Market Square
IDS Center
ARCH 3711V – fall 2016 Taught by Julia Robinson & James Wheeler Project by Nicole Kiel, Lauren Pahmeier, & Alejandro Loza
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Introduction
In this comparative research project, the courtyard areas at International Market Square and the IDS Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, were studied and analyzed to determine the qualities of each space and examine how these two spaces are used by the general public. After numerous observational studies and an extensive evaluation of collected data, it was determined that the crystal courtyard at IDS Center is more conducive as an open and sociable public space due to its porous design elements, broad commercial access, and open interior spatial conditions, while the courtyard at International Market Square is better suited as a more intimate, private space due to its enclosing design elements, commercial exclusivity, and confined spatial conditions. Various information about the formal and spatial qualities of each area was collected, including circulation patterns, lighting conditions, interior elements and commercial activity, were gathered. Different means of observation and information collection, including diagramming, note taking, and photography, were utilized in order to have multiple forms of data and have a broader understanding of how these spaces function.
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Accessibility
Ease of accessibility to the IDS Center and International Market Square are noticeably different, despite being in relatively close proximity to one another. IDS Center is in the middle of downtown Minneapolis, where many transportation options are available. The light rail runs a few blocks away from IDS, allowing people from outside the downtown area to access this site. Many bus routes also run through this downtown area, increasing the reach people have in getting to the site. IDS is surrounded a major network of streets, so one could drive a car or bike their way to IDS Center, though dense traffic conditions impact people’s ability to reach the site with ease. And in addition, the access to various forms of public transportation and proximity to other points of interest also make walking an ideal option to reach the site. In turn, International Market Square is less accessible. There are only a few bus routes that run near the site of the building, and there is no nearby access to light rail transit. Considering there are fewer public transit options as well as fewer points of interest around International Market Square, walking is not an ideal method of reaching the site. Biking however, can be a reasonable alternative. A major freeway, I-94, runs directly next International Market Square, so accessibility to the site by car is optimal, although heavy traffic conditions can still affect ease of accessibility to the site. Overall, IDS Center’s accessibility puts it in a position that is more public and connected to the outside world, versus International Market Square which appears more secluded and separated from the outside.
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Porosity
The ability to walk through the courtyard areas varies between IDS Center and International Market Square. At IDS, the courtyard is directly accessible through four main entry points and as a result, people can make their way to different destinations with ease by traversing through a portion, or the entirety of the courtyard. The same cannot be said of International Market Square, as their courtyard is not easily accessible from outside entry points. From the main entrance, a person must walk through a relatively large portion of the building in order to reach the courtyard, although a secondary entry, accessible only to employees, does lead immediately to the court area. Additionally, the courtyard at International Market Square is adjacent to multiple corridors on each floor that lead to different spaces within the confines of the building itself. At IDS Center, the building is adjacent to entrances that lead directly outside of the building, or to a separate building altogether. One could describe IDS Center’s crystal court as an extroverted space, based upon its connectivity to areas outside of the building, while International Market Square’s courtyard could be considered an introverted space due to its connectivity to spaces inside of the building. These conditions make IDS Center’s crystal court much more porous and public, while International Market Square’s courtyard feels more closed off and private.
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Scale
The scale of the courtyard spaces within IDS Center and International Market Square are very similar to one another. The crystal court at IDS is a large, open space, best described as a skewed cube-shaped enclosure. The length, width, and height of the space are dimensionally similar, with the court spanning a height of 7 stories. The courtyard space at International Market Square is somewhat similar in height, spanning 5 stories, but the dimensions of the space are much different. The overall courtyard space at International Market Square is best described as an L-shaped rectangular enclosure, with a short width, but relatively large length and height. As a result, International Market Square’s courtyard feels much smaller, constricted, and uneven, while IDS Center’s crystal court feels more open, expansive, and balanced. It was observed however that the total perimeter of both courtyard spaces are extremely similar to each other. One can walk around the perimeter of the crystal court in approximately 1 minute and 50 seconds, while one takes about 1 minute and 48 seconds to walk the perimeter of International Market Square’s court. Yet despite these similar lap times, the scale of IDS Center’s crystal court still feels more manageable and open than does International Market Square’s court.
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Site Context
Both the IDS Center and International Market Square are located in relatively close proximity to one other, with IDS being in the center of Downtown Minneapolis, and International Market Square residing just outside of the downtown area. Their immediate surroundings are different however, creating distinctive environments for each area. At IDS, the building is surrounded by a dense collection of skyscrapers on adjacent blocks. International Market Square’s surroundings are less numerous, consisting mainly of smaller buildings and lots. Furthermore, the environment at IDS Center is mainly urban hardscape, made up of concrete sidewalks, asphalt streets, and steel buildings. International Market Square’s environment is also urban, but has a mix of both hardscape and landscape elements, with green spaces to the north and west of the site, along with several asphalt lots and brick buildings. With these factors taken into account, IDS Center’s environment comes across as a much busier, and more developed area than International Market Square’s environment. Additionally, International Market Square’s environment feels less crowed and more breathable than does IDS Center, whose environment comes across more constrictive. These conditions shape the setting of IDS Center as an ultimately more public space, in comparison to the more private setting of International Market Square.
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Spatial Syntax
A look at the spatial syntax conditions of both IDS Center and International Market Square reveal interesting qualities about each space. At the IDS Center, a beta diagram reveals how open and distributed pathways are within the courtyard area, with numerous options available for people to use. This is due to the fact that the courtyard is connected to various entry and exits points on all sides of the space. The courtyard becomes a hub of convergence where people either stay or walk through to get to their destinations. This is also shown on a gamma diagram of IDS Center. The crystal court is represented as the center point of the IDS Center, with adjoining areas, both inside and outside, accessible from this space. International Market Square on the other hand, is less open and free flowing, as seen through its beta diagram. General pathways through International Market Square are much more rigid and controlled, with little deviation from the gridded layout of the space. And unlike the crystal court at IDS, the courtyard here is not a centralized convergence spot within the building. Although people could take paths through the courtyard area, people can get to various destinations within International Market Square without having to venture into the court space. This is apparent in International Market Square’s gamma diagram, as it shows multiple locations being accessible without having to traverse through the courtyard. Both beta and gamma diagrams demonstrate the dispersed centrality of IDS Center’s crystal court, while revealing the rigidity of International Market Square and its decentralized court space.
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Circulation
The IDS Center and International Market Square have widely differing circulation patterns as a result of the layout of each building and the placement of their courtyard spaces. At IDS, the amount of people moving through the space was substantial, with a majority of people following a path that led to or from the escalators, to or from the nearest exit. This is in stark contrast to the circulation seen at International Market Square. The main difference is how empty International Market Square was compared to IDS Center. Few people from the public enter the building, and even fewer would utilize the courtyard. It was noted during observations that one could even count and trace each individual’s circulation path at International Market Square since there were so few people present at any one time. Another note about circulation which defined these spaces is the fact that people at the IDS Center would actually cross through the courtyard to reach certain destinations. Yet at International Market Square, people mainly walked past the courtyard outside its perimeter, splintering off into various corridors. This is in part because International Market Square’s courtyard is not level with the main floor. It’s recessed slightly below, and ends up feeling disconnected from the main circulation areas, discouraging people from utilizing the space. These conditions end up making International Market Square feel more private and secluded, while IDS Center feels more lively and busy. Circulation and activity at the IDS Center is much more substantial and dense overall than is the sparse circulation and movement seen at International Market Square.
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Commercial Activity
Both the IDS Center and International Market Square contain various businesses and commercial enterprises. IDS mainly houses commercial offices, but also contains a variety of stores and restaurants within their courtyard area. Some of the businesses available within the courtyard, as denoted by the signage include a Starbucks, Wells Fargo, FedEx, Banana Republic, Rocco Altobelli, T-Mobile, and a general convenience store. There is a large selection of activities and services available to the general public, from eating and shopping, to banking and shipping. International Market square also houses numerous commercial offices, in addition to residential living spaces and a restaurant. Some of the offices located within International Market Square include Architecture Minnesota Magazine, Baker Furniture, North Star Kitchens, and AIA-MN. Most businesses here are design related services. What really distinguishes these two spaces however is the fact that IDS allows everyone access to their commercial facilities, while International Market Square actually prohibits people from accessing certain facilities at all. At International Market Square, people are only allowed to shop at businesses designated “public may purchase”, while other shop spaces are off limits and open to “trades only”. This commercial setup limits International Market Square’s ability to function as a social, publicly accessible space, open exclusively to select clients instead. But IDS Center’s broad commercial accessibility allows it to thrive as a social public space, open to anyone and available to everyone. Overall, International Market Square appears to function more as an exclusive, highend showroom for products as opposed to the open marketplace environment of IDS Center.
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Natural Lighting
Daylighting conditions within the courtyards also distinguish the environments of each space. The crystal court at the IDS Center has a transparent roof, a dome-like frame of square modules with glass panels that cover not only the courtyard, but the adjacent skyways as well. This design allows maximum daylight to enter and diffuse throughout the interior of the space, and makes the courtyard feel much more airy and open to the outside. It was also noted that the prominent use of glass curtainwall around the courtyard area also contributes to this feeling by reflecting daylight into and throughout the interior of the courtyard, further contributing to its wide open, airy feel. International Market Square’s courtyard by comparison feels much more enclosed and shielded from the outside. A portion of the truss-supported roof above the courtyard has a large skylight opening to let natural daylight into the interior, but this light does not distribute evenly within the space. This is especially apparent in the lower walkway corridors, where only half of the corridor appears to be lit, and the other half is in shadow, contributing to the shielded, enclosed feeling within International Market Square. IDS Center utilizes natural light to a greater extent than does International Market Square.
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Artificial Lighting
Both IDS Center and International Market Square use artificial lighting as an accentual element or to brighten areas where natural daylight cannot reach. For example, IDS Center and International Market Square share similar lighting elements, such as recessed lighting underneath walkways. However, IDS Center’s lighting appears to be more prominent, while International Market Square’s lighting appears more subtle. At IDS, lights adorn the entirety of the sides of the skyways and walkways, which brings attention to the lights as an aesthetic element in addition to its functional purposes. In International Market Square, lighting is used more sparingly, used in areas where the light ends up contrasting with the darkness of certain areas, resulting in more dynamic lighting conditions. This in turn makes the space feel more intimate and curated than the court at IDS which feels less concerned with subtlety. With both natural daylighting and artificial lighting conditions in mind, IDS Center appears to take the most advantage of natural daylighting to serve its interior environment, while International Market Square utilizes a mix of both natural and artificial lighting to light its interior environment.
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Materiality
Materiality conditions also define the court environments at the IDS Center and International Market Square. At IDS, the main flooring material for the courtyard is a polished granite, while carpeting is used for the walkways and skyways. Glass curtainwalls comprise the facades seen in the interior of the court space, as well as the glass railings on the walkways. International Market Square uses a mix of stone tile flooring for its court space, while outer walkways use carpeting, and railings consist of vertical metal bars. The facades seen here are composed of a light colored brick with a worn appearance. Though there are some similar material choices, it is the choice of material for the walls and facades that set apart these spaces the most. IDS Center’s extensive use of glass creates an environment that conveys a feeling of porousness and lightness within the space, while International Market Square’s use of brick makes creates an environment that make the space feel dense and protected. Furthermore, IDS Center material and color palette comes across as blue and cool, in contrast to International Market Square, whose palette comes across as orange and warm. Overall, the choices in material and color selection at IDS Center contribute to making the crystal court feel like an open, light, and cooler environment in comparison to the enclosed, dense, and warmer environment of International Market Square’s court.
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Interior Furnishings
Furnishings in the courts at IDS Center and International Market Square also contribute to the unique environmental conditions of each space. Both locations also contain an assortment of greenery within their courtyards. IDS Center’s crystal court contains tree planters that are surrounded by benches. International Market Square’s court also contains tree planters, in addition to several shrub planters. Vegetation type at International Market Square appears more exotic and diverse than vegetation at IDS, which looks more standardized and uniform. In terms of seating, the IDS Center has a number of benches available for public use, where people can sit and relax. At International Market Square, there are numerous tables set up with individual seats. These tables are rarely used by the general public however, as they appear to be primarily utilized for formal events and activities. IDS Center’s seating meanwhile is always used, with people utilizing the benches to sit and eat, make a call, read a book, or just view their surroundings. The bench seating at IDS Center is much more accessible and casual than the exclusive, formal seating arrangements at International Market Square, and lend to the idea that IDS is a much more accessible, open, and inviting space, that the exclusive and enclosed environment of International Market Square.
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Conclusion Both courtyards at the IDS center and International Market Square are places where people can converge and partake in various activities. Each space has unique elements and characteristics that define the conditions of each environment and affect the way these areas are utilized by the general public. Although both spaces are considered public courtyards, the way they are perceived and used are vastly different. The IDS Center’s crystal courtyard, with its porous design elements, broad commercial access, and open interior spatial conditions, creates a truly social public space, while the enclosing design elements, commercial exclusivity, and confined spatial conditions of International Market Square’s courtyard creates a more intimate and private space. In terms of the success of the design, it appears that the IDS Center’s crystal court functions as a better public space. The courtyard is used to a greater extent, is easily accessible by the public, and generally feels like a more inviting space to be in. If designers are looking to create public courts that function as inviting social spaces, they should consider designing with the qualities found at IDS Center, incorporating a diverse range of commercial activities for the public to access and being mindful of how interior elements like generous daylighting and light materials can help create environments that feel open and accepting for the public to be in.
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Additional Resources Robinson, Julia W. and Wheeler, James A. (2016). Lecture 03.1: Diagrams & Circulation Robinson, Julia W. and Wheeler, James A. (2016). Lecture 03.2: Space Syntax Analysis: Gamma & Beta Analysis Gehl, Jan and Birgitte Svarre. 2014. How to Study Public Life. Washington DC: Island Press. 31-40 Peacock, James and Bronson, Rick. IDS Tower. Emporium. https://www.emporis.com/buildings/122742/ids-tower-minneapolis-mn-usa Peacock, James and Bronson, Rick. International Market Square. Emporium. https://www.emporis.com/buildings/157851/international-market-square-minneapolis-mn-usa