Western Specialty Contractors completes concrete repairs at historic Northrup King complex

By AI, Created 9:41 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Western Specialty Contractors’ Minneapolis branch restored concrete and added waterproofing for the Artspace NKB Lofts redevelopment in Northeast Minneapolis. The $62 million project will convert part of the historic Northrup King campus into affordable live/work housing and commercial space for artists, with completion expected in 2026.

Why it matters: - The Artspace NKB Lofts will add 84 affordable live/work housing units for artists and their families in a historic Northeast Minneapolis arts campus. - The project also brings 8,120 square feet of commercial space for creatives. - The redevelopment is part of a $62 million effort tied to one of Minnesota’s largest artist studio complexes.

What happened: - Western Specialty Contractors’ Minneapolis branch recently restored concrete and provided waterproofing for the Artspace NKB Lofts. - The work covered three industrial buildings connected to the historic Northrup King Building at 1500 Jackson St. NE in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. - Western was hired by commercial general contractor Watson-Forsberg in August 2025. - Western completed the concrete repairs and waterproofing within budget and on schedule in October 2025.

The details: - The scope included more than 600 partial-depth overhead repairs. - The scope also included more than 200 square feet of full-depth floor repairs. - Western applied 400 square feet of traffic coating. - Several subcontractors were working in the same buildings, so Western coordinated crew access to avoid interfering with other trades. - The Artspace NKB Lofts will total 169,000 square feet and include one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. - The campus spans 13 acres, includes 10 buildings and houses 350 tenants, including artists, small businesses and nonprofit organizations. - The Northrup King campus was first constructed in 1917 for the Northrup King & Co. seed company and is now owned by Artspace Projects, Inc. - The project is being overseen by the City of Minneapolis. - Cuningham Group is the architect on the project.

Between the lines: - The concrete and waterproofing work sits inside a broader adaptive-reuse project that depends on tight coordination across multiple contractors. - Completing the restoration on time and within budget suggests the site’s historic structure can be brought to modern residential use without delaying the larger redevelopment. - The project adds housing and commercial space while preserving a key industrial landmark in the city’s arts district.

What’s next: - The Artspace NKB Lofts redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2026. - Once finished, the project will expand housing options for artists and add new commercial space on the Northrup King campus.

The bottom line: - Western Specialty Contractors helped prepare a historic Minneapolis site for a high-profile conversion that blends preservation, artist housing and neighborhood development.