YWCA (1976)

YWCA – Downtown

1130 Nicollet Mall

Built: 1976

Architect: Freerks, Sperl Flynn Architects; interior renovation in 2018 by 292 Design Group

The first free-standing YWCA in Minneapolis was constructed at this location in 1929. It was demolished in 1975 to make way for this building, which contains a gym, swimming pool, and meeting rooms. The architectural style is Brutalism, which is characterized by simple forms and unadorned concrete surfaces. The concrete was partly poured-in-place and partly precast slabs. In contrast to the hard exterior, interiors feature many splashes of color. The Brutalism style began in the mid-20th century. Well-known examples include the 1954 chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France designed by Le Corbusier and Boston City Hall in Boston, Massachusetts designed by Kallmann McKinnell & Knowles, built in 1968.

The YWCA promotes gender and racial equity through programs, classes, and workshops, including fitness.