Building History

This knitwear company was established by George D. Munsing, Frank H. Page and Edward O. Tuttle in 1886. Successful, they expanded their manufacturing operations on this site between 1890 and 1912 to include a number of buildings.

In the 1980s, the San Francisco architectural firm of Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz (KMD), working with the local firm of Winsor / Faricy Architects, renovated the former Munsingwear, Incorporated, factory into 250 showrooms.

Alteration

Of the 1980s renovation by the San Francisco KMD and Winsor / Faricy Architects, the authors Peter H. Semallie and Peter H. Smith observed: "The former Munsingwear Factory in Minneapolis, Minnesota comprises four large brick buildings totally over 650,000 square feet of space. The complex, built between 1891 and 1912, has been renovated into 250 showrooms comprising the International Market Square. The various structures in the complex are tied together with a five-story, glass-roofed atrium of 19,000 square feet. The former boiler house has been converted into the entrance lobby for the complex. The atrium area with ironwork balconies and glass-enclosed elevators includes three stages and is designed to for use as a special events facility." (See Peter H. Semallie and Peter H. Smith, New Construction for Older Buildings, [New York: Wiley-Interscience Publication, 1990], pp. 118-119.)

PCAD id: 24255