The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that a 97‑unit apartment building has opened at Highland Bridge, the original site of the Albert Kahn‑designed Twin Cities Assembly Plant. Known as The Albert, the new four-story building incorporates preserved limestone façade sections and historic friezes from the original Ford plant, some weighing up to 13,000 pounds.
The Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation recognizes this significant preservation achievement in St. Paul and commends the Ryan Companies for its thoughtful and artistically sensitive project honoring the architectural legacy of Albert Kahn. The opening also marks a major step in advancing the City of St. Paul’s vision for a connected, sustainable, and vibrant urban community on the former Twin Cities Ford Assembly Plant site.
The Albert is a new structure but integrates significant historic architectural elements from the original Ford plant, including massive, fluted limestone pieces which clad its east exterior. These limestone elements were known as the “Kahn façade” by local preservationists who worked hard to save them from demolition over a decade ago. In addition, three original friezes from the plant are prominently displayed within the Civic Square adjacent to The Albert.
When the Twin Cities Assembly Plant opened in 1925, it was celebrated for its unprecedented combination of hydroelectric power, onsite glass production and river access. It was also widely regarded as the most beautiful Ford plant outside Detroit.
See Trevor Dunning’s report from the St. Paul Pioneer Press here:
