Arts District's New Solar Arts Building

Topped with 109 solar panels and filled with artist studios, a gallery and a microbrewery, today’s newly renovated Solar Arts Building is a far cry from its early 20th century roots as a site for the manufacture of tires, rubber and transformers.

Co-owners Duane Arens and Larry Brandt were initially attracted to the building at 711 15th Avenue NE because of its location in the heart of the Arts District and its unique structural elements. Their renovation focused on enhancing the building’s creative space, including studios for artists and creative professionals and a 3rd floor gallery that will host the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) Fall Fine Arts Show beginning September 21. Another focus was on designing an environmentally-friendly building; hence the rooftop solar panels and the name “Solar Arts”. Lastly, they added Indeed Brewery, Minneapolis’ most recent microbrewery. This newest addition to the Arts District is an example of the public sector providing a framework of support for private investment and community improvement.