Design

Design

Nicollet reopened in the fall of 2017 after undergoing a complex multi-year renovation—from the hundreds of thousands of feet in below-ground utilities to the now 1,500 LED lights illuminating the new sidewalks and street.

Designed by James Corner Field Operations with a deep respect for the history, identity and spirit of the place, the reimagined Nicollet retains the famous serpentine curve and offers new flexible spaces to support and enhance the existing outdoor cafes and other street activities.

Generously-scaled and clearly marked walkways, curb-free intersections, new social spaces and destinations that are attractions year-round, and a curated outdoor gallery of public art offer pedestrians the highest quality downtown walking experience.

Native plantings, including more than 240 mostly locally-grown trees provide a green connection between Loring Park and the Mississippi River.

Nicollet Center between 6th and 8th streets offers year-round comfortable seating, shaded by a row of native oak trees and artist-designed lanterns. The two-block-long outdoor corridor of programmable lights known as the Light Walk makes the Center a destination, a spectacular place for the public to gather and participate in a variety of informal and programmed events, festivals, performances and markets.

It’s all here: a greener, more pedestrian-friendly street, a downtown destination and an attractive place to walk and experience the life and energy of the city #OnNicollet.

A tour of the new Nicollet

Nicollet Lighting

The Nicollet lighting system, including the Light Walk, Nicollet Lanterns and street light beacons, is a key architectural and experiential element of the new Nicollet. The Light Walk and Nicollet Lanterns bring light, color and movement into Nicollet Center, the busiest and most urban area of downtown.

The DID routinely programs this system to support activation and operations on Nicollet. If you are interested in requesting a lighting scene on Nicollet for a civic celebration or event, find more information here.