Created as the capstone of my Masters’ degree, Arbitrage is a restaurant centered around the promotion of sustainable food systems. The space once housed the trading floor of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, one of the largest commodity exchanges in the country. One of the primary considerations of the design was to treat the historic structure with respect, while still updating it to respond to a new set of needs. This was done by maintaining the majority of the antique oak flooring, and adding porcelain inlays to aid with way-finding.
Repeated materials include ash, porcelain, copper, and glass, each selected with embodied energy, fitness for purpose, and life cycle in mind. The design of the restaurant is also meant to foster connection, featuring communal tables, egalitarian seating options, and a copper installment in the lounge area meant to interfere with cellular signals.
The space also features a test kitchen, designed to offer staff a place to relax, to combat the stresses of a high-volume restaurant kitchen.
Access to the Minneapolis Skyway system is flanked by twin staircases, symbolizing the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and provides convenient, temperature controlled pedestrian access year-round.
The final piece of the space is the retail area, stocked with books and tools useful to home cooks. This area will be staffed by the cooks, who will instruct customers on proper techniques, and help encourage them to adopt more sustainable consumption habits.
