10 West End is a Class-A office building in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, developed by The Excelsior Group and Ryan Companies. The 11-story, 358,538-square-foot structure combines striking contemporary design with high-performance systems, all while meeting LEED Silver certification standards.

Empirehouse partnered early with Ryan Companies to refine design concepts and deliver glazing solutions that balanced budget constraints with elevated performance. A key strategy was the use of unitized window systems with shop preglazed components, allowing for faster, more efficient installation and improved quality control. The building’s curtain wall system—used on the first and second floors—features large openings with Guardian SNX 62-27 high-performance glass, maximizing natural light and energy efficiency.

Sustainability remained a core focus throughout, with framing systems fabricated using recycled content and rigorous air and water testing conducted in-house prior to installation. Panels were delivered just-in-time using a custom bunking system, improving site logistics and speed.

Following the enclosure, Empirehouse completed interior glass features including glass handrails, interior partitions, and mirrors, contributing to the building’s refined, industrial-chic aesthetic.

Scope:

• Unitized window system with preglazed components

• Custom curtain wall system with large openings

• Guardian SNX 62-27 high-performance glass

• Interior glass handrails

• Aluminum-framed partitions

• Mirrors

• In-house pretesting and quality assurance

• LEED Silver certified

• Use of recycled content in framing systems

Empirehouse partnered with Greiner Construction and Tanek Architects as the Architectural Glass and Metal Contractor for the 1919 University Corporate Facility renovation project located along the St. Paul light rail system. Replacing the once concrete and punched window facade is a huge curtainwall that brings in lots of natural daylight—plus a fresh modern look. In addition to the curtainwall is a new south entrance, interior vestibule, and glass handrail system.

Scope:

• Replacement of punched windows
• Curtainwall Installation
• 154 Glass Units
• Storefront Entrances
• 125 LF of interior glass handrail
• Approximately 7,000 SF of Glass

As part of an addition to a long-standing facility, Empirehouse was brought on to match modern construction materials with discontinued systems from the original building. With the original aluminum and glass products no longer available, Empirehouse leveraged its strong supplier relationships and deep technical expertise to identify compatible solutions that preserved the building’s aesthetic—without exceeding the project budget.

Through independent research and engineering adaptations, the team achieved a seamless match in appearance and performance, ensuring architectural continuity while meeting modern performance standards.

Scope:

• Exterior Glazing Systems – 14,000+ SF total:

  • Custom-engineered faceted and monumental four-sided structural silicone glazed curtainwall systemsmimicking the original entrance design

  • Simple thermal aluminum ribbon window systems around the building’s perimeter

  • Standard captured aluminum pressure-wall systems to vertically segment office and warehouse façades

  • Custom lean-to skylight, 150 lineal feet long, spanning the common space roof, with an integrated louvered return wall for exhaust management

  Interior Glazing Systems:

  • Heavy-tempered monolithic glass walls with custom-polished aluminum flat-stock trim

  • Multiple fire-rated aluminum door and frame systems at key separation points

  • Decorative glass features throughout executive offices:

    • Magnetic glass markerboards

    • Electrically switchable translucent glass partition

    • Custom-molded and etched art glass installations