17 Stories of Style: The Accolade Minneapolis

The Accolade Minneapolis, a 17-story student housing project developed by Greystar and designed by ESG | Architecture & Design, is located near the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The building sits in the vibrant Stadium Village area, placing students right at the heart of campus life.

The leasing lobby sets the tone for the building. As you enter, a custom sofa sits below a one-of-a-kind 'Stay Golden' custom ceiling light, and the space is illuminated by the huge windows lining the wall. Additional pieces by Allermuir complement the lobby’s aesthetic, creating a welcoming first impression.

Just off the leasing lobby is a unique mailroom with two distinct study areas: one centrally located among the mailboxes with chairs sourced from Hightower, and another tucked-away corner designed for gathering, anchored by a custom rug. 

Both spaces combine functionality with thoughtful design, providing residents with flexible options for work or casual socializing.

At the very top of the building is a rooftop deck designed for both relaxation and collaboration.

Here, residents can enjoy sweeping views of Minneapolis while taking advantage of multiple study nooks and one large open lounge area, perfect for fostering community and encouraging connections among students.

A couple of stories below the rooftop, the pool deck offers a mix of loungers, outdoor tables and chairs of various sizes, perfect for studying or hanging out. 

Right off the pool deck is a vibrant community space with a pool table, arcade games, and more flexible lounge seating.

Throughout these areas, we incorporated custom sofas alongside modular sectionals from Gus Modern.

Several floors below the pool deck, residents find private, glass-enclosed study rooms complete with sofas and chairs and designed to provide quiet, focused workspaces.

Adjacent to the study rooms are double-height community spaces that connect across floors through a central opening in the ceiling, highlighted by a unique light fixture. These spaces continue the theme of comfort and collaboration, with custom furniture woven throughout each area.

One of our favorite aspects of this project is the sheer amount of custom furniture incorporated on nearly every floor. From sofas and chairs to rugs and tables, every space has a unique touch designed to enhance comfort, community, and aesthetic appeal.

Whether it’s a custom modular sectional, a one-of-a-kind rug, or a tailored table, these details make The Accolade feel cohesive yet distinctly designed for its residents.

We’ve loved collaborating on student housing projects like The Accolade Minneapolis, and this project is a perfect example of how thoughtful furniture selection and custom design can elevate a community. 

Photos by Emma Morem