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St. Paul, MN – After 31 years of heavy use and harsh weather, the original streetscape around Securian Financial Group’s 400 building in downtown St. Paul was completely rehabbed from top to bottom.
The old aggregate and concrete sidewalks and plazas built the same year as the tall grey building they surround have given way to a flowing streetscape that incorporates hardy urban vegetation, well-defined public and private easements and a colorful design that ties the 400 building to its younger sibling across Robert Street, the 401 building.
Elegant and green
The sidewalk’s new design is picturesque, but its real beauty may lie below.
“This project incorporates green areas and porous concrete to promote water infiltration and slow storm water runoff,” said Julio Fesser second vice president, Facility Services, Securian Financial Group. “These features also filter contaminants out of storm runoff, helping improve ground water quality and keep the Mississippi clean.”
Storm water management requirements have changed dramatically since the 1980s. Despite the challenges posed by the underground parking structure, the new storm water infrastructure meets environmental standards and keeps the parking ramp dry.
Complements city’s streetscape plan
The functional aesthetics of the Securian project were designed to promote the city’s plan for attractive, pedestrian-friendly corridors along Fifth and Sixth Streets between the Excel Center and the Lowertown ballpark.
“Our design blends the two blocks into one campus while also building on the City’s urban design vision,” said Fesser. “Creating an attractive and welcoming downtown is a part of the economic development effort aimed at bringing more employers into the central business district, which we actively support.”
About Securian
For more than 130 years, Securian Financial Group and its affiliates have provided financial security from downtown St. Paul, MN for individuals and businesses in the form of insurance, investments and retirement plans. Securian is now one of the nation’s largest financial services providers and the parent of a group of companies that offer a broad range of financial services to individuals, employers and financial institutions.
