Northwestern Knitting Company Factory building, Industrial heritage site in Sumner-Glenwood, Minneapolis, US.
The Northwestern Knitting Company Factory is a large industrial complex in Minneapolis composed of several brick buildings from the early 1900s. The site now functions as International Market Square, containing offices, retail spaces, and numerous showrooms for home furnishings and design products.
The factory began operations in the early 1900s as an underwear production plant and became one of the world's largest manufacturers of this type. The complex expanded through several construction phases over the following decades before the industry eventually shifted elsewhere.
For decades, this was a major workplace where hundreds of women produced textiles daily, shaping the identity and economy of the neighborhood. The factory represented an important part of Minneapolis's industrial life and working-class history.
The site is easy to explore on foot and accessible by car, with parking available nearby. The buildings house open shops and showrooms where visitors can observe the original industrial architecture while experiencing the current commercial uses.
One section of the complex features one of Minneapolis's earliest fully reinforced concrete structures, constructed with innovative concrete columns. This early architectural experiment from the 1900s demonstrates building methods that later became standard practice.
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