Swan Turnblad made his mark on Minneapolis. As publisher of the nation’s leading Swedish-American newspaper 100 years ago, he helped generations of immigrants build new lives in America. As a wealthy businessman, he took his place alongside the city’s milling and lumber barons with a 33-room mansion on Park Avenue that would cost $38 million to build today.

Turnblad endowed the American Swedish Institute and donated his mansion as its home. But when the institute began planning a new addition, its architect faced a puzzling design challenge.

“But a new building shouldn’t be confused with a historical building. They should relate. But there should be some room for interpretation in how they relate.”

Among the ways Carl and his team integrated and enhanced old and new:

• The addition’s siding uses the same slate tiles as the roof of the mansion.
• The new building faces the main avenue with a single story set back in alignment with the mansion, allowing the mansion’s profile to stand tall.
• Strategically placed windows and triangular “light monitors” offer constant views of the mansion throughout the new addition.

One central decision framed the entire project. On a scouting trip to Sweden, Carl learned about the traditional Swedish courtyard, called a “gård.” Swedish farms were designed with the house and outbuildings around a gård, creating a focus and gathering place.