W. L. Hall Company Butler Square Skylight Replacement Project

translucent wall panels, translucent panels, entrance canopy details, envelope service, translucent exterior wall panels, translucent panel, translucent ceiling panels ,amazing skylights, kalwall translucent panels, translucent panel system, skylight panels, kalwall

"Since 1906, Butler Square has been an architectural icon and has been the cornerstone of Minneapolis’ bustling Warehouse District. “Butler Square has one of the more stunning and distinctive interiors in the Minneapolis Warehouse District, if not the entire city.”— Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal


W. L. Hall Company worked with McGough Facility Management to replace Butler Square's original skylight system that was installed in 1973. 

w l hall company translucent wall panels, translucent panels, entrance canopy details, envelope service, translucent exterior wall panels, translucent panel, translucent ceiling panels ,amazing skylights, kalwall translucent panels, translucent panel system, skylight panels, kalwall

Jane Mauer, the owner of Butler Square, encountered several issues with the original skylights, such as intermittent leaks, excessive glare, and heat loss. Seeking a remedy, she approached us for assistance. Our team at W.L. Hall Co. held several consultations with Jane and the contractor to explore potential solutions.


๏ปฟUltimately, we arrived at a consensus that the Kalwall Insulated Translucent panel system was the optimal choice. The upgraded system boasts fully insulated light diffusion translucent panels with a thermally broken .23U value, providing a superior alternative to the old glass skylights.

translucent wall panels, translucent panels, entrance canopy details, envelope service, translucent exterior wall panels, translucent panel, translucent ceiling panels ,amazing skylights, kalwall translucent panels, translucent panel system, skylight panels, kalwall

The remodeling highlights Butler Square's historic features with modern technology that makes for better lighting and cuts the energy tab at what was already a very efficient building.

The Result:

Our design expertise, effective communication, meticulous planning, proficient execution, and careful progress monitoring earned high praise from the McGough facility management team. The successful replacement of the skylights not only delighted our clients but also garnered Butler Square the prestigious Energy Efficiency award from Minneapolis, making it the first century-old multitenant commercial building in the world to achieve LEED EB O&M certification.

Air Leakage Is a Silent Energy Killer. One Rolling Door Is Finally Addressing It Head-On

By Ira Hackner • November 21, 2025
Most building professionals know that air leakage is one of the biggest performance failures in commercial buildings. What is less understood is this: Air leakage doesn't move in only one direction. It can move inward (infiltration) or outward (exfiltration) — and each direction carries its own set of energy, comfort, and moisture-control consequences. Even worse, rolling doors have historically been among the weakest points of the building envelope.

Daylighting, Durability & Performance: Why the Thief River Falls Regional Airport Chose Kalwall

By Ira Hackner • November 14, 2025
Daylighting, Durability & Performance: Why the Thief River Falls Regional Airport Chose Kalwall

Four Xcel Energy Facilities: Powered by Kalwall

By Ira Hackner • November 7, 2025
We truly enjoyed working with HCM Architects (Minneapolis), TKDA Architects (Bloomington), Knutson Construction (Minneapolis), and McGough (St. Paul), who brought four new Xcel Energy service facilities — in Chanhassen, Onalaska (WI), St. Cloud, and St. Paul–Maplewood. We helped bring their design visions to life with Kalwall’s advanced translucent daylighting systems, which elevate energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and thermal performance.

AIA Minnesota Excellence in Design for Energy Award Lakewood Cemetery's Welcome Center

By Ira Hackner • October 30, 2025
AIA Minnesota Excellence in Design for Energy Award Lakewood Cemetery's Welcome Center

2025 Rethos Historic Rehabilitation Award Winner Landmark Tower Apartments (St. Paul) Conversion

By Ira Hackner • October 20, 2025
2025 Rethos Historic Rehabilitation Award Winner | Landmark Tower Apartments (St. Paul) Conversion

Innovative Daylighting Across Office and Warehouse: ๏ปฟKalwall Transforms Agralite’s HQ

By Ira Hackner • October 6, 2025
We were pleased to collaborate with Mohagen Hansen Architecture (Wayzata, MN) and Gardner Builders (Minneapolis) to bring their design vision for Agralite Electric Cooperative’s new 63,000-square-foot headquarters in Benson, MN, to life—featuring the innovative use of Kalwall® daylighting systems in both the office space and the warehouse.

Bringing Carleton College’s Class of 1974 Building Vision to Life

By Ira Hackner • September 19, 2025
Carleton College (Northfield, MN) is recognized for its rigorous academics, intimate class sizes averaging just 14 students, and a strong sense of community. We were proud to bring our extensive expertise in educational glass and glazing projects to the college’s Class of 1974 Building, made possible through the generosity of the Class of 1974 alumni.

Boston Scientific's Maple Grove Expansion – Supported by W. L. Hall Company Solutions

By Ira Hackner • September 12, 2025
Boston Scientific's Maple Grove Expansion – Supported by W. L. Hall Company Solutions

Zero-Post Corners Bring Flexibility and Impact to Hornig's New Headquarters Conference Room

By Ira Hackner • September 2, 2025
When Hornig Companies set out to build their new headquarters in St. Louis Park, Tanek Architects (Minneapolis) and Gardner Builders (Minneapolis) designed a conference room that could do it all—flexibility, acoustics, and aesthetics.

McKEON AirShield™ Model AL3014 – Smart Air & Climate Control

By Ira Hackner • August 21, 2025
Think of the McKEON AirShield™ AL3014 as more than just a door—it’s a precision-engineered barrier designed to keep comfort in and unwanted air out. This high-performance overhead coiling system is built for environments where air matters most: from busy industrial facilities to sensitive institutional spaces. ๆ‰‡๐ŸŒฌ๏ธ Superior Air Control – Keeps interior climates stable by minimizing air infiltration and exfiltration ๐Ÿ’ก Energy Efficiency – Helps cut heating and cooling costs while meeting today’s strict energy standards ๐Ÿ›  Durability You Can Trust – Engineered to perform reliably in the toughest conditions The result? Protected interiors, better comfort, and a door system that works as hard as you do.