Long and Kees

Who is Long and Kees?

Minneapolis-based Long and Kees was an architectural firm that designed some of Minneapolis's most important historical buildings. It was named for its two proprietors, Franklin B. Long and Frederick Kees. While the firm designed many buildings over its 12 year existence, its most prominent is probably the Minneapolis City Hall. Long and Kees was formed when Minneapolis native Long partnered with Maryland-born Kees in 1885. The firm built churches, offices, schools and houses, mostly in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Many of Long and Kees's buildings still stand, such as the Lumber Exchange Building, Hennepin Center for the Arts, the Flour Exchange Building, Hawthorn Terrace Apartments, William Nott residence, and the City Hall, which, although designed before the firm's end in 1897, was not completed until 1906. However, many of Long and Kees's buildings have been destroyed, for example, the first Minneapolis Public Library, the Minneapolis Corn Exchange, and Donaldson's Glass Block.

After Long and Kees disbanded their firm, Kees partnered with Serenus Colburn from 1898-1921. Long added his son Louis Long as a partner, and then added Lowell A. Lamoreaux as a partner in 1909.