About Kirt Woodhouse

In 2002, local real estate developer Kirt Woodhouse made a purchase architecture fans only dream of: he became the owner of the former Winton estate with houses by Philip Johnson and Frank Gehry.

After subdividing the twelve-acre Lake Minnetonka lot into three parts, he sold the Johnson-designed main house within a year. But when the guest house did not attract buyers, Woodhouse decided to donate the Gehry-designed structure and a large portion of the relocation costs to the University of St. Thomas as a work of art. Woodhouse's ultimate goal for the guest house was simple: “Art of this caliber is meant to be shared and enjoyed by the public.”

University president Father Dennis Dease expressed his delight with the gift stating, “Mr. Woodhouse’s gift to the university is enormously generous. St. Thomas is pleased to be able to share this one-of-a-kind piece of art with a great number of people.”