Calhoun Greenway: Engineering Community, Comfort, and Contemporary Living

Project Overview

BKBM provided civil and structural engineering services for a new six-story, 185-unit apartment building in Minneapolis, MN. Spanning 257,000 square feet, the project delivers high-density living with modern amenities on a 4.69-acre urban parcel.

Project Highlights

  • Mixed-Use Site Features:
    • Six-story apartment building footprint of 0.73 acres, with both underground and surface parking, pool, and patios.
    • One level of below-grade parking with 199 stalls, extending beyond the building footprint under much of the site surface parking.
    • Fitness and lounge amenity spaces plus a first-level outdoor pool/amenity deck above the below-grade structure.
  • Advanced Structural System:
    • Building and pool supported on driven piles due to poor soils.
    • Structural system includes slab on grade at the lowest level, two levels of post-tensioned concrete slabs including a second-floor podium supporting five wood-framed upper levels.
    • Post-tensioned system minimized floor-to-floor heights and maintained the lower level above high groundwater.
  • Innovative Civil Engineering:
    • Stormwater management integrated underground filtration systems and rooftop ponding to meet stringent City of Minneapolis and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District requirements, despite high groundwater and contaminated soils.
    • New underground pipe system installed to accommodate and redirect 100-year stormwater flow from an adjacent southern property, correcting altered drainage patterns.
    • Civil design included sidewalk and trail design, land development, utility routing, and full site demolition and erosion control across 3.44 disturbed acres.

Engineering Solutions

BKBM coordinated pile-supported foundation design, post-tensioned concrete systems, advanced stormwater management, and urban site utility work to address challenging soils, groundwater, and site drainage issues. Collaboration with city officials and watershed authorities ensured regulatory compliance and site resilience.

Results & Impact

The completed development offers vibrant, amenity-driven housing tailored to urban life in Minneapolis. BKBM’s integrated engineering delivered a durable, sustainable, and engaging living environment, supporting both resident needs and community water management goals.