Downtown East Park Edition: Engineering Stylish Urban Residences in Minneapolis

Project Overview

BKBM provided structural engineering services for Downtown East Park Residential (The Edition), a new mixed-use development flanking the west end of downtown Minneapolis’ East Park. The building features 134 residential units, street-level retail, premium amenities, and two levels of below-grade parking for 119 vehicles.

Project Highlights

  • Urban Mixed-Use Design:
    • Five stories of wood-framed residential units built above concrete amenity and parking levels.
    • Retail and resident amenity spaces activate the ground level and support a vibrant community.
  • Parking & Amenities:
    • Two levels of below-grade parking maximize urban site utility.
    • Housing units include direct access to rooftop patios for enhanced urban living.
  • Innovative Structural Framing:
    • Conventional spread and strip footings, concrete foundation walls, and non-structural slab on grade provide a robust substructure.
    • Three levels of precast concrete framing support the five levels of conventional wood-framed construction above.
    • Structural design required special collaboration with the precast supplier to resist unique soil loads, particularly where the below-grade plank level was non-continuous and at-grade plank contained a seven-foot elevation change along the building length due to changing site grades.
  • Collaborative Design-Build Solutions:
    • As part of the design-build team, BKBM worked closely with the contractor, architect, and developer to develop and implement construction solutions in real time, optimizing project outcomes and addressing site and design challenges as they arose.

Engineering Solutions

BKBM’s approach integrated complex site grading, responsive foundation and framing strategies, and ongoing collaboration to address non-uniform grades, soil loads, and complex urban conditions. The team’s expertise ensured constructability, efficiency, and long-term performance for this signature downtown project.

Results & Impact

Downtown East Park Residential (The Edition) brings modern, amenity-rich living and vibrant retail to downtown Minneapolis while addressing urban site constraints with smart, collaborative engineering. BKBM’s solutions advanced project goals, delivered lasting value, and enhanced the urban landscape.