Minneapolis American Indian Center: Honoring Sustainability Through Thoughtful Civil Design

Project Overview:
BKBM’s Civil Engineering team partnered with the Minneapolis American Indian Center to support the center’s renovation and expansion—a project rooted in community and cultural significance. Originally built in 1974, the center required a thoughtful modernization that would also achieve rigorous Minnesota B3 sustainability standards.

Civil Engineering Solutions for Sustainable Impact:
As part of the interdisciplinary design team, BKBM’s civil group delivered innovative civil engineering solutions to revitalize the site:

  • Parking & Pedestrian Redesign: Updated the configuration of parking and pedestrian environments to improve access and usability, enhancing the center’s welcoming presence.
  • Sewer System Upgrades: Upgraded building sewers using a data-driven approach, ensuring reliability and long-term performance.
  • Advanced Stormwater Management: Designed a new stormwater management system engineered to restore pre-development runoff conditions and return stormwater to natural pathways—meeting both City of Minneapolis and B3 sustainability requirements.

Preserving Community Features with Civil Engineering Expertise:
A key civil engineering challenge was protecting the site’s cultural and ecological assets, including a cherished ceremonial ring of trees. Through detailed site investigation and close collaboration with landscape architects at Cunningham Group, BKBM specified directional bore utility installation. This method minimized disturbance to existing trees and infrastructure, reducing environmental impact during utility construction.

Sustainability Through Thoughtful Design:
By integrating a high-performance stormwater management system and intentional site design, BKBM enabled the center to achieve ambitious sustainability benchmarks. The project showcases how civil engineering can honor both environmental stewardship and community values, blending modern utility with respect for the site’s heritage.

Connect with Us:
To learn more about this project contact BKBM's Project Manager Keith Matte.