The Paxon: Engineering Elevated Apartment Living in Minneapolis

Project Overview

BKBM provided civil and structural engineering services for a five-story, 189,000-square-foot apartment building with 140 residential units in Minneapolis, MN. The project aimed to deliver amenity-rich, high-density housing while overcoming complex site and foundational challenges.

Project Highlights

  • Multi-Family Residential Design:
    • Five-story structure with two levels of below-grade parking accommodating 140 stalls.
    • Extensive tenant amenities, including a sublevel fitness area adjacent to a courtyard pool, a party room, theater/lounge, and a large community deck overlooking the pool.
  • Efficient Structural System:
    • Foundation includes a slab on grade at the lowest level, with two levels of precast concrete framing and five levels of wood framing above.
    • Existing concrete wall along North 1st Street utilized for earth retention during construction.
    • Careful coordination ensured foundations avoided weak shale layers and addressed challenging site bedrock.
  • Challenging Site Solutions:
    • 1.3-acre site located near a railroad right-of-way, featuring a 15-foot elevation change and close proximity to bedrock.
    • BKBM collaborated with the architect to set building elevations that reduced bedrock excavation, maximizing parking efficiency and amenity space for tenants.
  • Advanced Civil Engineering:
    • Comprehensive grading, drainage, conceptual planning, and city coordination.
    • Innovative stormwater management design to meet Minneapolis requirements, while minimizing excavation into rock and managing site constraints.
    • Civil design included land development, erosion and sediment control, and successful negotiation of site access and urban context issues.

Engineering Solutions

BKBM’s approach integrated creative foundation and framing strategies with advanced site planning, maximizing buildable space and tenant amenities on a challenging urban site. Civil and structural engineering solutions provided the flexibility, performance, and durability necessary for modern urban living.

Results & Impact

The completed apartment building delivers vibrant, amenity-driven housing in a prime Minneapolis location. BKBM’s integrated engineering services ensured the project responded to site complexity, city standards, and resident needs—contributing to the city’s evolving urban landscape.