Wakan Tipi Site Restoration

Restoring Beauty & Meaning to Wakan Tipi

BKBM Engineers partnered with Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, Full Circle Indigenous Planning, and Cuningham Architects to restore Wakan Tipi, a sacred Dakota site in Saint Paul’s Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary. By addressing complex environmental and regulatory challenges, BKBM created a community-focused space that honors and uplifts indigenous heritage.

The Vision

The Wakan Tipi Center reconnects the Dakota people with their sacred land while serving as a hub for cultural education, healing, and inspiration. Features include an exhibit hall, teaching kitchen, and ceremonial space, all reinforcing the site’s cultural and communal significance.

The Challenges

The site faced significant obstacles:

• Contaminated soils and remnants of industrial activity.
• Zoning regulations, floodplain restrictions, and overlapping construction from the nearby Kellogg Avenue Bridge project.
• Limited historical site records and outdated infrastructure documentation.
• BKBM collaborated with stakeholders, including the City of Saint Paul and environmental experts, to navigate these complexities.

Innovative Solutions

• Stormwater Redesign: Transitioned from a filtration basin to a more efficient infiltration system, saving time and costs.
• Sustainable Practices: Built an infiltration pond meeting B3 Sustainability Guidelines, reducing nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River.
• Collaborative Approach: Worked closely with stakeholders to align solutions with environmental, cultural, and logistical priorities.

Results

The Wakan Tipi Center honors Dakota heritage while enriching the community through education and healing. BKBM’s expertise in environmental and civil design supported the successful restoration of this culturally significant site.