FIHÀN Design+Architecture selected to design new community center, water park for North Commons Park
Posted on 17 February, 2022At their meeting on February 16, commissioners for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) unanimously voted on FIHÀN Design+Architecture, among seven qualified design firms, to provide a full range of design services for a new community center and water park at North Commons Park.
“We are thrilled to move forward on this project with FIHÀN at the helm,” said MPRB Superintendent Al Bangoura. “We’re looking forward to this project team working with North Minneapolis residents and bringing them into the design process,“
“The selection committee was drawn to FIHÀN’s focus on collaboration and mutual engagement,” he noted. “These qualities reflect MPRB’s commitment to consider and engage people of all ages – especially youth – in developing and designing a new generation of Minneapolis parks.”
New facilities for a North Minneapolis destination
A new community center and water park are key elements of the master plan for North Commons Park, approved in 2019 as part of the North Service Area Master Plan covering all neighborhood parks in North Minneapolis.
The plan calls for the new building to serve as a North Minneapolis community hub and destination for a range of arts and activities; with expanded gym spaces, it can also serve as a regional draw for athletic events. In addition, North Commons Water Park, built in 1997, will be reconstructed and revitalized.
The FIHÀN Design+Architecture project team
The team assembled by FIHÀN (“fee-hun”) Design+Architecture, a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), includes the following firms:
- Locus Architecture (architectural services)
- HKGi for (landscape architecture and urban design)
- Victus Engineering (MBE) (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering)
- Meyer Borgman Johnson (structural engineering)
- NEOO Partners (MBE) (community engagement services)
- Pierce Pini + Associates, a certified Woman-owned Business Enterprise (civil engineering)
- Ramaker and Associates (aquatics design/engineering)
- Transportation Collaborative (transportation and urban design)
- CPMI (cost estimating)
Project timeline and funding
2019: North Service Area Master Plan approved
2020: $5 million state bonding award from the State of Minnesota
2021: Project announced / initial community engagement / request for proposals for design services
2022: Second request from MPRB for state bonding / design team announced / community engagement and detailed design
2023-2024: Planned construction
The total estimated project cost is $19-$22 million. In addition to securing public funds on its own, the MPRB is finalizing an agreement with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and Seeds to Harvest, a community coalition established in North Minneapolis, to bring forward a substantial philanthropic campaign, which will support capital investments, civic engagement, urban planning and community programming.