CULTURAL & CIVIC FACILITIES
We create cultural and civic facilities that define and influence our communities
FRIDLEY CIVIC CAMPUS | Fridley, Minnesota
WHO WE ARE
4
PRACTICE SITES
45 YEARS OF OPERATION
200+
EMPLOYEES
ARCHITECTURE
INTERIOR DESIGN URBAN DESIGN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
ENGINEERING BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
MAPLE GROVE GOVERNMENT CENTER | Maple Grove, Minnesota
Enriching lives and strengthening communities
OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
BKV Group enhances the physical and cultural environment through meaningful, responsive, multi-disciplinary design. Supported by innovative technology and a strategic market focus, we work to transform communities locally, nationally, and internationally. We believe the craft is as important as the science, especially in giving soul to the process and built environment. Through a highly participatory endeavor, our design strategies express a “rootedness” in their surroundings. This strategy goes beyond the specific building to deliberately capture the expression of people, site, and culture. It is a contextually sensitive approach that is based on, and reactive to, our clients’ goals, budget, vision, and focus, with our creative process engaging all team members to transform and positively shape communities around the globe.
NATIONAL CIVIC & CULTURAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
PHIL CALLISON
Government Managing Partner
Dallas, TX
Government Managing Partner
Chicago, IL
MARK MANETTI
Government Managing Partner Washington, DC
CRAIG CARTER
Fire/EMS Practice Leader, Partner
Chicago, IL
Public Safety Practice Leader, Associate Partner Minneapolis, MN
Government Managing Partner Minneapolis, MN
Justice Practice Leader, Partner
Chicago, IL
Senior Design Leader, Partner
Minneapolis, MN
MICHAEL HEALY
HENRY PITTNER
PAUL MICHELL
TRACE JACQUES
KYLE YARDLEY
One firm with four practice site locations
OUR NATIONAL REACH
Collaborating regionally, BKV Group operates as a cohesive firm delivering a wide range of public safety projects for a diverse set of national and local clients. We leverage industry-leading communication and technology tools with best-in-class design processes to seamlessly work across practice sites to meet our clients’ needs, and continually expand our presence into existing and new markets.
Knowledge and experience for a wide range of project types
DESIGN VERSATILITY
BKV Group provides knowledge and experience for a wide range of government project and sector types, plus has familiarity in working with a spectrum of project partners. Our designers have a profound responsibility to drive positive change in our communities. We are passionate about helping our clients identify, pursue, and achieve ambitious goals in creating unique, meaningful places of value and purpose.
PROJECT TYPES
+ New Construction
+ Renovations
+ Adaptive Reuse
+ Repositioning
+ Feasibility/ Space Needs Studies
+ Facility Assessments
PROJECT PARTNERS
+ Government Entities
+ Developers
+ Brokers
+ Architects
+ Property Managers
+ Landscape Architects
+ MEP Engineers
+ Civil Engineers
+ Structural Engineers
PROJECT SECTORS
+ GOVERNMENT
– City Halls
– Public Works
– Community Centers
– Parks & Recreation
– Fire
– Law Enforcement
– EOC
– Justice
– Detention
+ LIBRARY
+ EDUCATION
INTERIOR DESIGN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE
INTERIOR DESIGN BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
CLIENT
INTERIOR DESIGN
ENGINEERING
INTERIOR DESIGN
INTERIOR DESIGN
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
INTERIOR DESIGN URBAN DESIGN
Designing to the cultural fabric of the community
OUR PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Our team offers comprehensive experience in all types of developments, ranging from small-scale to largescale communities. This is demonstrated through the variety of housing types we design; all which have an overarching goal to establish the highest quality of public safety design that promotes and enhances community redevelopment.
+ Project Visioning and Goal Setting
+ Public and Stakeholder Engagement
+ Planning and Pre-Development Services
+ Funding Strategies and Capital Improvement Planning
+ Innovative Building Technology
+ Health, Safety & Wellfare Strategies
+ Trauma Informed Design
+ Workplace and Employee Amenity Design Leadership
LEECH LAKE JUSTICE CENTER AND TRIBAL POLICE | Cass Lake, Minnesota
PROVIDE
Defining communities
Cultural & Civic facilities play a pivotal role in shaping the identity and perception of our communities unlike any other architectural design. Given their enduring nature and dynamic function, government buildings stand as enduring landmarks that leave a lasting imprint on public experience. However, as the demands of public service evolve over time, these structures must remain adaptable and responsive to changing needs. We couple a strategic vision for addressing long-term requirements with a respect for how these facilities embody each community and its values, something we translate into design with a collaborative approach between our team and yours.
FACILITY AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS
BKV Group specializes in municipal facility planning and design. We help identify deficiencies in current facilities, including operational limitations and security risks. Our team documents current and projected space needs based on current operations, community growth projections, and industry best-practices. We benchmark findings against national standards, providing validated information to gain project support.
OPERATIONAL PLANNING
Cultural & Civic facilities serve a wide range of users, from officers to administrative staff and residents. Recognizing and accommodating the diverse needs of these groups is essential to ensure that the facility functions effectively and remains adaptable to evolving circumstances. BKV Group takes a collaborative approach with each department, and where appropriate, with the community overall, to thoroughly understand their unique needs. By doing so, we can design facilities that not only facilitate efficient operations but also prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone within the building.
In order to achieve this, BKV Group’s planning process encompasses critical areas informed by national standards but tailored to fit the specific context of each department. This approach ensures that the resulting facility meets all necessary standards while also addressing the particular requirements and preferences of the department it serves. By customizing the planning process in this way, BKV Group can deliver solutions that are both comprehensive and finely tuned to the needs of our clients.
VILLAGE HALL RENOVATION | Streamwood, Illinois
Planning for the future
For more than 40 years, BKV Group is a recognized leader in the planning and design of Cultural & Civic facilities. A needs assessment study that includes an operational and physical analysis of the facility is the foundation of telling the story to your constituents of whether a remodeling, new addition, or a new facility is required. As a full-service firm with architecture and engineering in-house, our experienced team documents the operational and physical deficiencies of your facility to demonstrate the need and requirements of the project.
Facility planning follows the needs assessment and through space programing and preliminary concept design, the spaces, adjacencies, flows, and overall image of the facility along with an estimated construction budget and construction documents.
SITE FEASIBILITY MASTERPLAN
BKV Group performs site test-fits for one or multiple sites to determine the functionality of the design concept. Site constraints such as site access, zoning regulations, utility locations, topography and storm water requirements are reviewed and demonstrated graphically. Multiple concepts explore ideas for the building massing, facility functionally and adjacencies, vehicle and pedestrian circulation, wayfinding, staff and public parking, and site security. The final master plan is developed after ranking the evaluation criteria and preferences are included.
SPACE NEEDS ANALYSIS
BKV Group can determine your future space needs by analyzing demographic forecasts and applying our knowledge of national standards and best practices, refining the output through discussions with administration, and surveys of your staff. The result is a spreadsheet for each internal department showing staff growth over time, workspaces for those staff, and support spaces for each department.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
BKV Group can help you communicate the importance of a new or replacement Cultural & Civic facility and rally support in the community in a variety of ways: neighborhood meetings, community charrettes, press releases, project websites, and direct mailings, for instance. By using a mix of project narratives, graphic diagrams and maps, comparative space program matrices, and other project-specific visual collateral, a clear presentation of the local, regional, and global benefits can be made, clearing the way for approvals, zoning changes, or public funding.
WHAT WE PROVIDE
Capabilities and Services
BKV Group, through rigorous continuing education, provides design solutions at the leading edge of innovative technologies. A commitment to integrated design necessitates constant collaboration among all professional disciplines who share a common vision. Our multi-disciplinary approach allows us to serve the unique and diverse needs of each client through a fully-coordinated, singlesource team.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Goals and Objectives
Communication Protocols
Project Budget Management
Project Schedule Management
Quality Assurance
PLANNING AND FEASIBILITY
Existing Condition Assessment
Functional Workflow Assessment
Health and Safety Assessment
Capital Improvement Planning
Phased Property Planning
Space Needs Analysis
Space Standard Diagrams
GIS Drive-time Analysis
Land Use and Zoning Analysis
Site Selection Study
Site Feasibility and Planning
Building Planning and Stacking
Project Master Planning
Total Project Cost Estimating
Total Cost of Ownership Analysis
ARCHITECTURE
Visioning and Conceptual Design
Construction Documentation
CSI-format Specifications
Building Science/ Forensics
Cost Estimating and Value Engineering
Critical Path Scheduling
Building Information Modeling
Computer Rendering
Immersive 3D Visioning
INTERIOR DESIGN
Space Planning
Interior Concept Renderings
Material Finish Selection
Durability Analysis
Infection Control Analysis
Furniture and Equipment Selection
Art & Accessories Staging
FF&E Budgeting and Procurement
BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
Project Discovery
Project Messaging, Positioning & Strategy
Naming
Visual Identity/Logo
Brand Guidelines & Programming
Standards
Digital & Print Collateral
Marketing Floor Plans
Promotional Merchandise Design
Environmental Design/Graphics
Visual Identity Systems (Wayfinding Signage)
Social Media Templates
Website Design Concepts
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Energy Use/Conservation Analysis
HVAC System Lifecycle Analysis
Building Commissioning
System Operations and Training
Building Automation Controls
Sequencing
Fire Protection Systems
Plumbing & Piping System Design
Electrical Engineering
Photometric Lighting Design
Power Distribution Design
Generator
Load Analysis
Photovoltaic Integration
Data and A/V System Design
Security Hardware and Cameras
Fire Alarm System Specification
Alert Notification Design
Power and Systems Commissioning
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Structural Analysis and Design
Structural System Comparisons
Existing Structure Evaluations
Dynamic Vibration Analysis
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Land-Use and Zoning Analysis
Planting and Hardscape Design
Boundary/Screening Yard Design
Rainwater Collection and Irrigation
Tree Inventory and Analysis
Streetscape Design
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
Owners Project Requirements
Simple Box Analysis
Comprehensive Energy Modeling
Basic Commissioning
Daylight Modeling and Calculations
Custom Systems Analysis
Typical Meteorological Year Analysis
ASHRAE Calculations
LEED Project Tracking and Submissions
LEED Construction Phase Oversight
Green Communities Submissions
National Green Building Standard
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Contractor Selection Assistance
Cost Control and Evaluation
Scheduling Oversight
Construction Observation
Quality Control Management
Move-in Coordination
Photography Coordination
Grand Opening Coordination
Eleven-Month Warranty Walk-Through
HSTORIC PRESERVATION
Historic Structures Report
Adaptive Reuse Options
Measuring and Documentation
OUR PROCESS
BKV Group provides total building design: from the aesthetics of branding, to the science of building technology, to the challenge of creative cost control.
DISCOVER YOUR STORY
CONCEPT/ VISIONING
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Immersing our holistic team in your project from the very beginning to understand your culture, values, objectives, challenges, and location serve as inspiration to develop the project story and the firefighter experience. These insights inform the overarching vision/concept narrative that will drive every aspect of the design.
PLANNING: FUNCTION/OPERATIONS MEET FORM/DESIGN
With the story in mind, Schematic Design focuses on function. BKV works with your operations team to understand the operational flow and adjacencies in order to plan efficient layouts that function well for your staff, while creating the experiential path of travel for your staff. Preliminary massing, space plans, initial finish and FF&E selections are developed at this time resulting in a design that embodies your goals, concept narrative, and functional needs.
REFINING THE DESIGN
Refinement of the concept and documentation occur during this phase by marrying the space planning with the concept in a 3-dimensional illustration of the design. Visualization presentations may include wireframe and/or rendered studies, plans, key elevations, initial detail, material and FF&E selections, and virtual reality walk throughs when warranted.
TECHNICAL DESIGN AND DOCUMENTATION
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION
Construction Documents include Floor, Finish, Furniture, and Reflected Ceiling Plans; Elevations; Sections; Details; Schedules; and Specifications necessary for your contractor and procurement professionals to execute the project. Documents are coordinated with in-house disciplines and outside consultants, and reviewed for QA/QC. Project bidding, permitting, cost verification, and VE may occur prior to construction.
EXECUTION
During Construction and Installation, BKV’s team is actively engaged with your General Contractor and Procurement teams: periodic site visits to monitor construction progress, responding to RFIs and submittals, helping the team address challenges that arise in the field, and review of FF&E, artwork and Accessory installation. Our team responds quickly to keep the project progressing.
PINE COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER | Pine City, Minnesota
ST. CLOUD POLICE HEADQUARTERS | St. Cloud, Minnesota
CULTURAL AND CIVIC APPROACH
BKV Group’s design solutions are functional, beautiful, and respond to our client’s goals, vision, budget & focus
LISTENING & INFORMATION GATHERING (CLIENT
ENGAGEMENT)
We immerse our team in our client’s communities to gain a deep understanding of their culture, values, objectives, challenges, demographics, opportunities, and differentiators. We listen to the input of our core client team, primary project stakeholders, and the voices of the broader community to identify the opportunities and expectations of each project for positive community impact. This data and personal feedback guide the functional, operational, and cultural programming for the project, providing a uniquely responsive creative direction.
Demographic Analysis
Benchmark Peer Communities/Facilities
Establishing Goals, Vision, and Objectives
Site Opportunity Mapping
Programming
Branding Exercises
HOLISTIC CAPABILITIES
BKV brings multi-disciplinary design and engineering services to support projects spanning from interior renovations to new construction. Our comprehensive planning approach integrates functional needs, operational efficiency, customer experience, and staff engagement and retention into resolved planning and design recommendations. We validate our work by providing cost assessments and project budget review, and supporting consideration of project phasing and implementation.
VISUALIZATION
From study through construction, we leverage different types of graphics to communicate the possibilities of a project, options for look and feel, and to establish expectations for quality and craft of construction.
We use visual storytelling and mood boards to express the potential character and energy of the project. Simple black and white wireframe studies help convey spatial and functional relationships, and rendered perspectives showcase material exploration.
Virtual reality walk-throughs allow clients to experience the unbuilt space in three dimensions. From initial massing to the finalized design, this immersive technology allows for real-time project and client team collaboration and development.
THE BIG IDEA
PRECEDENT IMAGES | INSPIRATION
FRIDLEY CIVIC CAMPUS | Fridley, Minnesota
CONSTRUCTION
BKV works hand in hand with our clients and their construction professionals – whether general contractors or construction managers – throughout project construction. We believe in maintaining the continuity of our project teams from design through construction. Consistent leadership paired with our construction administration specialists, all of whom have deep experience in Civic projects, allows the early decisions and foundations of the project’s vision to be shepherded through to completion. Timely communication and attention to detail is the key to implementation of a finished project that successfully realizes what our clients have envisioned.
BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS
BKV Group is one of the few national design firms offering an in-house Branded Environments unit who, in addition, assist our design teams in navigating through the initial research, strategy and discovery phases, shaping brands early in the project life cycle that will inform how spaces are designed, marketed and experienced.
OUR SERVICES
Project Brand Discovery
Project Brand Messaging, Positioning & Strategy
Naming
Visual Identity/Logo
Brand Guidelines
Brand Applications
Digital & Print Collateral
Marketing Materials
Promotional Merchandise Design
Environmental Graphics / Installations
Visual Identity Systems (Wayfinding Signage)
Social Media Templates
Website Design
Creating positive impacts on people, the planet, and providing the greatest value for our clients
VISION
Architecture is beautiful for the harmony it creates between itself, it’s environment, and its inhabitants. Sustainable design is the natural progression of that vision with BKV designed buildings always responding to their context — their location, their function, and how they are used by their occupants. BKV Group has a holistic vision for the building’s life-cycle to appropriately respond to context, function, and use. We leverage sustainable design strategies by tapping into a wide spectrum of knowledge — of architecture, interior design, urban planning, energy modeling, engineering, landscape architecture, technology and science — with our clients receiving the benefit of decades of collective professional expertise. In addition, because there is no predetermined outcome or prototypical concept, our process yields work of extraordinary originality, crafted to the specific needs of the site, user and circumstances.
COMMITMENT TO A CARBON-NEUTRAL PRACTICE
Memberships & Affiliations
AIA Materials Pledge, ASID Materials Pledge, Mindful Materials, B3 Guidelines
2030 Documentation
BKV’s Architects and Designers, Structural, and MEP Engineers report Embodied Carbon and Energy performance for all projects to The AIA 2030 Commitment initiative records
Construction Standardization
Standard Method v1.1 (Greenguard, SCS, Indoor Advantage, FloorScore, CRI Green Label Plus)
Healthy Materials Promise
We work with our vendors to minimize the use of toxic materials and focus our specifications on non-toxic materials. Designers will seek certifications for the materials that are specified by HPD, EPD, Declare, Cradle to Cradle, Living Product, FSC, SCAQMD, CDPH Standard Method v1.1 Greenguard. SCS, Indoor Advantage, Floor Score, CRI Green Lable Plus
Healthy Community Building
Urban design and landscape architecture are critical components of human health
SHAKOPEE CITY HALL | Shakopee, Minnesota
CULTURAL & CIVIC EXPERIENCE
FRIDLEY CIVIC CAMPUS
CITY HALL & PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY
Fridley, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Integrated public safety facility.
TYPE
Government, City Halls, Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, Public Works
SIZE
184,300 SF total project
37,500 SF Police Station
40-space garage
The recently completed Fridley Public Safety facility, City Hall, and Public Works stand on a prominent site near Rice Creek, blending urban and natural elements in their design. Featuring stone, brick, metal, wood, and glass, the buildings integrate with their surroundings.
The Public Safety Department is located across the main lobby from the City Hall, with sub-lobbies for Fire and Police offices. Shared spaces include restrooms and conference areas, while sensitive functions like printing are kept separate. All personnel areas are on the first floor, including administration, records, investigations, and patrol spaces.
The facility includes dual three-bay drive-through apparatus rooms, a large training room, and support spaces. The lower level houses Police facilities like a squad garage and firing range, while the second floor hosts fire station amenities and bunk rooms.
Past the secure fire station perimeter lies a fitness room available to all City employees and a shared training room also used as an EOC.
FRIDLEY CIVIC CAMPUS CITY HALL & PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY | Fridley, Minnesota
FRIDLEY CIVIC CAMPUS CITY HALL & PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY | Fridley, Minnesota
INDEPENDENCE CITY HALL STUDY & RENOVATION
Independence, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Transformative adaptation expressing community values
TYPE
City Hall, Public Safety
SIZE
14,719 SF Remodel
The City of Independence, MN, located 25 miles west of Minneapolis, underwent a renovation of its City Hall, originally built in 1991 and expanded in 2000 to accommodate the West Hennepin Public Safety Department. BKV Group conducted a feasibility study to enhance the facility’s operational efficiency and aesthetic representation of the community. We identified underutilized space withing the building, and proposed a revised space plan that enhances the visitor experience and connects all building users with the beautiful landscape. Key improvements included repurposing an oversized, windowless community room to incorporate views of the wetlands, redesigning the lobby for better flow and natural light, and upgrading finishes, furnishings, and lighting. Infrastructure upgrades were made to address mechanical, electrical, and site drainage issues, while the building’s exterior received a new rainscreen system for a modern look.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS CITY HALL & POLICE STATION
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Sustainable solutions for Police Station and City Hall.
TYPE
Government Center, Law Enforcement
SIZE
62,600 SF
The City of Inver Grove Heights faced serious space shortages in its combined city hall and police station as a result of the city’s significant growth in recent years. After a needs assessment and analysis, BKV Group provided additional space through a two-phase project. The project first added a new public safety wing on the west, and then renovated and added on to the existing structure to create a city hall wing on the east.
The public safety wing houses the police department and fire department administration. It includes offices, holding facilities, locker rooms, support spaces, and a 10-stall enclosed and secured garage for police vehicles. The city hall wing has been remodeled to include expanded office space for city departments including administration, finance, community development, public works, and engineering, as well as needed support spaces. An enlarged council chamber, lobby, and public circulation space connect the various components.
Extensive sustainable design and energy-saving strategies were incorporated in the project, including a geothermal HVAC system, daylighting throughout the regularly occupied portions of the building, on-site storm water treatment, and sustainable building material selection.
ROCHESTER NORTH SERVICE CENTER & POLICE STATION
Rochester, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New police station for expanding population.
TYPE
Government, Police Department
SIZE
61,000 SF
Rochester’s population has grown significantly from almost 72,000 to 111,000 since 1990, with projections indicating further growth to 150,000 in the next five years due to Mayo medical complex developments.
Police operations have adapted to this growth, with staff numbers increasing from 121 to 191 and projected to reach 254 over the next 15-20 years.
BKV Group was hired to conduct a study to assess future staffing and operational needs. The study identified four planning options aligned with the city’s long-term vision.
The preferred master planning option called for a north-side substation. The City adopted this approach and BKV Group conducted a site feasibility study on an existing building that was offered for sale Upon completion of the study, the city purchased the property and worked with BKV Group to design renovations and a building addition to the existing structure. Currently under construction, this project has been phased with the sitework and Service Center planned to open in early Feb 2020. The new Police Station will open in summer 2020 providing much needed operational space for the department.
EDINA CITY HALL & POLICE STATION
Edina, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Challenging site with integrated city hall and police station
TYPE
City Hall, Police Station
SIZE
87,000 SF
The new Edina City Hall and Police Station, situated on a challenging triangular site surrounded by trees and upscale properties, features a stone plaza that connects the site with parking, outdoor areas, and the lobby. The 87,000 sf, two-story building houses city operations, council chambers, public conference rooms, and the Police Department, along with secured underground parking.
The design solution recognizes the existing city hall/police facility’s need to remain in operation on the same site during construction. The site is at the junction of two significant entry points onto the City. The design integrates city hall and police functions around a central public space, with the lobby serving as the access point between the two buildings.
The council chambers, reminiscent of the original ‘grange’ hall, serves as a gateway to the City. City government and law enforcement meetings are transparently conducted and visible to its constituents. The lobby spans two floors eastward, granting access to city department suites. With its fully glazed south-facing walk, it offers a connection and overview of the city.
The police department, accessible through the main lobby, occupies two floors, with a secure 30-car squad garage underground. Administration for both city hall and the police department are linked through a bridge over the public lobby, merging separate functions discreetly.
PLYMOUTH CITY HALL & PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING
Plymouth, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Integrated city hall and public safety facility solution.
TYPE
Public Safety, City Hall
SIZE
68,850 SF
The BKV team took a step back and master-planned the entire municipal site. This new plan incorporates both the public safety department and the city hall into one modern facility. Combining these programmatic elements into the existing city hall unifies the complex and supports the building’s natural setting. The secured squad garage is built into the natural bowl-shaped site, reserving additional city park area as well as providing a necessary security separation of police and staff vehicles. The landscape supports this gesture with native plantings and low stone walls.
The project resolved the problem of public safety vehicle parking by placing 80 spaces of secured parking underground and contained vehicle parking on its roof. This proposal allowed for a new park edge to be established. Terraced walls modulate the landscape and provide seating positions for events at the band-shell and in the park. A green roof terrace was constructed along an axis with the existing band-shell. Between the two buildings a new community room was placed. The space is available to all residents of the city and is accessed both from the park and the new lobby of the combined facility. A new stair tower was also added to connect to the new sub-grade parking. The tower also continues with the vernacular and its scale responds to the expanse of the park beyond.
SHAKOPEE CITY HALL
Shakopee, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Integrated city hall and public safety facility.
TYPE
City Hall, Law Enforcement
SIZE
21,000 SF
BKV Group collaborated with Shakopee City to develop a new City Hall due to space constraints in the downtown location. The new facility, an extension of the existing police station, consolidates city services and features a modern council chambers and community meeting room. Despite limited space, the design emphasizes connectivity and public accessibility with a light-filled corridor and welcoming lobby. Challenges included splitting functions between two levels, addressed through careful planning and an internal open stair. A plaza area enhances community engagement and visually connects adjacent city buildings.
STREAMWOOD VILLAGE HALL & PUBLIC WORKS RENOVATION
Streamwood, Illinois
OVERVIEW
Integrated city hall and public works renovation
TYPE
City Hall, Public Works
SIZE
4,630 SF Remodel
BKV Group and WRA conducted a thorough analysis of space needs and utilization for various facilities in the Village of Streamwood, including the Village Hall, Police Station, Fire Stations, Community Development Garage, and Public Works facility. After discussions with each department, BKV Group was tasked with designing changes to the Village Hall and part of the Public Works facility, as well as conducting asbestos testing and exterior work on the Village Hall. Detailed 3D models were created to visualize proposed changes, and the design team collaborated with the Village and furniture vendors to select suitable interior finishes and desk systems. The project was executed in multiple phases to minimize disruptions to employees’ workspaces.
WADENA CITY LIBRARY DESIGN
Wadena, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Adaptive reuse expands library services
TYPE
Public Library
SIZE
7,277 SF
The library faced challenges with its outdated and overcrowded building, which lacked the capacity for reuse and expansion. BKV Group conducted a feasibility study of various sites and chose a centrally located former bank building for its visibility and potential for future growth. This new location allows for expanded operations, including drive-through book services and rentable spaces like a community room and maker space. Project goals focused on enhancing customer experience, providing dedicated areas for different age groups, and accommodating new program functions. BKV Group’s work included detailed collections analysis, stakeholder engagement, and comprehensive design and planning services. The new library supports collection growth, offers distinct areas for children, teens, and adults, and includes a maker space and a flexible meeting room, with plans to further expand study and meeting spaces in the future.
DAKOTA COUNTY SOUTH ST. PAUL LIBRARY
South St. Paul, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Robust community engagement informs resilient, accessible library
TYPE
Public Library
SIZE
16,000 SF
Dakota County is developing a new one-story 16,100 GSF public library facility as part of an operational transition from the standalone City of South Saint Paul Library to a South Saint Paul branch of the Dakota County Library system. The process has included collaboration with both libraries, the County, the City, and multiple rounds of novel community engagement and outreach, including tabling at a Farmer’s Market, and interactive activities at a Chldren’s outdoor storytime.
The new facility increases study spaces, provides dedicated collection and reading areas for adults, teens and children, and provides a new multi-use community room that can be accessed by the community when the library is closed. Special features include a custom-designed mural and interior glazing film highlighting historic and contemporary imagery of South St. Paul, and a reading garden for children’s storytime and outdoor library programming.
This Project demonstrates leadership in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of cost-effective and energy-efficient, high-performance and sustainable facilities, drawing on Dakota County’s standards for high-performance construction. The project is also designed as a Net Zero Energy facility, and complies with MN B3 Sustainability guidelines and SB2030 energy requirements.
MARY RILEY STYLES PUBLIC LIBRARY
Falls Church, Virginia
OVERVIEW
Library expansion enhances Falls Church community.
TYPE
Public Library
SIZE
2-story, 24,600 SF, 6,600 SF addition, 18,000 SF renovation
The Mary Riley Styles Public Library in Falls Church, established in 1899, required expansion from its 18,000-square-foot building to accommodate population growth. BKV Group was tasked with providing programming confirmation, design, and construction administration services for the renovation and addition. They designed a two-story, 6,600-square-foot addition along Northern Virginia Street and relocated the entrance to Park Avenue, integrating exterior site improvements to create a “City Center” that connects the library with City Hall and the community center.
Due to budget challenges identified during the schematic design, the library was temporarily moved to modular classrooms during construction, which helped eliminate costly project phasing. BKV Group’s efficient planning allowed the use of existing modular classrooms without structural modifications, reducing costs.
The completed renovation, achieving LEED Silver certification, retains cherished features of the original library while introducing new spaces and details. The renovation significantly enhances the customer experience, with reconfigured collections offering distinct areas for each age group.
HOWARD LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Howard Lake, Minnesota
Following a 2018 municipal space needs assessment, which included the library, BKV Group executed a detailed pre-design study for Howard Lake’s 1979, two-story facility. Work included detailed collection, program, and furnishings analysis, an evaluation of the castin-place concrete structure’s capacity for expansion, code compliance upgrades, and energy efficiency. The final evaluation included assessments of reconfiguring and transforming the existing building to varying degrees, and also relocation of the library to a new site closer to downtown. The greatest long-term value and operational efficiency was found in relocation to the new Central Park in downtown howard Lake, where the facility can be a single story, provide a multi-use community room available when the library is closed, and also incorporate public restrooms to serve the park.
The project’s goals and objectives include: ensuring equitable and universal access to all library resources; providing a safe, welcoming, and inviting resource for users of all ages, providing spaces with near-term flexibility and long-term adaptability; accommodating the continuing evolution of library services; and the development of staff support spaces that respond to existing operational staffing (1 FTE).
The modest facility provides dedicated spaces for each age range of reader, a storytime room connected to a secure outdoor reading area, multiple study rooms including one for use by the City as a “soft interview” room (available after library hours), a fireplace reading area, and the integration of a number of book art pieces that establish a strong sense of identity and character.
CLARA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Clara City, Minnesota
The existing operations of the Clara City Library are located in a former bank building. Earlier adaptations of this space for reuse has led to inefficiencies of space, limited space configurations, and a lack of amenity spaces one would typically find in a contemporary local library. The scope of this project was to define current operational, functional, and facility issues, while developing a proposed space program and cost estimate for the recommended renovation or construction strategy. Goals of the project included: Ensuring sufficient space for collections, activities, programming, administration, collaboration and the community. A facility that welcomes, represents, and accommodates the whole community and their varied needs and wants. A renewed library with spaces that are functional, durable, and adaptable as needs continue to evolve.
The study included an evaluation of multiple strategies, including existing building renovation and expansion, re-building on the current site, and potential relocation of the library to multiple potential new sites. The scope of work included a space needs assessment study, benchmarking the library with metrics of the regional library system, dialogue with key library and community stakeholders, development of a recommended space program, development of functional adjacency diagrams, and development of total project cost estimates for each scheme reviewed.
The recommended site has the capacity for the expanded building as a one-story facility, has the flexibility to be a two-story structure if additional shared community meeting spaces are desired, and can accommodate a dedicated library green space which is lacking in the existing location. A benefit of relocation to a new site is that the existing library can remain fully operational until moving into the new building; additionally, this site offers more parking and enhanced pedestrian connectivity to other Clara City public resources.
ALBERT LEA PUBLIC WORKS
Albert Lea, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Facilities study and expansion.
TYPE
Public Works
SIZE
6,000 SF
BKV Group performed a comprehensive study of the City of Albert Lea’s facilities, including the airport, city hall, library, fire station, police station, public safety answering point, public works, pool house, community center, ice arena, and a large park shelter. The team reviewed space functionality, interviewed staff and elected officials, and gathered data on future needs to create space programming for each city department.
Based on an overall public works master plan, this project is the first phase of a multi-phase expansion project that re-purposes a series of buildings and proposes multiple additional spaces. Phase I provides administrative and support spaces including offices, locker rooms, conference and meeting rooms, along with other essential support areas. A planned phase II includes significant site work, a wash port and a fleet garage building.
DAKOTA COUNTY EMPIRE CAMPUS BUILDING
Farmington, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
Centralized facilities expansion
TYPE
Public Works, Sheriff’s Office, Dispatch
SIZE
Remodeled Building Area = 31,541 SF
Building Additions = 44,347 GSF
Dakota County is the third largest county in Minnesota with a population of 421,751. The county has 424 miles of roadways, 83 bridges, 250 traffic signals and more than 25,000 signs that their public works department is responsible for. In 2016 a study was completed that examined centralizing the majority of their operations into one facility. The existing facility that will be expanded is the Dakota County Empire Campus, which currently is 40 Acres. The site supports operations for transportation, fleet maintenance, parks and recreation, the sheriff’s office and 911 dispatch facility.
In conjunction with our consultant, Maintenance Facility Consultants, a division of Whitman, Requardt & Associates, our project design identified a long-range, 20-year operations and space requirement to address the current multiple campus space needs as well as the immediate needs of relocating operations from other campuses to the Empire Transportation site. The design team worked with the county to maximize the use of existing space while minimizing the construction dollar impacts of new space. One way this was accomplished was converting existing cold storage space into conditioned space and replacing the cold storage space with a construction solution that would cost less. Operational efficiency was maximized by analyzing the county’s current operations and reconfiguring spaces to provide both appropriately sized space and proper adjacencies.
ROSEMOUNT POLICE STATION & PUBLIC WORKS
Rosemount, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
New combined Police and Public Works facility
TYPE
Government, Police Station
SIZE
160,000 GSF
50,000 SF police station
35 stall squad garage
5 lane gun range
BKV Group and Oertel Architects partnered to provide architectural and engineering services to the City of Rosemount, MN for a new combined Police and Public Works facility. The 160,000 GSF facility is planned on a 20-acre site at a highly visible location within the city.
Our team worked with each department to confirm their operational space needs and develop an accurate space program for their current and long-term needs. The new facility will centralize public works operations, providing space for public works offices and staff support space as well as vehicle storage, vehicle maintenance, and wash bay areas. Additionally, a fuel island, material storage bins, and salt shed are planned on the site. The police station will include officer work areas, indoor squad garage, law enforcement training features including an indoor 5-lane gun range, temporary holding spaces, evidence processing and storage, and shared classroom spaces.
CHANHASSEN CIVIC CAMPUS
Chanhasses, Minnesota
OVERVIEW
City Hall, Senior Center and Park Building
TYPE
City Hall
SIZE
33,000 SF City Hall // 7,000 SF Senior Center // 4,000 SF Park Pavilion // 6 acre Park // Campus Site
The City of Chanhassen has engaged the BKV Group team to help re-imagine their civic center of their downtown core. The team is currently assisting the City of Chanhassen in reimagining its civic campus as a city center that will attract visitors to the campus and the surrounding downtown area for community events and recreational and cultural activities. The project’s purpose is to create a multi-use Civic Campus that includes a City Hall, Senior Center and Park that are welcoming to Chanhassen’s diverse community and creates a place of gathering, entertainment and nature. A public open space for celebrating community life will be the highlight of the downtown, creating a center of activity and a focus for the downtown.
The new civic center retains the existing library, skate park, Veterans’ Memorial, and parking structure while adding a new city hall; new pickleball courts; a new park pavilion, stage, plaza, fire pit, and upper lawn; an art walk; a splash fountain; a new playground; food truck areas; reflection pool, and a reconfigured intersection.
Surrounding downtown neighborhoods will be linked to the new Civic Campus, strengthening the relationship between the downtown and the community it serves.
