Minneapolis

Rebuilding the Bde Maka Ska Pavilion

New pavilion concessions area under construction after historic building destroyed by fire in 2019

By Daniel Elias, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

A rendering of the new Bde Maka Ska pavilion site

At about 3 a.m. on May 16, 2019, a man discarded hookah embers behind a group of trash and recycling bins next to the Bde Maka Ska Pavilion as a thunderstorm rolled in. The embers, glowing orange on security camera footage, were sheltered from the storm’s rain, but not its wind, which whipped the coals into the base of a nearby building column. By 3:42 am, the entire historic pavilion was on fi re. The 90-yearold building was declared a total loss and razed 12 days later. The Bde Maka Ska Pavilion is located at one of the most popular areas in the Minneapolis park system. The pavilion building offered lakeside concessions since the 1930s, and the surrounding area also includes the lake’s only boat launch, a sailing school, boat rental kiosk and busy trail junction. It’s been a natural gathering place throughout the history of the park system. After building rubble was hauled away, the site was paved and utilities repaired to return it to a condition where people could gather again. Food trucks replaced pavilion concessions, the sailing school, boat launch and boat rentals resumed operating, and people enjoyed new lake views afforded by the open plaza where the pavilion once stood. However, the volume of people and activity at the site are best served by an all-season building with bathrooms, storage and a commercial kitchen for concessions. The unfortunate loss of the historic pavilion was also an opportunity to rethink how site infrastructure and design could sustainably serve future generations of park users.

Planning for Future Generations

In 2020, a team led by Cuningham was hired to design the rebuilt pavilion. Cuningham solicited feedback from Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board staff across many departments, along with site vendors and other stakeholders. In March 2021, two potential concept designs were widely publicized for public feedback. A video walkthrough, graphic presentation, online survey, social media posts and in-person and virtual open houses garnered hundreds of comments. The design team analyzed feedback to refi ne a single pavilion site design that was approved by MPRB Commissioners in May 2021. Construction documents and permitting were fi nalized throughout 2021 and Morcon Construction was awarded a $6.2 million contract to rebuild the pavilion area. Construction broke ground on May 23, 2022

Top photo: The original pavilion building before the fi re. Bottom photo: Remains of the pavilion after the fi re.

The New Pavilion Area

The new Bde Maka Ska pavilion site will host two buildings separated by a walkway that connects a variety of outdoor seating. The buildings contain a commercial kitchen, accessible all-gender restrooms and expanded storage areas. In addition to the varied, ample outdoor seating and gathering spaces, the site will also offer expanded bike parking, accessible vehicle parking and drop-off improvements, upgraded lighting, new trees, landscaping and stormwater BMPs, an improved trail crossing at the boat launch entrance, and opportunities for public art and interpretative signs. The project will be under construction for the next year, with the new pavilion area scheduled to open for the next generation of lakeside gatherings in summer 2023.