Annual awards program exemplifies “the best of the interior design profession.”
HGA has won the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) National 2023 Focus Project Award for the adaptive reuse of the Water Works Park Pavilion in downtown Minneapolis. HGA won in the Community Focus category for large firms.
Water Works was part of a public/private partnership between the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and The Sioux Chef™ to redevelop a three-acre industrial parcel overlooking the Mississippi River into a community destination that honors the history of the riverfront, which was once lined with flour and lumber mills.
The project includes green space with native foliage, outdoor plaza, two-story pavilion, visitor amenities, and Owamni restaurant inspired by indigenous cuisine.
The pavilion integrates salvaged and new materials to evoke a contemporary feel while nodding to the past. For instance, exterior brick cladding reflects the historic Mill District’s masonry architecture, an arched entryway repurposes original stone walls, railroad ties lining the patio echo former rail transportation, and wood ceiling beams recall the timber framing of old mills.
The Owamni restaurant on the second level features a simple material palette that allows native floral arrangements, art, and food to shine in a vibrant and inviting atmosphere. The 65-seat space features an open kitchen, full bar, outdoor patio, and panoramic views of the river and historic sites.
“Through a thoughtful connection to the surrounding community, Water Works weaves together a complicated history into a place that reflects its many stories for now and generations to come,” said Mike Hara, AIA, Project Designer with HGA. “This award honors the successful convergence of cultural, physical, and spiritual histories to create something new and memorable.”
About the ASID Awards
The ASID National Awards: Focus Project Awards recognize outstanding design projects that respond to challenges facing our world around climate, health, and equity in the built environment. For more information, visit ASID.
Credits
HGA partnered with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, The Sioux Chef, Damon Farber Landscape Architects, H+U Construction, Barr Engineering, MacDonald & Mack Architects, Kimley Horn, and 106 Group.
