Location:
Minneapolis, MN
Owner:
Central Community Housing Trust/Hope Community
Architect:
Cunningham Group
Contractor:
Watson Forsberg Constructions
Engineer:
Palanisami Assoc.
The Phillips Neighborhood was once seen as one of the rougher parts of Minneapolis, the Franklin-Portland Gateway project, funded by the Central Community Housing Trust, seeks to change that attitude. The Jourdain, named after the late American Indian Winnie Jourdain, is the second of a four-phase project that will feature 41 units of affordable housing and street-level retail shopping. When completed, the Franklin-Portland Gateway will consist of 300 residential units and 20,000 Sq. Ft. of commercial space.
The precaster worked with Watson Forsberg Construction to install the 19,842 Sq. Ft. of hollow core plank, 957 L.F. of concrete beams, and the 652 L.F. of columns for the project. One of the many advantages of precast concrete is the ability to install quickly in many weather conditions. This feature allowed product to be installed during the Minnesota winter.
Tight building site conditions also made precast the solution of choice with very limited staging area and restricted working hours.
The precaster, working with the builders and designers were able to be an integral part of the citys rejuvenation.