NDSU architecture students tour Minot, North Dakota, in preparation for a design project to create a vision for the community's downtown. Photo courtesy of Minot Area Chamber EDC.
NDSU students are getting hands-on learning experience, making an impact throughout North Dakota and contributing to the institutional land-grant mission.
On Jan. 29, 16 fourth-year architecture students participated in a guided walking tour of downtown Minot, North Dakota, led by the Minot Area Chamber EDC. They met with several community stakeholders to gather information on Jan. 30.
The result will be an urban design final project that includes the presentation of a newly conceptualized downtown Minot with detailed artist renderings.
“Not every architecture student gets a chance like this, to work on a project that directly impacts people,” said student Sofia Naranjo Mata. “This is an amazing opportunity for us to put our years of education together and create something special for the Minot community.”
Kristi Hanson, NDSU adjunct professor of architecture, will lead students through the process.
“The land-grant mission of NDSU is to go out and serve communities around our state,” Hanson said. “Downtown Minot is the perfect place to achieve that mission. We’re going to knit what we heard from this community into a narrative – and ultimately, a creative process will come out of this to answer the question, ‘Who does Minot want to be?’ ”
The project was initiated by Kevin Black, CEO of Creedence Energy and Minot Area Chamber EDC board chair, after he saw the Vision for Medora project created by Hanson’s students in 2021. He contacted Hanson to see if this year’s class could focus on downtown Minot.
“We are so grateful to Kristi and her students for dedicating their time and talent to the Magic City,” Black said. “We all want Minot to be a place that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home. The vision this class creates will help us tell the story of the magic of Minot for decades to come.”
The Minot Area Chamber EDC hosted the architecture students and Hanson at the preliminary meetings this week. Brekka Kramer, president and CEO of the Minot Area Chamber EDC, explained her excitement about the partnership and said the collaboration fits perfectly into Gov. Doug Burgum’s ongoing Main Street Initiative.
“This is no ordinary class project,” Minot Mayor Tom Ross said. “The vision of Kristi and her students is going to further the growth and optimism already found in downtown Minot. Their work will have an impact on the city of Minot for years to come, and that excites us.”
The final project will wrap up at the end of the semester, with a final presentation scheduled in May.
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