Ninety minutes of good engagement

Last chance to meet with the architect on the Phillips Aquatic Center, MONDAY, Sept. 14, 6:30 PM, 2nd floor at the Phillips Community Center.

Steve Wohlford and Linda McCracken-Hunt from STUDIO FIVE Architects listening to opinions about the Aquatic Center and explaining the process.

August 24th, on short public notice, Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board (MPRB) conducted the first of two scheduled Community Engagement meetings regarding the design of the Phillips Aquatics Center. Originally scheduled at the Phillips Community Center”'s Conference Room A, the attendance warranted a last-minute change to the larger space in the cafeteria.

Representing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board was Cliff Swenson, Director, Design & Project Management and Dana Murdoch, Design Project Management, as well as Commissioners Scott Vreeland and Meg Forney.

The architect/design firm selected by the MPRB to come up with a final design is Studio Five architects, with Linda McCracken, lead principal of the firm, heading this project. Joining her tonight was Steve Wohlford, project architect, and Tom Schafer of USAquatics, who has been hired by Studio Five to work with them on this project.

As the meeting began and people around the room introduced themselves, it was clear that, while there were only 20 people in the room, it was a diverse gathering representing many different interest groups.… Read the rest “Ninety minutes of good engagement”

What is Minneapolis Swims Official Role in the Phillips Aquatic Center?

New Design Documents have begun It is important to note that the renderings, elevations, and plans shown here are conceptual images developed in the last five years in previous meetings and negotiations. Final design documents will now be prepared by the new design team Studio Five Architects including their Consultant from USAquatics using previous images as history to date, added to information from the two Community Engagement Meetings””August 24th & September 14th–, and coupled with their own expertise.

BY DENNY BENNETT

Minneapolis Swims is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization managed by an all- volunteer board of directors, and has no paid staff. Minneapolis Swims mission is to bring equity, access and the opportunities that swimming can bring to all of the citizens of Minneapolis. It has decided that building the Phillips Aquatics Center is the most immediate path toward achieving these goals in Minneapolis.

In 2011 the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board (MPRB) entered into a fundraising agreement with Minneapolis Swims. This was superseded by a more detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2013 which defined in greater detail, Minneapolis Swims responsibilities in raising additional funds to build a larger facility, and the resulting relationship as the long term lease holder and operating entity of the project if those milestones were achieved.… Read the rest “What is Minneapolis Swims Official Role in the Phillips Aquatic Center?”