Minnehaha Wins 2021 AIA Educational Facility Design Award

Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis was recently honored with a 2021 Educational Facility Design Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) – an award that recognizes state-of-the-art learning environments.

From the jury’s comments: “This project skillfully combines the memorialization of the previous school's compelling story with appropriate spaces for today.”

In 2017, a natural gas explosion destroyed the heart of Minnehaha, claiming two lives and two of the school's historic red brick structures. Cuningham’s progressive 72,000-square-foot campus addition turns tragedy into triumph. Designed and built in just 18 months, the new upper school embraces the Mississippi River Valley and the historic West River Parkway while connecting two existing buildings with vibrant and flexible learning spaces.

Following the accident, the Minnehaha community embraced the mantra "Together We Rise" and quickly sought a design and construction team to help evaluate its options for moving forward. Cuningham and the design team worked closely with the school to design, program, and build the facility. Inspired by Minnehaha's enduring spirit, the team expanded on the school’s mantra: Together We Plan – Together We Design – Together We Build – TOGETHER!