Peter J. King Family Foundation Leadership Center

Located on the Northern Star Council’s Historic Fort Snelling property, the new Peter J. King Family Foundation Leadership Center reflects the principles on which Scouts was founded: outdoor adventure, community building, environmental conservation, and skills building.

As a modern interpretation of the historic neighborhood, the design compliments the high-adventure programs carried out in the adjacent Base Camp building. Shared courtyards between the two buildings contain additional outdoor classrooms, gathering spaces, expanded ropes courses, climbing walls, and other physical challenges. The industrial interiors – wood steel, and concrete – showcase the wide entry commons, a double-height gathering hall anchored by a giant stone hearth, a special leadership lab, classrooms, scouting shop, offices and a breakroom for the staff.

The building’s bold material selection helps catch the eyes of drivers off the highway while it’s thoughtful, U-shaped structure hugs a landscaped courtyard, allowing for private ceremonies and events to be held without distraction. The courtyard, just like the rest of the facility, is defined by a liberal use of glass, connecting the space’s users to the outdoors at all times. In many ways the building is a constant reminder that, for a scout, adventure is just around the corner.