North End Community Center

St. Paul’s North End neighborhood represents one of the fastest growing, most underserved, and most culturally diverse communities in the city. With such growth comes a pressing need for more community services, recreational amenities, and places for neighbors to gather and socialize.

Currently housed in leased space in North End’s relatively compact Rice Recreation Center, a building ill-equipped to accommodate the Community Center’s expansive program needs, the new facility will be a versatile and accessible asset for community members of all ages. It will likewise serve as a prototype for neighborhood-driven regenerative design. Sited across the street from the Rice Street Library, the Community Center will stand at the eastern edge of Fritz Klark Park, a well-worn recreation field that is slated for a major design overhaul including multi-use ball fields fitted with synthetic turf, a basketball court, playgrounds, and a vast tree canopy. Overall, it was critical for the site’s revisioning to incorporate first-hand feedback from constituents, thus ensuring the diversity of community interests was met.

The new building will feature 25,000 square feet of recreation and fitness spaces, community meeting rooms, a community kitchen, a teen center with recording studio, and staff offices. A central open courtyard will connect the Center’s recreation and community spaces while also providing an inviting entryway from both the park and street. Beyond its physical appearance, the facility will be a sustainable showcase for St. Paul. The Center will include a high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system, on-site underground storm water management, and a roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system. Sustainable materials, water use reduction, and a focus on occupant wellness have been integral components of the new North End Community Center’s design.