The International Falls Land Port of Entry (LPOE) will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the highest standards of operational efficiency and sustainability, while welcoming travelers with clarity and dignity appropriate for the entry to the United States.
International Falls has the highest traffic volume of any port in Minnesota. The port facilities and site organization will facilitate the efficient flow of over $12 billion of trade annually. The newly designed port will increase traveler processing efficiency and capacity, minimize conflict points among passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, trains, buses, and pedestrians, and provide for the secure inspection of commercial vehicles. Complex security requirements have been prioritized throughout the design process.
The LPOE is designed to meet LEED Gold certification at a minimum, with the potential for achieving LEED Platinum. The mass timber structural system will sequester carbon while reflecting the historical importance of the region’s timber industry. The project is net-zero energy ready; the team aims to deliver the project as net-zero or net-positive energy as budget permits. The entire 20-acre site will achieve Sustainable Sites Rating Initiative (SITES) Level Silver. Building placement, grading, and on-site stormwater management will provide resiliency, protecting operations from weather events and flooding, while also restoring native plant ecosystems and improving the health of the adjacent Rainy River.
