Minot – North Dakota State University students are getting hands-on learning experience, making an impact throughout North Dakota and contributing to the institutional land-grant mission.
On Jan. 29, 16 fourth-year architecture students participated in a guided walking tour of downtown Minot, led by the Minot Area Chamber EDC. They met with several community stakeholders to gather information on Jan. 30.
The result will be an urban design final project that includes the presentation of a newly conceptualized downtown Minot with detailed artist renderings.
“Not every architecture student gets a chance like this, to work on a project that directly impacts people,” said NDSU student Sofia Naranjo Mata. “This is an amazing opportunity for us to put our years of education together and create something special for the Minot community.”
Kristi Hanson, NDSU adjunct professor of architecture, will lead students through the process.
“The land-grant mission of NDSU is to go out and serve communities around our state,” Hanson said. “Downtown Minot is the perfect place to achieve that mission. We’re going to knit what we heard from this community into a narrative – and ultimately, a creative process will come out of this to answer the question, ‘Who does Minot want to be?’ ”
The project was initiated by Kevin Black, CEO of Creedence Energy and Minot Area Chamber EDC board chair, after he saw the Vision for Medora project created by Hanson’s students in 2021.
“We are so grateful to Kristi and her students for dedicating their time and talent to the Magic City,” Black said. “We all want Minot to be a place that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home. The vision this class creates will help us tell the story of the magic of Minot for decades to come.”
The Minot Area Chamber EDC hosted a series of community meetings with the architecture students and Hanson. Brekka Kramer, president and CEO of the Minot Area Chamber EDC, says the project aligns with MACEDC’s mission to advocate for and invest in business activity by being a collaborative partner in the community. It also fits perfectly into Gov. Doug Burgum’s ongoing Main Street Initiative.
“This collaboration fits a broader statewide initiative that envisions healthy, vibrant cities and gives community leaders the tools they need to capitalize on their community’s strengths,” said Kramer.
Minot Mayor Tim Ross also shared his excitement for the project.
“This is no ordinary class project,” said Ross. “The vision of Kristi and her students is going to further the growth and optimism already found in downtown Minot. Their work will have an impact on the city of Minot for years to come, and that excites us.”
The final project will wrap up at the end of the semester, with a final presentation scheduled in May.
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