Minneapolis Black Cultural Center

‘From shame to fame’ - a glorious idea by Fredrick Brathwaite to turn the existing third precinct building into a Black Cultural Museum and a Community Center. Fredrick came to DJR to share his vision, and this quickly turned into a friendship resulting in DJR’s commitment to help Fredrick bring his vision to reality. After months of advising meetings with the Minneapolis Black Cultural Center (MBCC) steering committee and listening to voices of the community, we had the privilege to act as Fredrick’s pencil and were able to create a project that is truly a product of love, care, and humility from the community.

The guiding concept captures the journey of black Americans, a celebration of African origins, and undaunted resolution to thrive and succeed against all resistance. The essence and influence of black women and Americans is woven into this display of history. The project begins a powerful journey by transforming the existing third precinct building into a memorial for black people killed by police brutality, holding this space as sacred after the events of May 2020. A “Memorial Walk” takes the form of a sunken garden of healing and reflection, which leads visitors to a 170,000 square foot Black Culture & History Museum, spanning seven stories. The ground level is planned to include unique black owned art and retail stores, a black soul food restaurant, and a five-story atrium that leads to the museum entrance on level two. Above the museum is an event center with a green rooftop terrace that provides panoramic views of the downtown skyline and south Minneapolis. Across the courtyard from the museum is the Black Cultural Community Center, a six-story, 70,000 SF building that will house classrooms, conferences rooms, sports facilities, educational spaces, after-school programs, health & wellness clinic, and a green roof top.

Throughout the design process, the project has been conceived to showcase sustainable and culturally rooted construction techniques, including a high efficiency building envelope, innovative mass timber structural system, and stormwater harvesting systems that work with ecologically dynamic planting.

As of late, the city of Minneapolis decided to renovate and remodel the building for the use of a new Election Center. The MBCC steering committee has not given up and is still holding some meetings to rethink and redefine a new scope and location for the so needed and deserved, Black Cultural Center. As this process is ongoing, we will keep updating our progress.