The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden; Reconstructed
The 11-acre Minneapolis Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center recently underwent a major renovation to rebuild its infrastructure and breathe new life into the Minnesota landmark. The renovation includes the addition of 16 new sculptures and entailed a complete reconstruction of deteriorated and weakened infrastructure including irrigation, drainage, and stormwater systems. Recent updates also helped to increase accessibility with the implementation of new walkways and a larger restroom facility. Energy efficiency was improved with the conversion of Cowles Conservatory into an open-air pavilion. Updated lighting throughout the park improved overall safety for employees and visitors. New landscaping embraces the original wetland ecology to promote sustainability. The north end of the garden features a new meadow filled with native, deep-rooted plants designed to absorb stormwater run-off. There’s also an 80,000-gallon underground cistern to capture stormwater runoff from the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture allowing for the water to be reused for irrigation of the new landscaping.
About the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is one of the crown jewels of the city’s park system, uniting two of Minnesota’s most cherished resources—its greenspace and its cultural life. The 11-acre site is home to the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry and showcases more than 40 works from the Walker Art Center’s renowned collection. A partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, the garden is a top destination for visitors, who enjoy not only the art but also the seasonal displays in the Cowles Conservatory and the Alene Grossman Memorial Arbor and Flower Garden.
Project Details
- Project | Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- Location | Minneapolis, MN
- Size | 650,000 SF
- General Contractor | Mortenson Construction
- Architects | Oslund; Snow Kreilich Architects
- Completion | June 2017