More than 30 architects, county officials, community leaders and military personnel spent four days in Luverne last week discussing the new Minnesota National Guard Readiness Center.
The group wrapped up the predesign meetings Thursday morning, Sept. 12, with a finished concept.
“Overall it went well,” said Paul Kempton, project manager with the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs. “We had good communication with guard members, community leaders and design staff.”
The design staff, TKDA of St. Paul, will develop a schematic design and unveil the results in late December.
Last week’s meetings changed the building’s shape from a rectangle to an L-shape, adding distinction between the readiness and community areas, according to TKDA project manager Jay Wiederholt.
Discussions also led to a second, more visual driveway off of Koehn Avenue that brings visitors to a south building entrance and adjoining parking lot.
The building design will now have an inviting lobby connecting directly to a public assembly hall that features two basketball practice courts. Classrooms areas will also be located off the lobby area.
With the change in footprint shape, the rest of the building can be cordoned off for the equipment storage and administrative offices of the Minnesota National Guard.
“Once it’s built, it (the building) would be open to other organizations and the general public to use,” Wiederholt said.
Guard officials and architects worked with members of the Luverne Basketball Association on court design in the assembly area.
“Our goal is just to have a place were they (kids) can go and play during the winter months,” said association member John Sichmeller at the Sept. 9 initial project briefing.
The large assembly hall, which will be used by guardsmen during monthly trainings, is possible due to $5 million in private funding through the K.A.H.R. Foundation.
Foundation founder and retired Minnesota National Guard Brevet Colonel Warren G. Herreid II approached guard officials in early 2017 with a joint-funding proposal for the new armory to be built in Luverne.
In October 2017, a 15-acre site was chosen in the Luverne industrial park near Interstate 90.
Building size was predetermined at 47,902 square feet with a budget set at $16.5 million.
As the Minnesota National Guard organization updates buildings around the state, officials try to tap into needs at each armory location.
“Each community has a different composition in how they use the facility,” said Dennis Arntson, Minnesota National Guard architectural supervisor.
While Luverne’s need focused on a large assembly space, other cities have attached armories to fire stations, schools or city offices.
Luverne’s armory is slated for May 2022 completion.