Category: Civic (4)

Zimmerman/Livonia Fire Hall Groundbreaking

On Thursday, June 25, 2020, the Zimmerman/Livonia Fire District held their Groundbreaking event at the site of their new Fire Hall + Event Center, 26140 136th Street NW, Zimmerman, MN. Located just west of the business district of Zimmerman near the edge of town, the Fire District obtained 9 acres of land to build their new building which will combine both functions of a fire station and event hall. Kodet Architectural Group engaged with the Fire District plus their stakeholders to incorporate these two unique programs together into a single community building which will have a 290 person banquet event hall and a 7 bay apparatus space for the fire station amongst other building amenities. Site excavation will start on Monday, June 29 and the building has an anticipated substantial completion date of June 2021. The Fire Hall Includes: 48 Person Training Room Fitness Center Kitchen and Lounge Space Turnout Gear Room Decontamination Room SCBA Tank Refill Room Firefighter Showers 7 Bay Apparatus Space Dispatch Center Staff Offices The Event Center Includes: 290 Person Banquet Event Hall 12 Person Conference Room Catering Kitchen Outdoor Patio Space Welcoming Lobby

Making a Makerspace

Our third installment of our Library Video Series is Making a Makerspace! A makerspace is a collaborative work space for making, learning, exploring and sharing. These spaces are open to kids, adults, and entrepreneurs and have a variety of maker equipment, however a makerspace doesn’t need to include machines to be considered a makerspace. If you have cardboard, legos and art supplies you’re already on your way! Creating a makerspace might seem like a daunting task and it might seem tough to begin.. but it’s not! A makerspace is whatever you want it to be! Surveying your intended user group would be a great first step to see what the needs of the community are and how you can integrate those into your new makerspace. Below are some examples from our recently completed renovation at Pleasant Hill Library where we built them a new makerspace to get you started! We hope this video and takeaway helps springboard your ideas for creating a makerspace, and Kodet Architectural Group is always here to help! Making a Makerspace is the THIRD video of our Library Video Series, have you seen the others? Check out Library Trends and Design on a Budget  

Design on a Budget

The second installment in our Library Video Series addresses designing libraries on a budget. Kodet’s Mandi Tauferner and Kyle Palzer discuss ways libraries can be money conscious and how architects can create cost-effective but beautiful designs for libraries on a budget. They mention a recently completely project by Kodet Architectural Group, Pleasant Hill Library, and point out aspects of the design that were considered and that gave Dakota County the biggest bang for their buck in their addition + remodel.

Library Trends

Kicking off our 5 part video series on libraries, Library Trends is the first topic our experts here at Kodet address. Today, libraries are uniquely positioned to reimagine how they might better serve communities in the future.  No longer are they simply a place for holding books and information, but rather a hub for community programs, learning, and social interactions.  From virtual reality to hands-on cooking classes and everything in between, libraries can offer communities new ways to see, experience and understand ideas like never before. By embracing new technology and thinking outside the box when it comes to unique program offerings, the 21st Century library is on the forefront of societal trends and keeps pace with an ever changing world. Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings, MN is the library featured in our library video series, for more information on that project – click here!