Richard Graves, Associate Professor of Architecture and Research Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research has been working in collaboration with Pelican Rapids residents to develop a new teen center that fits the unique needs of the community.
Richard Graves, Associate Professor of Architecture and Research Director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research, was recently featured in the news for his work on developing a youth center in Pelican Rapids in collaboration with community residents. This project is part of the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program – a community-centered collaboration with the University of Minnesota to support small communities in becoming well-positioned to benefit from federal, state, and local investments.
(re-printed with permission from the Pelican Rapids Press)
Pelican Students to Shape Youth Center Design
Bridge Center achieves non-profit status; secures building;
U of M professor assists with design plans
by Nicole WK
A new youth center in Pelican Rapids is taking shape, thanks to input from the community’s young residents. Richard Graves, a renowned architect and professor at the University of Minnesota (UMN), is leading the design process, bringing his expertise to the project.
Graves, a registered architect and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), is an expert in sustainable building design. His research focuses on creating sustainable and resilient communities, from buildings to entire cities. He has worked on projects like sustainable building guidelines, large building decarbonization, and infrastructure resilience.
Graves visited Pelican Rapids High School on January 14 to gather feedback from local teens about the future youth center, part of the Bridge Center. His input, combined with community ideas, will help shape the design. The goal is to have the design ready for review and approval this spring.
Youth Input Critical
Graves, who is also director of the Center for Sustainable Building Research, is collaborating with the Bridge Center through the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities grant program. He met with members of the Bridge Center Board, Dan Kramer and Alex Ohman, and Pelican Rapids High School students to gather their input. Students were able to offer their thoughts and ideas on the different designs and styles represented for the youth via written notes on various design boards.
This direct feedback is vital in designing a space that truly caters to the needs and interests of the local youth. The students’ participation ensures the facility will be a valuable resource for the community. The Bridge Center is committed to creating a space to engage and inspire young people.
Project Timeline and Funding
The youth center’s design is slated for completion in the spring, after which the team will assess the project’s cost and secure and allocate funding. The key to the project’s success is the roughly $47,000 worth of in-kind work from Graves, who significantly supports the project through his technical support and expertise.
The center aims to be fully operational by 2028, as stipulated by the city for access to funds they’ve set aside for a community center.
Bridge Center Progress
The Bridge Center’s recent achievement of official 501(c)3 non-profit status is another significant milestone. This status and the transfer of ownership for the former First Congregational Church building marks a crucial step in the center’s development.
The building was previously held by Faith Lutheran Church after the dissolution of First Congregational in 2024. Faith assumed the responsibility for the property until the Bridge Center secured its non-profit status and fundraising.
