NDSU Architecture Students helping Minot leaders with Downtown Design Project

(Fargo, ND) -- North Dakota State University architecture students are helping Minot leaders with a downtown design project.

Nearly 20 students met with the Minot Area Chamber EDC recently to create a concept for what the downtown space would look like.

Kristi Hanson, NDSU adjunct professor of architecture, will lead students through the process.

“The land-grant mission of NDSU is to go out and serve communities around our state,” Hanson said. “Downtown Minot is the perfect place to achieve that mission. We’re going to knit what we heard from this community into a narrative – and ultimately, a creative process will come out of this to answer the question, ‘Who does Minot want to be?’ ”

The project was initiated by Kevin Black, CEO of Creedence Energy and Minot Area Chamber EDC board chair, after he saw the Vision for Medora project created by Hanson’s students in 2021.

“We are so grateful to Kristi and her students for dedicating their time and talent to the Magic City,” Black said. “We all want Minot to be a place that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home. The vision this class creates will help us tell the story of the magic of Minot for decades to come.”

Minot Mayor Tim Ross also shared his excitement for the project.

“This is no ordinary class project,” said Ross. “The vision of Kristi and her students is going to further the growth and optimism already found in downtown Minot. Their work will have an impact on the city of Minot for years to come, and that excites us.”

The project will last throughout the semester with a presentation set for May.