Owámniyomni Okhódayapi

IndigenousSpecial Projects
Written By Jenna Greenwald

Details

Client

  • Owámniyomni Okhódayapi

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Architect/Engineer

GGN

Loeffler Role

Construction Manager Advisor

Market

Indigenous / Special Projects

Restoring a Sacred Place

Owámniyomni Okhódayapi represents one of the most culturally significant environmental restoration efforts in Minnesota. Located adjacent to the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in downtown Minneapolis, the project is transforming more than five acres of formerly inaccessible federal land into a place of restoration, healing, education, and connection rooted in Dakota values and stewardship. For generations, Owámniyomni has been a place of profound cultural and spiritual significance to the Dakota people. This project seeks to restore both the landscape and its story, creating a space where history, ecology, and community once again converge.

Loeffler Construction is serving as Construction Manager for the phased restoration, working alongside Owámniyomni Okhódayapi, the GGN team, and numerous agency partners to carefully transform a site that has served as a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operational facility for more than six decades. Initial work includes the selective demolition of existing Corps facilities, removal of paved infrastructure, utility relocations, environmental protection measures, and extensive site preparation to support the restoration of native bluff landscapes, oak savanna, upland prairie, and culturally significant plant communities.

Throughout construction, Loeffler is coordinating work around active federal infrastructure, supporting the Corps' ongoing operational requirements while preparing the site for its long-term transition to community stewardship. This collaborative effort requires thoughtful phasing, environmental sensitivity, and meticulous planning to safely deliver a project that honors both the site's operational history and its future as a restored cultural landscape.

More than a construction project, Owámniyomni is helping reshape one of Minnesota's most iconic riverfront destinations. By restoring native ecosystems, elevating Indigenous knowledge, and reconnecting people to the Mississippi River through Dakota perspectives, the project will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

 

Meet the Project Team

John Barrick

Sam Prescher

 

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