Anoka Municipal Ramp

Good Neighbor

Miller Dunwiddie’s architects wanted the Anoka Municipal Ramp to capture the spirit of this unique river town. The community has preserved many significant and wonderful buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, including its historic main street. The new ramp supports the businesses in those buildings and makes surface lots available for redevelopment as the city grows.

The ramp design respects the integrity of the city’s historic buildings through material choices that echo those used in traditional structures. The façade features wood-mold brick, cast stone, and black iron that corresponds nicely with neighboring structures. Decorative details like corbelling, historic lighting fixtures, and sawtooth accents allow the ramp to fit into an existing built environment, supporting the distinctive sense of place that draws people to the area’s shops and restaurants. Inside the ramp, an efficient sloped plate system enables 270 spaces to fit into a compact footprint. An integrated surface lot doubles as a plaza for public events.

Miller Dunwiddie has helped Anoka envision its future growth, including a revitalized commercial district and future housing needs. Essential to this future is a constant respect for the city’s past.