Commercial
102 Broadway
Renovation of the old Straus building for commercial use.
Whitnack - MJBA Office Renovation
The renovation demonstrates that old, dilapidated buildings can be sensitively renovated on a limited budget to meet the needs of a contemporary office.
Awards
2000 AIA ND Design Merit Award
2001 Fargo Heritage Society Design Award
Great Northern
Built in 1906 under the direction of James J. Hill, the Great Northern Depot provided needed train services and support for travelers until its close in the mid-1980s. In 1993, design began to convert the decaying, pivotal historic building and property into a restaurant and microbrewery. Seating is provided for 300. The east and west Porte Cocheres are enclosed with a clear, butt-glazed curtainwall for the needed floor space and yet preserves the historic context of the building. The attic provides space for the air handling and conditioning equipment. An adjacent boxcar sits on an old track spur and houses the kitchen's mechanical equipment. The tile roofing, brick and granite masonry, wood doors and windows, clockworks, and interior terrazzo and glazed ceramic wainscoting were restored to coincide with the original design of the building. The depot is a Historic Tax Act Project and a contributing building in the Downtown Fargo Historic District.
Awards
1997 AIA ND Design Merit Award
Soo Line Depot Renovation
The Soo Line Depot became City Hall for Thief River Falls, MN. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An addition was added to provide secondary egress and handicapped accessibility to the basement, first and second floors. The large waiting room was preserved and accommodates the city engineering department. The City Administration, Zoning, Building Inspection, Community Development and Utilities departments are also located within the building. The project was funded through private donations, ISTEA and a Minnesota Historical Society Grant.
Awards
Honor Award - Preservation Minnesota - 1995
Trader N Trapper
The 2,000 SF addition and remodeling includes new stainless steel micro-brewery equipment and additional seating for bar and restaurant patrons. The use of an elevated "grainary" enhances visibility of the restaurant from nearby streets and provides the brewing company with a unique image. Bowstring trusses replaced worn, faded awnings at the entrance to create an open, more inviting entry and provide shade along the southern windows. Remodeling was done to meet building codes and the American with Disabilities Act.
Awards
1994 AIA ND Design Merit Award
Nodak Mutual Insurance Addition
An east side expansion met the client's objectives by centralizing the public entrance, establishing a committed corporate image, providing both immediate and future flexibility, and maintaining existing green space on the property. The glass curtain wall connection provides a common point of entry and an open, inviting space for both staff and visitors. The project included state-of-the-art lighting, HVAC, audio-visual, computers, and inter-active technology. The "garden" level floor has windows equal in size to those of the upper floors with terraced exterior landscaping for maximum space use, lighting, and aesthetics.
Education
Oakes Public Schools
Gymnasium and entry addition.
NDSU Downtown
The renovation of a 1903 historic downtown warehouse in Fargo, North Dakota will house the North Dakota State University Visual Arts and Architecture & Landscape Architecture Departments. The project is a complete renovation of the existing building's 70,000 square feet, and includes a fifth floor addition to accommodate architectural studio space and a mechanical penthouse. Completion is scheduled for July 2004. Space includes a large classroom, woodshop, art gallery, conference room, art and architectural studios, two computer labs, offices, and necessary support spaces. The site will provide a small parking lot and a landscaped plaza on its eastern edge shared by the students and downtown community. The building received both National Historic Tax Credits and ND Renaissance Zone Credits. NDSU Downtown is the first project in North Dakota to use the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a framework emphasizing sustainable strategies in site development, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. By pursuing sustainable goals in the historic downtown setting, the new Visual Arts & Architecture facility strongly supports NDSU's vision of engaging the University within the community.
Awards
2006 National Preservation Honor Award
2005 AIA ND Design Award "Grand Prize"
2005 Preservation ND "Success Story Award"
LEED Certification, 2007
Central High School Study
With the high school moving out in 2004, the City of Aberdeen, SD purchased the high school complex to renovate for use by the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. The facility consists of Central High School, a national register building, the Roosevelt and Washington buildings, the Arena, Theatre, and the Annex. Of the 209,200 gross square feet (GSF) available, the programmed needs require only 170,600 GSF.
MSUM Comstock Memorial Union
The "Union Station" cafeteria, central lounge, ballroom, administration, placement and counseling offices, and recreation center were extensively renovated to meet handicapped accessibility and contemporary University needs. The building remained in operation throughout construction, requiring careful phasing. Due to a limited budget, comprehensive estimating was completed during the earliest design stages and was used to redefine program priorities throughout the design process.
Concordia Riverside Center
Concordia College in Moorhead bought their vacant elementary school from the Moorhead School District.
NDSU Minard Hall Addition
The Minard Hall Addition has been designed as "University space," intended for use by any department requiring additional classroom or lecture space on campus. As a link between the Music Education building and Minard Hall, it will also serve as a gathering space for students with the incorporation of a coffee service area and an inviting second floor mezzanine overlooking the first floor commons. Classrooms are equipped for "PBL" (Problem-Based Learning) and AV and IT interaction between faculty and students. Phase II of the project will be the renovation of the 74,000 SF historic Minard Hall to house administrative and faculty offices, state-of-the-art classrooms, and computer clusters. Phase II is awaiting legislative approval, which may occur in the 2005 Session. Estimated cost is $9.9 million.
The Marvin Leidel Education Center
The new building consolidates several district functions within one modern building for the district's central administration and the alternative high school. During the facility's construction the old building, located directly adjacent to the north remained operational, only to be demolished once the new building was occupied. The building is divided into halves by an oblique corridor which separates the administration offices and community high school. This angular shift provides a larger vestibule and internal gathering area at the high school entrance (south) for the 45-plus students, while transitioning to the smaller, less frequently used administrative and public entrance on the north. The use of common materials and juxtaposed shapes adds variety and definition to the building as well as creating a unique facility on a modest budget.
Bishop Whipple Concordia College
The 17,000 SF renovation of Bishop Whipple Hall was used for classrooms and faculty offices to meet the growing enrollment needs. With the exception of the new accessible entrance, all work was confined within the building's original envelope. A new structural floor was inserted to correct severe settling problems and meet new floor load requirements. The unstable original brick veneer was secured and straightened by inserting brick ties from the inside of the masonry and anchoring it to the wall structure. Air-handling equipment was installed in the existing attic and louvers were inserted in existing gables as needed. The renovation also met life safety, building code and handicapped accessibility requirements.
Government
Norman County Social Services
Built in 1904, this Richardsonian Romanesque Revival styled courthouse was in need of an expansion and upgrading. Having a historical presence, MJBA took a sensitive approach towards the design of the project. Work included an elevator addition, connection link between the courthouse and the Law Enforcement Center / Social Services Building, and general accessibility modifications and improvements.
Clay County Courthouse
The project expands and recognizes both judicial and county functions. The addition includes four new courtrooms. Future courtrooms can be added through vertical expansion of the addition. The project also includes additional space for the County Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, Recorder and Message Information Systems. To further enhance security and provide safety for both prisoners and personnel, a secure link was constructed between the Law Enforcement Center and courthouse addition. The Courthouse is equipped with state-of-the-art security and courtroom technology.
Historical
Fort Sisseton
Working closely with the SD Game, Fish and Parks, SD Historical Society and the Governor's Historic Fort Sisseton Commission, further work included the remodeling of the Visitor's Center in the North Barracks; installation of a buried fire alarm system for the entire Fort; foundation stabilization and reconstruction of the widow's walk of the hospital; foundation and stone wall stabilization of the South Barracks, Officer's Quarters, and Adjutant's Office; restoration of the Carpenter and Blacksmith Shop with interpretive displays; and a comfort station addition at the west end of the existing Barn. This phase of work was funded by ISTEA and administered by the SD Department of Transportation.
Orr Roadside
Originally designed and constructed in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Orr Roadside Parking Area is a relatively long, narrow parcel of land that is located on the eastern shore of Pelican Lake. Preservation and restoration guidelines regarding the viewing wall, footbridge, and picnic areas were developed, along with suggestions to make the parking area and its features viewer friendly and A.D.A. compliant. After an extensive site survey and analysis, recommendations were submitted to Mn/DOT in report form and the restoration of the property was recently completed.
Probstfield Historic Structure
The Historic Structures Report evaluates Clay County, Minnesota's oldest standing structure, to determine the feasibility of renovating the historic home of Randolph Michael Probstfield. The original house was built in 1869 of wood logs on a masonry foundation, and was expanded several times throughout the years. The last family member left the farmstead in 1970. The Historic Structures Report assists the Foundation in its fundraising efforts by prioritizing repairs. Overall, this masterplan uses technical factors as a basis to restore the house to safe, publicly accessible conditions, authentically representing the farmhouse as it was in the 1930-40s.
SDSU Coughlin Campanile
This historic landmark and South Dakota State University icon was built in 1929. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Significant limestone degradation had occurred since its construction; therefore, the limestone base was restored using matching stone replacement pieces. Additional restoration included brick masonry, steel balcony railings, steel windows, lighting and interior structural steel components.
Housing
Karges Residence
Renovation of Karges residence to meet LEED for Homes certification. Construction, Fall 2007.
Buckman Hotel
The Buckman Hotel/Firehall is located in the Little Falls Downtown Historic District and is a Historic Tax Act Project. The buildings provide 27 low-income elderly congregate housing dwelling units. The renovated hotel lobby meets building code and accessibility requirements without altering its historic context. Behind layers of previous construction, original stained glass windows were uncovered and restored. New sash replacements were installed to replace the decayed wood window units. Following demolition inside the courtyard, small additions were created to provide needed space for several apartments. A new landscaped outdoor recreation area was also incorporated.
Awards
1996 Honor Award, Preservation Minnesota
NDSU Living Learning Center West
Apartment style student housing.
Larimore Good Samaritan Center
10 unit assisted living addition.
Posthouse Apartments
The post office is within the Jamestown National Register Historic District. The renovation and addition provides congregate housing for the growing low-income elderly population in Jamestown. The facility includes 36 apartment units, a covered drive-thru entrance, a parlor/atrium, central dining and meeting rooms, a full-service elevator and new mechanical and electrical systems. The Posthouse is a Historic Tax Act Project and all work complies with the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Historic Rehabilitation. The Posthouse features modern contemporary living in a historic setting. The integrity of the historic Post Office has been retained with the inclusion of the vestibules, postboxes, sorting room, and second floor courtroom. Constructed in 1926, the building is representative of the era's Federal mandate for neoclassical post office design and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Gillmore Hotel
Built in 1892, the Gillmore Hotel is a contributing structure in Deadwood's Historic District because of its location, age, and significance. All work including site and building construction met the requirements of The Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Historic Rehabilitation enabling the Owner to use Historic Tax Credits. Historically it was imperative to maintain a maximum of the exterior's original form and detailing while meeting current zoning ordinances and building codes. The interior corridors and original reception lobby were retained but renovated. The site was mitigated where the old garage, outlying foundations and two later annexes were raised. The new porch was reconstructed using a photograph taken in 1892 when the hotel first opened.
Awards
AIA ND Design Honor Award
Dickinson Congregate Housing
The Dickinson Congregate Housing facility consists of 42 one-bedroom apartment homes. A convenient downtown location allows residents of the four room apartments easy access to local businesses. The facility provides a community room, central preparation kitchen for convenient dining, air conditioned central dining room, whirlpool, an elevator, laundry, and beauty/barber shop facilities in a secure environment.
SAE Fraternity House Renovation
Built in 1959, the building's 10,000 sq./ft. renovation included updating the building's exterior and interior appearance to conform with the neighborhood's residential character. Exterior improvements included new double-hung residential style windows, shingle roofing, and reuse of existing brick walls. Interior two-person dorm rooms were reconfigured to provide suite style apartment units with a living space connecting two 2-bedroom spaces. In total there are 10 living units, and 33 beds. The SAE Fraternity House will have new mechanical and electrical systems. The spaces are designed for energy efficient lighting, low-e glass windows, added insulation at the attic and roof, and a complete fire protection sprinkler system. Each suite was efficiently designed by providing bunk style beds with tuck under desks and is hard wired for data access as well as for wireless.
Centennial Hall U of M Crookston
The Project consisted of a 64-bed two-story residential building (Centennial Hall) in 16 apartment-style units, replicating the Westside Apartments. A Commons located between Westside and the new building connects the two. The Commons contains 17 beds in 5 apartment units, two offices for Residential Life, and lounges and multi-purpose meeting space for residents of both buildings. The buildings (Centennial Hall and the Commons) contain approximately 27,300 gross square feet combined. New brick veneer and shingles on the exterior of the Westside Apartments replaced existing vinyl siding to make its appearance consistent with the new building and other mall buildings. Underground utilities at the site are sized for another future residential building. This project was done in a design-build format with Community Contractors of Grand Forks, ND.
Religious
St Josephs Parish Community
Other work included a new audio system, designed by acoustical consultant, Robert Mahoney and Associates; new lighting and control systems; new pews and kneelers; new heating and control systems; refinishing of the terrazzo floors; new tile roof; and renovation of adjoining spaces.
Various
Roberts Street Chaplet Project
This unique project was done in collaboration with Marjorie Schlossman, a Fargo artist, who commissioned Michael Burns, AIA to design a transportable, spiritual space to feature her art. The cedar slatted walls capture the ever-changing light and shadow and infer both a separation from and connection to the surrounding environment. The translucent panels at the north end not only provide the softly lit backdrop for the suspended painting but also symbolize our connection to our Creator-"He's very close, but do we know that He is really here?" The barrel-vaulted translucent roof sits atop five, three-legged aluminum trusses and is held in place using a series of equally spaced cables. The stipend for the project was $25,000, which included all design and construction costs. Since August 2006 the Chaplet has been featured at the ND Museum of Art in Grand Forks and at the West Acres Shopping Mall in Fargo, ND. The intent is to place the Chaplet in any community, park or field throughout the State of North Dakota.
Hailstone North
Taking a cue from the early settlers who first ventured to the area, the building provides a warm and safe environment for today's travelers. By responding to natural vistas, using native and durable materials and incorporating the required transportation theme of the 'evolution of trade routes, this project embodies the progressive vision of the ND Department of Transportation. The pristine Hailstone Creek valley is directly west of the rest area and is surrounded by natural grassland pasture, small grain fields, and a glimpse of the Badlands further west. The scenic views are framed by expansive glass openings, and the colors of the building and site materials assimilate the local earth tones.
Hailstone South
The existing facility was redeveloped into a facility that provides both a safe haven and rest area for interstate travelers and expresses the vision of ND Department of Tourism. The building's exterior uses a native, red face-brick and a multi-level arched roof, keying on historical boxcar and depot elements of the NDDOT's 'railroad theme.' The lobby is spacious and enclosed by reflective glass. The two-colored porcelain floor tile is placed in a track pattern reinforcing the railroad theme. An information kiosk also describes the history of the region as well as tourist, recreational and commercial activities. The composition of the building's envelope exceeds state energy requirements and uses durable, low-maintenance products. The site's plant materials are indigenous to the region's windy, arid climate. For visitor safety and the prevention of vandalism, both the site and building's interior are well lit. The building's style, uniqueness, location and landscaping extend the "friendly" invitation to travelers causing many to stop.
Awards
1998 AIA ND Merit Award
Hefti Rest Area
The rest area meets the obvious functional requirements and yet captures the essence of the state's commitment for improved public safety and visionary planning. The nautical flagpole, lighting fixtures, and implied image of the building and landscaping, establish and reinforce the historical transportation theme of the flat-bottomed, paddlewheel boat that was essential to the livelihood of the early settlers in the region. The building is both visually and acoustically transparent to enhance the visitor's sense of safety, while retaining user privacy. Both interior and exterior building materials are highly durable, energy efficient, and require minimal maintenance. All plant materials are native to the region and express respect for existing wetlands.
I-90 Concept
As one of three finalists for the design of this pivotal rest area along the Lewis & Clark Historic Trail, MJBA submitted this concept as part of the competition. The siting of the building captures the broad vista overlooking the Missouri River below. Visitors to the rest area / interpretive center are visualy pulled from the parking lot through the building's tourist and interpretive lobby and over onto a deck that overlooks the valley below. A handicapped ramp parallels the rounded exterior glass wall connecting the main floor to the deck without obscuring the open vista from the lobby.
Michael J. Burns established, Michael J. Burns Architects, Ltd., in 1983 and serves as Point-of-Contact, Architect, and Project Manager for historical, religious, educational, corporate and governmental clients. With 30 years of architectural experience, he provides a sensitive and practical approach to building design, modernization and/or renovation.
Kerry Peuser’s architectural experience includes programming, building design, restoration and construction administration. Kerry’s strongest attributes are design team coordination, communication, design ability, and sensitive and responsible follow-through.
Mark Gradin brings 33 years of architectural experience including ADA Accessibility, programming, building design, remodeling, and construction administration. Mark places the utmost importance on meeting the needs of his client. His attention to detail contributes to the design team’s effective project coordination, communication, design ability and professional sensitivity.
Glenda assists the design team with interior detailing, space planning, finishes, color, and furniture selections. Glenda’s fresh ideas and experience with office and residential space planning and furnishings provides added depth to our design approach. Her knowledge of system’s furniture, Barrier-Free Design, lighting techniques and color contributes greatly to the design team.