Ravine Landing at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park
April 20, 2023
View of Ravine Landing from the west. Photo by Gaffer Photography.
SPOTLIGHT
Nature enthusiasts in the Twin Cities metro area and beyond who haven’t yet experienced the 522-acre Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park now have even more reason to visit this spring: Ravine Landing, a memorable new trailhead building by HGA. The 6,000-square-foot hub for the park’s many recreational offerings includes a central lobby with a fireplace, park offices, a rentable multipurpose space with a kitchenette, gender-inclusive restrooms, a porch, and a covered picnic area.
“The design began with a walk through the woods,” says HGA design principal Glenn Waguespack, AIA. “It attempts to embody that experience—the rhythm of moving through the trees, the sounds of wildlife, the sense of immersion in nature—to connect visitors to the park in a meaningful way.”
Park-goers arriving on foot, on bicycles, and in vehicles all get glimpses of Ravine Landing along the winding entry path around Ravine Lake. As they approach, the structure’s mass-timber elements—Alaskan Yellow Cedar glulam columns and beams and a spruce cross-laminated-timber (CLT) roof deck—make a strong first impression. Ravine Landing is the first building in Minnesota to use CLT. The wood framing sequesters carbon, and its comparatively light weight reduced the volume of concrete needed for foundations.
Images 1–14: Ravine Landing in summer and winter. Large windows and glulam columns frame views of nature while clerestory windows and light monitors illuminate the interiors. All photos by Gaffer Photography.
Other sustainable design features include a system that moves stormwater from the roof through custom downspouts to catch basins and then to a bio-infiltration basin, which treats the water before it reaches the lake. All building materials and finishes were chosen for their durability, ease of maintenance, and support of human and environmental health.
“Ravine Regional Park is a special place that has been beloved by visitors for many years, so it was important that the project amplify and frame the park’s natural beauty,” says HGA architect Ashleigh Grizzell, AIA. “I frequently visit with my young son and have seen the impact it has on the community.”
Did you know: Mass timber costs more than concrete and lumber, but it enables faster construction. The building’s structural frame was built in one week—its roof panels in a single day.
Before you go: All vehicles require a vehicle permit. A one-day permit is $7. An annual permit for all Washington County and Anoka County parks is $30.
The Ravine Landing project team included Washington County, HGA, H+U Construction, and Bell Structural (mass timber).
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