Join AIA Northern Minnesota for a tour of the Moorhead Community Center & Public and Moorhead City Hall, both designed by JLG Architects, on Friday, November 20.
When & Where:
Friday, November 20
— 3:00 pm – Moorhead Community Center and Public Library (“The Loop”), 450 Center Ave, Moorhead, MN 56560
— 4:00 pm – Moorhead City Hall
— 5:00–6:30 pm – Social hour (Location TBD)
Continuing Education: Each tour will be submitted for and is anticipated to receive 1.0 AIA LUs. Stay tuned for the program descriptions and learning objectives.
Cost: Free!
Register to Attend »
Stay in town for the NDSU football game on Saturday, Nov. 21! (AIA Northern Minnesota is not coordinating game tickets.)
Interested, but would need to carpool? Reach out to Ann Mayhew and we’ll do our best to help you find another attendee to ride with.
Attending A’26 MN? Sign up for session #M09 to learn more about The Loop before seeing it in person!
About the Moorhead Community Center and Public Library:
Catalyzing Moorhead’s downtown transformation, JLG developed a comprehensive downtown redevelopment program and pre-design that integrates an “all under one roof” concept for a new community center and public library.
Moorhead’s aging Center Mall infrastructure left residents without modern library services or adequate indoor recreational space. Multiple public and private stakeholders needed to collaborate on replacing outdated facilities with a unified vision for downtown revitalization—but coordinating these diverse interests while securing public funding through a sales tax referendum presented hurdles. The project required uniting multiple entities to work efficiently toward revitalizing the city’s central core while designing facilities that serve diverse community needs.
JLG strategically reinforced the City’s Yes! 56560 Campaign, helping pass the Sales Tax Referendum that financed the project. Working alongside partner firm Miller Hull, JLG led inclusive programming sessions with library leadership, community forums, government representatives, and local businesses to define a shared vision. The resulting 48,000 SF design creates an innovative community hub housing the Lake Agassiz Regional Library and Moorhead Public Library offices, community program rooms, an indoor play area, and a unique suspended walking loop. JLG’s approach transformed competing interests into collaborative momentum, resulting in a vibrant downtown anchor.
About Moorhead City Hall:
Branching from Moorhead’s downtown redevelopment was the reimagining of Moorhead City Hall, which was originally constructed in 1973. Later building additions had consequently positioned the public face of local government in the middle of downtown’s aging mall, which has undergone phased demolition.
Removal of Moorhead Center Mall repositioned City Hall as the epicenter of the sweeping redevelopment, signifying a forward-reaching investment in Downtown Moorhead. JLG is restoring City Hall’s heirloom vibrancy while reimagining its Mid-century cube form on the banks of the Red River. Inside and out, renovations are focused on strengthening its role as the community’s building, with direct connections to the new plaza and Moorhead Community Center & Public Library.
Scheduled for a fall 2026 completion, Moorhead City Hall’s 45,525-square-foot renovation will reflect regional materials and historical character evident in the nearby Hopperstad Stave Church and Viking ship replica, creating a warm and inviting interior that branches from a three-story atrium. To support the well-being of public and City employees, the renovated design focuses on day-lit workspaces, a variety of collaboration spaces, a unified break room, and flexible officing that fosters personal wellness.
After nearly a decade of discussions, community engagement, and partnerships, the collective team’s efforts are successfully catalyzing a walkable downtown with the remodel of City Hall, an all-season open plaza, street-level retail, downtown housing, and the new Moorhead Community Center & Public Library in The Loop. This long-awaited downtown master plan and redevelopment have reimagined the vision for downtown as a vibrant destination to live, learn, and gather – all at the heart of a new Downtown Moorhead that’s ready to grow.