Coen + Partners

Location: Warroad, Minnesota

Collaborators: Snow Kreilich Architects . General Services Administration (GSA)

 

The Warroad Land Port of Entry project is an iconic LEED-certified United States Border Patrol facility located at the US/Canadian border outside of Warroad, Minnesota.  The collaborative design team, led by Julie Snow Architects, prioritizes regional sustainability and site sensitivity through the use of materials and forms responding to the unique vernacular of the northern borderlands.

  
Coen + Partners assisted in structure placement and developed a site response establishing logical movement patterns for both through border traffic and station employees.  The site solution integrates the existing northern wetland and coniferous bog context through the use of sculptural wetlands, native Tamarack trees, and a select plant palette.  The plant and overall material palette transitions from formalized plantings adjacent to the structures to a native seed mix at the perimeter of the site. The design prioritizes security and legibility of the landscape through the use of expansive areas of rippled native slate flagging.  The visually intriguing surface pattern allows for required sight lines and general openness through the site while underscoring the context of northern Minnesota.