Wolf Ridge Lodge

A 22,000 SF lodge construction for Wolf Ridge ELC in Finland, MN

Fast Facts

22,000 SF
Client: Wolf Ridge ELC
Architect/Design Team: HGA Architects
Finland, MN

Features

Living Building Challenge accredited

Project Goal

Wolf Ridge sought a builder capable of managing a complex, three-year phased campus project to deliver a Living Building Challenge accredited facility

This major renovation included the Margaret A. Cargill (MAC) Lodge, which was the first project in Minnesota to achieve full Living Building Challenge certification from the International Living Future Institute. This certification recognizes the project’s achievement across seven performance areas, including its design and construction as a fully net-zero water and energy facility.

A modern blue-sided lodge with a sloped roof stands on concrete pilings above a hillside, reached by a long wooden staircase, surrounded by fall foliage.

A bright lounge area with leather armchairs, a wood-burning stove, and guitars, opening onto a hallway with a slatted wood ceiling and forest views through large windows.

ITERATING TO ACHIEVE HIGH STANDARDS

Achieving an ambitious standard required a phased approach and a willingness to learn along the way

The project began with the staff dormitory, providing Gardner and HGA Architects an opportunity to test material sourcing, refine construction methods, and work through challenges in real time. While the dormitory itself was not designed to meet LBC standards, the lessons learned during this initial phase directly informed the planning, procurement, and construction of the MAC Lodge. By building, testing, and adapting as the project progressed, the team was able to meet the rigorous requirements necessary for the MAC Lodge to achieve full LBC certification.

At completion, the MAC Lodge became just the 30th building worldwide to achieve Living Building Challenge certification and the first renovation project in the world to meet the standard.

A communal lounge and kitchen area with leather couches, a round wooden table, bar seating, and a long hallway, under a wood-slat ceiling.

A blue and gray modern building with an angled roofline sits elevated on concrete columns amid autumn trees, with a wooden staircase and balcony.

BUILDING WITH SHARED PURPOSE

More than delivering a building, Gardner worked as a partner in Wolf Ridge’s mission, helping create spaces that respect the land, support learning, and inspire the next generation

Wolf Ridge’s mission extends beyond the buildings themselves—to create experiences that connect people to nature and inspire lasting change. As builders, we understood that we were guests on a property intentionally designed to have a light touch on the land, and we approached construction with that same sense of care and respect. Every phase of the work was shaped by an awareness of the surrounding environment, the significance of the site, and the role these facilities would play in the learning experience.