Mino-bimaadiziwin Apartments in Minneapolis Integrates State-of-the-Art Electrical & Low Voltage Systems: Automation, Access Control, Security, and Much More!

The Mino-bimaasdiziwin Apartment project in Minneapolis is finally complete. Mino-bimaadiziwin (an Ojibwe phrase meaning “the good life”) is a six-story 115-unit mixed-use development in South Minneapolis, with plentiful green space, playground, underground parking, and a complete amenity package. 

J. Becher & Associates electrical and low voltage divisions put their touch on this affordable housing complex led by the Red Lake band of Chippewa Indians, Cuningham Group, and Loeffler Construction. In addition to affordable apartments, the six-story, V-shaped building also features a community center, neighborhood preventative healthcare clinic, and Red Lake Band Urban Embassy on the ground level.

J. Becher & Associates Low Voltage Technicians

Provided the Systems and Installation for:

• Silent Knight Fire Alarm System  
• Viking Electronics Two Way Emergency Communication 
• Leviton, Hoffman &  Legrand Voice/Data/TV  
• ACTi CCTV  
• SALTO Systems Access Control  
• Cambridge Sound Masking/Paging  

Mino-bimaadiziwin Summary

Commercial & Multi-Family Limited Energy Manager, Chris Kilpatrick 

“This was one of the more complex projects J. Becher has completed from a limited energy standpoint, and certainly one of the most interesting and extensive designs I have been a part of. The project initially broke ground in September of 2019 and took a little over a year to complete. We had hundreds of hours of design time put into this project, which initially you would think would be a red flag on a full plan/spec job; It was quite the opposite. Much credit is due to Loeffler Construction, the Landon Group, the RLBC Group, and the Cuningham Group for their open communication, planning, and collaboration early on in this project.”

“We wanted to deliver the best possible product for our client, and the entire group was very receptive to J.Becher’s suggestions of proposed changes to the scope of work. There were very productive meetings early on where we discussed the owner’s vision for the space, and how it would be utilized. As a subcontractor, we typically don’t get that opportunity, especially on large, multimillion-dollar projects.  It was pivotal in arriving at the final design. I think it is a great example of how a diverse group can accomplish great things when we work together.”

“The Mino-bimaadiziwin is a unique building that combines 110 residential units and associated common space, the Red Lake Nation Embassy, and a health care center. This presented some challenges when designing the building systems. We had to consider how each space would function on its own, but also how the spaces and occupants would interact with one another. The different spaces all have their own IT equipment that is managed separately, therefore, we had to make sure we provided separate IDFs for each tenant, so their equipment was physically secure and isolated from each other. This was especially important in the clinic where HIPAA laws need to be followed.”

“The project’s Access Control and CCTV systems were the two biggest challenges we faced. Traditionally, Access Control has separate systems in each space, all managed separately and isolated from each other. Because there were so many shared spaces in the building, we had to utilize one system and manage the access. We were able to accomplish this by using SALTO Systems as the access control platform.”

“Due to the large number of doors that needed access control in the complex multi-use space, the cost to accomplish this with a traditional hard-wired access control system was outside the budget requirements for the building. Salto allowed us to utilize both hard-wired and wireless locks to drastically reduce the cost of labor and hardware, without sacrificing security. We were still able to provide a system that included important features including lockdown, real-time monitoring, and event notification with wireless locks. Residents are now able to get the added benefit of using mobile credentials and automatic credential expiration, which would not have been available on a traditional system.”

“The CCTV systems had to be redesigned early on due to budget constraints. Originally, the building was designed with many fixed cameras which is very common. The fixed cameras have a narrow field of view, so you need a lot of them for good coverage. We were able to redesign the system, including the 360 Degree Hemispherical Camera to greatly reduce the number of cameras, cabling, and hardware, but still accomplish the same video coverage. In some cases, we were able to replace 6 cameras with just one, without any loss of coverage. This also simplified the end-user experience by reducing the number of cameras to view when retrieving footage.”

SALTO Systems Brings Mobile Access Control to Minneapolis Newest Multi-Family Housing

What is SALTO? SALTO is a world-class access control system that is simple to use and extremely efficient no matter the size or complexity of the project. SALTO Virtual Network (SVN) system is a wire-free, data-on-card technology that transforms building access. SVN-Flex takes it one step further, allowing any stand-alone electronic locks to read and update card access information.

SALTO solutions are in use in diverse environments around the world including healthcare, transportation facilities, commercial, governmental, entertainment and leisure, hospitality, education and more! From gym locker rooms or school classrooms to corporate offices, SALTO is sure to have a door access solution for you. SALTO brings the security and technology to where it should be, the door. To learn more, please visit Salto Systems

We were also featured on Salto Systems case study – Check it out here: J. Becher Salto Systems

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Want TVs, Audio, Security, and Automation for Your Home or Business?

Request a quote or get more information about the electrical and low voltage services and products that J. Becher & Assoc. provides throughout Minnesota, call 763.428.8630 or click complete our Contact Form