Richfield council approves Woodlake Nature Center site plan and $21.38 million guaranteed maximum price

The Richfield City Council on Feb. 11 approved a site plan for a new Woodlake Nature Center building at 6710 Lakeshore Drive and authorized a contract amendment setting a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $21,378,965 with M.A. Mortenson Company to build the facility and adjacent site improvements.

The new, one-story building will be roughly twice the size of the existing nature center and will be located about 40 feet farther from the lake and about 80 feet closer to the street. Design features described in staff materials include dark brown wood siding, green roof forms, an expanded lobby, exhibit and multipurpose spaces, a lounge and conference space, staff offices, and an amphitheater. The parking areas will receive landscaping upgrades and electric vehicle chargers; the lower (western) parking lot will be fully repaved while an upper lot will remain on existing paving.

Staff said construction is set to begin in the spring and to finish in February; no year was specified in the discussion. Community Development Director Palman and other staff noted that no variances were requested and that requested landscaping modifications were reasonable given site constraints and the project’s sustainability features.

Council and staff discussed six alternates included in the GMP document. Staff recommended prioritizing Ornilux bird‑safe glazing for the building and completing design work for a snow‑melt system and for an underground ductwork (referred to in the meeting as the “blue duct”) that would support multipurpose‑room functionality. Council members expressed support for the glazing and for the underground ductwork over a snow‑melt system, citing logistics and operating‑cost concerns: a snow‑melt system would require additional building space for mechanical equipment and could reduce fenced outdoor areas, and the site currently uses sand rather than salt for ice control.

Director Hugh Miller said the project team remains committed to the geothermal heating and cooling approach but reported that conductivity tests on the site returned results about 30 percent lower than expected. Miller said that would require either a larger geothermal field or larger equipment and that the worst‑case cost impact is about $200,000, which staff have accounted for in a larger contingency. Staff recommended holding a 3–4 percent contingency until the building footings and structural supports are completed to manage site‑condition and tariff risks.

Councilmember Hayford O’Leary said the glazing was a high priority and favored the underground ductwork over a snow‑melt system. Councilmember Burke and others asked clarifying questions about parking capacity, pedestrian protection at sidewalk edges, and the location of geothermal wells under the current parking lot.

The council adopted the site plan resolution and then approved an amendment with M.A. Mortenson Company to set the GMP at $21,378,965 and authorize the mayor and city manager to execute the amendment and to make adjustments of up to $175,000 related to listed alternates. Council discussion emphasized maintaining contingency funds until ground conditions are known and bringing alternates back for later council consideration.

The project packet filed with the council identifies HGA Architects as the design firm, lists six alternates in the GMP document, and ties bidding to the competitive‑bidding guidelines referenced as state statute.