Located on Trust Land at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs reservation, this project entailed renovating the existing 4-story corporate office building for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Native American Indian Tribe. The project was the latest in a multi-phase facility master plan renovation, consisting of a complete replacement of the exterior envelope of the building as well as a full redesign of the building’s interior architecture.

Client: Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures
Type: Corporate/Commercial
Size: 4-story

Indigenous Design Features

Layers of decorative lighting features in the open office create pockets of visual interest alongside pops of bold colors at key locations to denote wayfinding points that complement the intricate design motifs. These elements include a tile mosaic feature wall at the main reception desk, modern day heroes design feature walls at the elevator lobbies, and built-in display cases featuring prominent Mille Lacs Band artifacts.

A Revitalized Identity

The project included moving to an “open-concept design” for the office interior, which reflected the Band’s desire to look to the future while also embracing the rich historic legacy of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s past. The design incorporates perforated wall partitions and etched glazing that use Ojibwe bead patterns for inspiration, seamlessly weaving their way into the various open office elements.