Vesterheim’s Bold Future Takes Shape
Since last spring, we have been watching in excitement and anticipation as foundations and walls appear and the vision of Vesterheim Commons becomes a reality on Water Street in Decorah. With 7,600 square feet spread across three levels and almost an acre of surrounding landscaped patio, this building project physically links the past and the future, connects the museum collection to the Folk Art School, and enriches the Vesterheim visitor experience for those coming to Decorah or participating digitally through a new video and photography production studio. Scheduled to be completed in spring 2023, the project plays an important role in collaboration with local community members and business partners in offering educational and gathering spaces for groups and in making Northeast Iowa a destination, including for visitors from Viking Mississippi River voyages. All good projects start with proper planning, and Vesterheim Commons could not have progressed without the knowledge, creativity, and expertise of the architects, landscape architects, engineers, and consultants who gave a solid start and met every challenge along the way, exceeding expectations! As it nears completion, we are grateful for the partnerships that made these dreams take shape. Relationships grow over time, and, through this project, many relationships have flourished. Vesterheim is grateful that the design team – Snøhetta, BNIM, MBJ, Morrissey, and McGough – have found Vesterheim’s work compelling and chose to sponsor this issue of the magazine. We thank them for their support. Read further to learn about these design partners who helped create Vesterheim Commons and the specific ways they connected to the project.
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Snøhetta—Master Plan Consultants, Design Architect, and Landscape Architect
In 2018, Vesterheim and Snøhetta began collaborating to develop a master plan and design vision for the museum’s facilities in Decorah that look toward 2025 – the Bicentennial of Norwegian immigration to the United States. Like Vesterheim, Snøhetta values cultural diversity and social sustainability. These shared interests have helped to deepen Vesterheim’s already impactful contributions to the Decorah community, the region, and beyond. Their vision will help to expand conversations surrounding immigration for the future while respecting NorwegianAmerican heritage and uniting this storied legacy with new communities and audiences. Designed to create a bold and coherent vision for the future of the museum campus, this master planning project took shape over several months of workshops, visits, and research where Snøhetta and Vesterheim staff collaborated to explore ideas and concepts. Through the process, Snøhetta created planning strategies for the reconfiguration of the museum’s downtown campus and considered potential new building additions and modifications of existing structures. Implementation of the plan began with the transformation of Vesterheim Heritage Park, a project the community has been enjoying for the last year. The vision grows with the new Vesterheim Commons, which is the first building in Iowa designed by Snøhetta and a space that extends the social connectivity of Heritage Park to the indoors. By creating a new entry and gathering space for the Vesterheim campus that facilitates the educational ethos of the institution through deeper in-person and virtual engagement, the hope is to highlight the importance
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