Community Energy Project: We’re Halfway There!
Photo above: Participants from the Community Climate Shift national conference tour Sabathani’s Community Energy Project to see community-centered renewable energy in action.
We’re halfway there!
Construction on Sabathani’s Community Energy Project has reached an exciting milestone. While there’s still work ahead, we’ve made tremendous progress toward transforming our historic building into one of Minnesota’s most innovative community resilience hubs.
Recent accomplishments include:
- All three geothermal wells have been successfully drilled.
- Our aging boilers have been safely removed and responsibly recycled.
- Construction has progressed through the first phases of interior work.
- Crews are preparing for rooftop solar installation and additional energy infrastructure in the months ahead.
A Project Unlike Most
One of the things that makes this project unique—and more complex—is that we’re completing it while the building remains open and serving the community.
Every day, construction crews work alongside staff, building partners, program participants, and visitors. That takes careful coordination, flexibility, and a great deal of patience from everyone involved.
Thank you for helping us navigate this exciting transformation together.
A Few Things to Know
Auditorium Cooling
The auditorium’s air conditioning is temporarily unavailable and will be replaced in late August. As a result, we won’t be scheduling events in the auditorium until cooling has been restored. We expect the geothermal heating and cooling to be operational by the end of September.
Visiting Sabathani?
As construction progresses, some Building Partners and Sabathani staff will temporarily relocate within the building. If you’re planning to meet with a specific staff member or organization, please check with them in advance so they can direct you to their current office location.
Special Thanks
We want to extend a special thank you to our Building Partners, tenants, staff, volunteers, and community members for your flexibility throughout construction. Your willingness to adapt has allowed Sabathani to continue providing vital services while making this once-in-a-generation investment in our future.
We’re excited to continue sharing our progress as we build a healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient Sabathani Community Center for generations to come.
Want to see the transformation in action?
Visit our Community Energy Project webpage to learn more and explore a gallery of construction progress, community partnerships, and the people helping bring this vision to life.