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Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a picturesque 250-acre site dating back to 1871. It features a historic chapel, garden-like cemetery, walking paths, and its most recent addition is a new state-of-the-art Welcome Center used for administrative offices and as a busy hub of community fellowship and enrichment events. When Lakewood initiated construction of the Welcome Center, its goals were to create a space that would operate at net-zero energy usage, leverage technology upgrades to enhance user experience, and uphold four important core values: Welcome, Honor, Excellence, Stewardship. Aptitude was delighted to help make those goals a reality as part of the project team.
The Lakewood Welcome Center, completed in early 2024, serves as a workspace for employees and is also home to frequent community events. Owner Representative Paul Johnson of NTH, Inc. describes the building as having “a very thoughtful design” with its sleek, modern architecture, yet it also complements the surrounding historic Lakewood Cemetery. State-of-the-art technology enhancements were an important part of the project. Aptitude’s role was to integrate access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, structured cabling infrastructure, and audiovisual systems.
An additional challenge of the project was supporting Lakewood’s goal of creating an integrated technology ecosystem that would also comply with a promise to become a net-zero energy-ready building. As technology systems can require a sizeable amount of power, Aptitude needed to determine the most efficient methods to help support Lakewood’s net-zero goals.
To lay the groundwork for a successful project, it was an important priority for Aptitude to build initial trust and a solid relationship with Lakewood through consistent communication and goal-setting conversations. Throughout the project, Aptitude provided a single point of contact for all scopes related to technology. This was paramount for quickly and effectively maneuvering through evolving changes, needs, and troubleshooting procurement challenges.
Modern technology systems have helped transform the Welcome Center into a space that truly creates a high-end experience for all who work in and visit it. Beyond beautiful aesthetics and energy efficiency, it showcases seamless connectivity and up-to-date intuitive systems to support a busy, dynamic space. Lakewood is formally pursuing a Zero Energy Certification through the International Living Future Institute with the goal to earn that accolade in late 2024. Aptitude is proud to have helped Lakewood Cemetery complete its Welcome Center and to provide a multi-use space that will help serve the surrounding community for decades to come.
