Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Cowles Conservatory

Originally opened in 1988, the 19-acre Sculpture Garden was one of the first in the United States. Over the years, the garden has faced water run-off challenges in addition to the significant energy costs associate with the enclosed glass pavilion known as Cowles Conservatory. To improve water management, the solution was to install a new stormwater management system. Hidden below ground are five giant tanks that will hold 80,000 gallons of runoff to be reused for irrigation. In addition, the conservatory was converted to an open-air pavilion by removing the walls and leaving the existing glass roof, which eliminated the expensive energy costs for heating during the winter months. When the park reopened, visitors were able to enjoy 18 new works of art, along with 42 pieces that were already on display prior to the renovation.