Burton & Virginia Myers Education Center Dedication

July 17, 2023

Earlier in the year, Architecture Advantage, along with our team of consultants, completed work on the Burton & Virginia Myers Education Center at the University of Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum. To celebrate, Melissa, Craig, and some of our partners at Gardner Builders attended the dedication ceremony. 

 

The Eastern Campus and the Education Center will be a hub for experiential learning – whether on site at the Farm Garden Campus or hundreds of miles away through facilitated distance learning – for all ages and provide a unique platform for increased development and delivery of research-based agricultural and gardening information. This information will empower visitors and other end-users, from homeowners to industry professionals, to implement research-based gardening practices that contribute to the overarching goals of supporting healthy landscapes, healthy people, and a healthy planet. 

 

The Education Center houses the Arboretum Adult Education Staff and meeting places for the public to join in discussion and educational programs dedicated to home gardening. The design was developed to define public and staffing spaces. Included within the public space zones are both interior, as well as exterior areas, to gather and teach. It includes a cooking and food preparation facility for onsite and remote learning and demonstration. 

Written By
Lee Tollefson

Lee Tollefson

My introduction to architecture was through a mechanical drafting class in high school which led me to visit Taliesin West in Arizona.  These two experiences started me on a course that nurtured my experience and knowledge in architectural design and practice.  Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to teach as an adjunct associate professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota.  After starting my own practice, that lasted over a decade, I joined the practice with my current partners in St. Paul.  While I have experience in diverse types of projects, I have developed extensive experience nationally in the design of sacred spaces.  This includes churches and monasteries.  In addition, I have extensive experience regionally in higher education with many types of projects including science facilities and student housing design.  I can manage projects, lead the design effort and manage the project in the field through construction.  Communication, collaboration, and listening are important aspects of my project approach.

Melissa Graftaas

Melissa Graftaas

My passion for architecture began in high school watching my father bring home blueprints for a new bank facility in Clearbrook, MN. I started to dive in and tagged along to construction meetings and the rest is history! The combination of creativity, technical details and the unique personality of each client and project makes me appreciate every day the opportunities we have in front of us. In 2005 I founded and entered into the partnership of Architecture Advantage with Raymond Blesener. Upon his retirement in 2013, I became President and shortly thereafter the firm became registered with the State of Minnesota as a Woman Owned Business. My passion for this firm and what I do keeps me involved throughout all phases of the project.

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