​Western North Dakota has experienced a lot of growth within the last decade, most of which is due to the booming oil and gas industry.  Certain types of growth within communities can be short-sighted as they respond to the need for growing populations, resulting in a continued sprawl into undeveloped landscapes.  As cities continue to expand outward, the downtown cores are often neglected and over time, businesses feel the pressure to move out, leaving buildings and core neighborhoods without tenants and activity.  The intention from the beginning of the project, was to use this particular building as a way to encourage people to reinvest in the downtown fabric and culture of Minot.  The client chose to imbed the headquarters of his national energy company as the anchor tenant in the building, bringing young professionals downtown to help reinvigorate the community.  Along with a local restaurant, an axe-throwing space and additional leasable commercial space for small businesses, all are part of the growing effort to help define a newly-energized sense of place within the tight-knit western North Dakota community.