Ripley Gardens

Ripley Gardens. A New Community at Maternity Hospital. , A.T. Ankeny House , In 1896, Maternity Hospital moved from downtown Minneapolis to the corner of Penn and Glenwood (Western) avenues N. The former home of A. T. Ankeny, a lawyer and miller, was adapted to hospital use. The building was raved in 1920., Penn and Glenwood Avenues , The Ankeny House was joined by the Emily Paddock Nurses' Cottage (1910; center) and the Marshall Stacy Nursery (1909; right). In 1915 the Ripley Memorial Hospital was placed between the nurses' cottage and nursery. A historic cobblestone wall runs the length of the property along Penn Avenue N., Babies' Bungalow , The Babies' Bungalow (1910) was used to isolate sick infants from the general hospital population. The cobblestone exterior matches the wall along Penn Avenue N. The Minneapolis Journal reported in 1910, "A babies' bungalow embowered in a rose garden, set in the midst of the stately shade trees was the dream of the management of the Maternity Hospital...", Emily Paddock Nurses' Cottage , The Emily Paddock Nurses' Cottage was built to house nurses and later housed unmarried mothers. The Tudor Revival style exterior features half-timbering and diamond-paned windows. Emily Paddock was the head matron of the hospital, 1888–1902., Marshall Stacy Nursery , The stucco and brick exterior of the Marshall Stacy Nursery (1909, razed 1971) was trimmed in stone and half-timbering. Architect Harry W. Jones designed the building, which honored a young boy who died in an accident., Ripley Memorial Hospital , Hospital nursing staff are shown in 1915 under the stone-trimmed Tudor arch of the new Ripley Memorial Hospital. The building was designed by Albert R. Van Dyck of Minneapolis, and the plan reflected the latest thinking about hospital design, including the need for fresh air and sunlight., , Sustainable Philosophy , Ripley Gardens is an excellent example of historic preservation and sustainable design that incorporates green design and construction technologies into a new housing community., This project reused and revitalized three vacant, early 20th-century hospital buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and added three new residential buildings. Immediate benefits include historic building conservation, improved indoor air quality, reduced energy consumption, increased site density, and control of stormwater run-off and contamination., Design Features , Energy Consumption , Energy-efficient lighting, appliances, furnaces and water heaters were installed. Based on the first year's consumption, this project showed an energy savings of more than 35% compared to standard construction., Stormwater Management , Rain gardens reduce the rate and amount of stormwater run-off, control contamination, reduce erosion, and replenish groundwater., Environmentally Preferable Products , Construction materials were selected to minimize life-cycle environmental impacts such as pollution, global warming, and resource depletion. Whenever possible, existing structural material was unaltered and/or reused on site. Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints, sealants, and adhesives were used for improved resident health., Planting Design , Wherever possible, old trees and shrubs, including lilacs, were preserved. The rain gardens capture and treat stormwater and provide abundant plant life., Green Space , Large surface parking lots were eliminated and underground parking was created below new buildings, resulting in the addition of open space. A variety of native plants were included in the planting design, and a Memorial Garden and playground were incorporated into the site plan to encourage outdoor gatherings., In 2005, Ripley Gardens was chosen as one of the first Green Communities Demonstration Projects, a program aimed at greening affordable housing. Ripley Gardens serves as a model providing data for the study of the long-term benefits of sustainable development., , In 1933, Maternity Hospital overlooked Bassett's Creek to the south and only a few houses. The hillside below the hospital may have been used as a dump. During construction of Ripley Gardens in 2005-07, a variety of containers were excavated from the hospital site. The raised lettering on the bottles suggested the "cures" they offered., Diastasic Essence of Pancreas , Ozomulsion , Aerial Medication Catarrh–Deafness , Dr. Mile's Restorative Nervine , Scott's Emulsion Cod Liver Oil , The Mothers Friend, This project has been made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on November 4, 2008. Additional funding received from Xcel Energy Foundation. Photo credits: Minnesota Historical Society unless noted