Project Summary
The National Loon Center will be a world-class loon and freshwater research and education facility located in Crosslake, Minnesota, containing 20,000-square-feet of immersive, high-tech exhibits and serving as a hub for international loon research. The family-friendly destination will entertain visitors from across the country and serve as a home for national efforts to protect the iconic loon and preserve our northern lakes. The National Loon Center will open to the public in the spring of 2027.
Visitor Experience
We’re creating a one-of-a-kind experience inside our building, working with Dimensional Innovations to curate an environment that immerses visitors into the life of a loon. Three stories of interactive, high-tech exhibits will each accentuate an important aspect of a loon’s life, from float to flight.
Live Camera
Watch our future home come to life, frame by frame. Tune in to our on-site camera to check up on building progress and see live updates on construction site activity until we open next spring. The feed is updated with a new photo every five minutes.
Progress Updates
September 30, 2026
Two weeks ago, the first beam was set in place for our new building – it’s come a long way since then! In the latest look inside the build site, tall timber walls and framed openings are beginning to define the ground floor. The building is being framed by mass timber, including cross-laminated timber panels and large glued-laminated wood beams. These components are manufactured off-site, with openings and connection points prepared before delivery, ready to be lifted into position and assembled on-site. The warm-toned timber and natural woodgrain will remain a prominent feature of the building’s natural character. Beginning next week, the project will reach new heights by commencing second-floor construction.
August 3, 2026
With concrete curbs poured and the parking lot paved, the site is looking more inviting by the day. This loon-shaped lot will be complete with a “bill” shape created from pavers, solar panels that will resemble a loon’s wing, and sidewalk markings inspired by loon plumage. Crews also completed the light pole bases and installed the Rain Guardian Foxholes, an important part of the site’s stormwater management system. Next week, electrical work will continue on the site as steady progress continues toward the next phase of construction.
July 24, 2026
Construction at the National Loon Center reached another important milestone as the building’s concrete slab has been poured. Crews also completed underground work for the EV charging stations, continued site electrical installation, backfilled the monument foundations, and prepared the site for curb and gutter work. In the coming weeks, work will focus on completing the first phase of curb and gutter, grading areas for paving, and continuing site electrical work.
June 11, 2026
As shown in the photos below, the elevator shaft for our building is now complete! Drilling has also been completed on 35 of the 50 geothermal wells, and the solar array foundations – each weighing nearly 90,000 pounds – have been poured and backfilled. Underground plumbing work is now underway, as a busy summer continues en route to our grand opening next spring.
May 28, 2026
Construction continued this past week as permanent power was installed, power was brought to the job trailer, and a construction camera was installed. Crews also completed waterproofing and backfill for the elevator foundation, began work on the water main, and started geothermal well drilling. Ten of the fifty geothermal wells are complete. Next week, work will continue with geothermal drilling, the start of the elevator shaft, and the beginning of solar array foundations.
May 14, 2026
Preparations for the geothermal system are now complete, and fifty wells will be drilled over the next few weeks. Using the earth’s constant underground temperature, all of these wells will work to heat and cool our building depending on the season, enabling the National Loon Center to operate as a near net-zero energy facility. Crews are also working on the elevator pit foundations and utility tie-ins, and construction is scheduled to begin on the solar canopy foundations.
Subscribe to The Hoot
You can receive email updates on our building progress and get exclusive looks at exhibit renderings on our mailing list. We never send spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.