Wadaag Commons Receives ULI Americas Award for Excellence
Tuesday, August 4th, 2026
We are thrilled to announce that Wadaag Commons, a transformative affordable housing project located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, received the ULI Americas Award for Excellence!
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. ULI began the Awards for Excellence program in 1979 to recognize truly superior development efforts in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
This year, nine developments from across the Americas have been selected as winners of the 2026 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence. Winning projects represent the highest standards of achievement in the development industry, recognizing the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design. A jury of ULI members chooses finalists and winners through a process that includes site tours and interviews.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
In Somali, ‘Wadaag’ means to share. That’s at the heart of this affordable family-oriented apartment in Minneapolis. Noor Companies and Redesign partnered to develop Wadaag Commons, a transformative 39-unit housing development with much-needed affordable one to four-bedroom units.
Developed by Noor Companies, a woman and Somali-owned development and construction company, Wadaag Commons took nearly seven years to complete, and serves primarily East African families, offering larger apartment homes to accommodate mixed-generation families. The transit-oriented complex also has a playground and features modern amenities like electric vehicle charging stations, green roof, solar, bike racks, a sundeck, and underground garage. A special feature of the playground is its lighter color palette and sensory features to cater to children on the autism spectrum.
With a focus on sustainable, healthy, and cultural sensitivity, Wadaag Commons also features six townhomes with walkout patios, a sensory-sensitive playground, solar and green roof, raised planting beds, underground parking with EV charging stations, and a community space with roof sun deck.
PROJECT TEAM
- Developer & Owner: Noor Companies and Redesign
- General Contractor: Frana Companies
- Architect & Interior Designer: Pope Design Group
- Structural Engineer: ERA Structural Engineering
- Civil Engineer & Landscape: Loucks
- Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Emanuelson-Podas
Read more about the project and the award on the ULI Americas website: Wadaag Commons – ULI Americas Awards for Excellence Winner | ULI Americas