Maynard’s EXCELSIOR

EXCELSIOR, MN

Completed 2023

TA-DA!

Behind the Design

Design Notes

Before

A beloved lakeside restaurant with a patio at the weather’s mercy: no shelter, a six-foot entry wall that hid the door, and runoff from the upper deck seeping onto the patio below.

The Idea

One roof that solves three problems — a 16-by-50-foot sloped structure in clear cedar, angled so it drains the water, catches the light on a north-facing site, and carries the heaters and screens that make the space four-season.

After

Ten infrared heaters in four zones, phantom screens that drop at a button, a new server station and bar top, and a lowered entry wall so you can finally sight the door. Updated and modernized — without feeling formal.

The Brief

—An outdoor dining space that survives Minnesota weather
—Handle a multitude of crowds without losing the flow
—Elevate the look — but keep the casual lakeside soul
—Fix the water seeping from the upper deck onto diners below

Materials & Craft

Tongue-and-groove clear cedar roof
Helical piers
10× 6,000-watt infrared heaters
Phantom vinyl drop screens
Hardie board & nickel-gap siding

The working roof

The 16-by-50-foot sloped roof in tongue-and-groove clear cedar was angled to do double duty — an efficient drainage system that also maximizes light on a north-facing site.

Heat in four zones

Ten 6,000-watt infrared heaters run in four zones — or individually — with timers, so any member of staff can dial in comfort without a manual.

Screens at a button

Phantom vinyl screens hide in the roof and drop at the push of a button: wind protection, held heat, and a patio that serves in the fall and winter.

Finding the front door

The old six-foot wall made the entry a guessing game. It was lowered, a server station and bar top were added, and now the patio flows — and you can see where you’re going.

The hard part

The restaurant sits on the water, wrapped by an elevated deck — no access for traditional footings, so the structure rides on helical piers, attached to the existing building while the restaurant kept serving with minimal disruption.