From billion-dollar redevelopment visions to smaller-but-mighty community center plans, this week’s Building Buzz is packed with projects that span the Midwest map and every stage of construction.

Chanhassen’s proposed $80M community center is already bumping into budget walls, while Bloomington is charging ahead with a $101M health and wellness hub. In Wisconsin, a $50M youth sports complex is in the works, and Fort Atkinson is getting ready to welcome a $10M speculative industrial development. Back in the Twin Cities, Scheels is bringing its massive retail-meets-entertainment model to Blaine (Ferris wheel included), and First Avenue’s 8,000-seat amphitheater is ready to break ground along the Mississippi. Plus, we’ve got new housing plans in Hutchinson, NEPA changes tied to AI expansion, and fresh data pointing to a construction trades boom among career-minded Gen Zers.

Grab your coffee --- there's a lot to dig into!
 

JULY 20

Chanhassen Voters Approved $80M for a Community Center, But Designs are Already Over Budget
Athletic Facility  |  Earth Work  |  Municipal  |  Parking Structure  |  Playground  |  Recreation & Entertainment  |  Restaurant  |  Sitework
Just over half of Chanhassen voters in November signed off on a plan to impose a 0.5% sales tax to help cover the costs of building the Chanhassen Bluffs Community Center in a new development at Highway 212 and Powers Boulevard. In the run-up to the election, officials told residents they expected the facility would cost about $80-million and include two sheets of ice, a restaurant, an indoor walking track and an indoor playground, among other amenities. It would be funded using the new tax, the property levy and money from the sale of the existing recreation center, among other sources. In a public meeting earlier this month, members of design firm BKV Group and RJM Construction presented council members with multiple options for the project. an $81-million version wouldn't have a second sheet of ice or turf in the fieldhouse. A $93-million version would replace the restaurant with a community room that could accommodate weddings and other events. Members of the project team told the council they needed to present new options for the design because the costs of site work, which includes paving parking lots, curb and gutter work and "earth work," came in higher than expected. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
 

JULY 21

Developer Pitches $50M Sports Complex in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Projects - Athletic Facility  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Healthcare  |  Mixed-Use  |  Sports Facilities  |  TIF Funding  |  Youth Sports Complex
Colbalt Partners announced plans to acquire a 16-acre site and build a youth sports and events complex along North Arbon Drive south of Brown Deer Road. The village of Brown Deer will meet to decide whether to approve an agreement with Cobalt to redevelop vacant land on the 8600 block of North Arbon Drive, a village agenda showed. Cobalt's vision is for a walkable district that mixes sports and recreation with hospitality, small-scale retail and community gathering spaces mindful of the existing environment, developer officials said in a news release. The complex will include two hockey rinks, multiple basketball, volleyball and futsal courts, a turf field, a wellness-focused medical element, a food and beverage program and other uses related to sports and fitness, officials said. (Finance & Commerce)
 

High Pay, Job Security Heighten Interest in Construction Trades
Industry News - Community College  |  Construction Jobs  |  Job Growth  |  Trade Schools  |  Skilled Trades  |  Vocational Training  |  Workforce Development
Young Americans weighing their career options increasingly are choosing jobs in the skilled trades. The National Student Clearinghouse reports a record number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges in 2023, and students studying the construction trades rose 23%. Good pay, faster onboarding and job security make occupations in vocational fields and attractive alternative to jobs that entail four years of college tuition and subsequent student loan debt. Researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data to reveal the construction occupations commanding the highest wages, the locations with the best pay for workers and the jobs projected to grow fastest in the coming years. (Finance & Commerce)
 

St. Paul Port Plans Kmart Site Demo for Future Development
Asbestos Removal  |  Demolition  |  Environmental Remidation  |  Industrial  |  Redevelopment  |  Site Preparation
The Saint Paul Port Authority plans to demolish the former Kmart on Maryland Avenue in St. Paul soon as it lays the groundwork for a hoped-for $50-million redevelopment on the site. The Port Authority acquired the Kmart site at 245 Maryland Avenue East late last year. At its board meeting last week, the Port Authority is expected to authorize an application for a low-interest demolition loan of up to $250,000. A Port Authority staff report reveals that, in many cases, "this funding also allows communities to alleviate hazardous conditions and public safety concerns associated with vacant structures. Eligible costs include demolition activities such as site preparation, building removal, debris removal, and asbestos removal." (Finance & Commerce)
 

Tax Deal for Office Conversion Project Advances in Milwaukee
Affordable Housing  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Office-to-Residential Conversion  |  Redevelopment  |  TIF Funding  |  Workforce Housing
A tax incentive for a project to convert one of Wisconsin's tallest buildings into housing has won its first approval. The Redevelopment Authority of the city of Milwaukee board unanimously approved boundaries and a project plan for Tax Increment District No. 127, which will wrap around the lot where 100 East Wisconsin stands in downtown Milwaukee. Developers want to convert the mostly vacant office building into apartments, offering lower rents in exchange for public incentives. The project aims to introduce 373 housing units, 75 of which will be reserved for those making up to 100% of the area median income. Klein Development and Johnny Vassallo are leading the conversion project. Oxeland Group and Stevens Construction will partner for project construction. (Finance & Commerce)
 

JULY 22

Bloomington Seeks Approval for $101M Community Center Development Along Penn
Athletic Facility  |  Demolition  | Office  |  Recreation & Entertainment
The city of Bloomington will soon seek site approvals to move forward on the $101.8-million development of a new Community Health and Wellness Center along Penn Avenue. Bloomington staff plan to present the city's vision for the 106,000-square-foot community center to the Planning Commission. The nearly 9-acre site is located at 9801 and 9841 Penn Avenue and 9900 Newtown Avenue, according to city documents. The site contains the now-closed Creekside Community Center, which would be demolished to make way for the project. The development would be three time larger than the existing facility, according to the city's website, Bloomington Forward. The new two-story community center would include spaces for fitness, indoor aquatics, gymnasiums, indoor play, a kid's club, event spaces, rooms for seniors and teenagers, office space for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, and the Bloomington Community Health Center, according to a memo sent to the city. HGA is the project architect and engineer and JE Dunn Construction Co. is listed as the construction manager. The Bloomington City Council is expected to vote on the project in August. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Doran Cos.' 228-Unit Uptown Project Clears Key City Hurdle
Affordable Housing  |  Athletic Facility  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Demolition  |  Healthcare  |  Mixed-Use Redevelopment  |  Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure
The Minneapolis Planning Commission agreed to amend an existing planned unit development to allow development of the Doran Cos.' project at the southeast corner of West Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue. The project is a redevelopment of the southern portion of the Seven Points mall, formerly Calhoun Square. Doran is working on the project in collaboration with Seven Points owner Northpond Partners. The site is within the Seven-Points planned unit development, which includes a shopping center, a sports and health facility, a parking ramp and a vacant lot, according to city documents. A narrative from Doran reveals that the redevelopment would convert part of the Seven Points Shopping Center into a five-story building with 228 housing units and amenities ranging from co-working spaces to a secured courtyard with greenspace. To make space for the new housing, the development team would demolish the CB2 building and a portion of the existing shopping center. The mall would be reduced in size from 234,879-square-feet to 173,080-square-feet, according to a project narrative. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Kwik Trip Buys Eagan Redevelopment Site
Commercial & Retail  |  Redevelopment
Kwik Trip has paid $3.5-million for a 3.53-acre site on Pilot Knob Road in Eagan, where it plans to replace an outdated neighborhood retail center with its newest generation convenience store, fuel station, and two-bay car cash. The site, known as Hilltop Plaza, sits on the northeast quadrant of Pilot Know Road and Diffley Road, in one of the highest traffic areas of the city. The project is set for construction in 2026, according to a company spokesperson. (Finance & Commerce)
 

JULY 23

Saint Paul Port Authority to Redevelop Hospital Site
Demolition  |  Environmental Remediation  |  Hospital Redevelopment  |  Site Preparation  |  TIF Funding  |  Urban Renewal
The Saint Paul Port Authority has agreed to acquire the south parcel of Fairview Health Services' former hospital campus in downtown St. Paul FOR $1 --- the first step in what the authority hopes will be a major redevelopment of the underused site. The 5.55-acre site is part of the former St. Joseph's hospital campus at 45 West 10th Street. Four long-vacant buildings on the site will be demolished to make way for new development, according to the Port Authority. Pending approval by the Port Authority Board of Commissioners and St. Paul City Council, the Port Authority would create a redevelopment Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district and spend up to $6-million in bonds to pay for demolition, remediation and other site prep. (Finance & Commerce)
 

JULY 24

Andover Weighs 1,455-Home Plan on 800-Acre Site
Commercial & Retail  |  Community & Assisted Living  |  Environmental Review  |  Grading  |  Multi-Family  |  Residential  |  Senior Housing
The city of Andover is reviewing plans for a multi-year development that could bring nearly 1,500 new housing units to town. Artemis Development envisions up to 910 single-family homes, 385 town-homes, 160 senior / co-op / apartments, and 30-acres of commercial uses on part of an 804-acre site north of Coon Creek, east of Round Lake Boulevard / County Highway 9, and south of 161st Avenue Northwest. City officials got an early look at the plans in June. At the June 17th city council meeting, the developer presented a "concept plan" for 1,370 units within the project area. The updated plan includes 1,455 units. Given the size of the project, the development requires an environmental study known as an Alternative Urban Areawide Review. The AUAR process includes a 30-dayu public comment period, which is expected to begin on August 19th, according to city documents. Development would take up about 300-acres of the 800-plus-acre piece of property, and plans include a seven-mile network of trails within the development. Pending city approvals, grading could begin in late 2026 or early 2027. The development team includes Gonyea Company and Traditional Development. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Minneapolis Inks Deal for 8,000-Seat First Avenue Concert Venue Along Mississippi River
Affordable Housing  |  Athletic Facility  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Healthcare  |  Industrial  |  Mixed-Use  |  Multi-Family  |  Parks & Open Spaces  |  Public Infrastructure  |  Recreation & Entertainment  |  Redevelopment
A long-planned concert venue on the bank of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis is officially moving forward. City and state leaders gathered on the city's North Side to celebrate the City Council's approval of an action that advances an 8,000-seat outdoor performing arts center on the Upper Harbor Terminal site --- part of a $350-million redevelopment of the former industrial site. The Community Performing Arts Center, expected to open for the 2027 concert season, will be run jointly by First Avenue, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the African American Community Development Corporation. The venue is projected to host up to 54 commercial events each year, with additional programming led by the AACDC. The new venue is the centerpiece of a broader redevelopment effort at the former industrial site, located off Dowling Avenue and I-94. The 48-acre project, led by the city of Minneapolis in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, will include affordable and mixed-income housing, a health and wellness hub, riverside parkland and new commercial space. Infrastructure work was completed last summer, and construction is expected to begin this fall. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
 

US Tariffs: Impact on the US Construction Industry
Industry News - Aluminum Prices  |  Building Materials Prices  |  Economic Trends  |  Steel Prices  |  Tariffs
The US construction market is expected to be the most affected by tariff policies, leading to a slowdown throughout the latter half of 2025 and into 2026. The uncertainty surrounding these policies is anticipated to influence prices, demand and supplies of relevant imported building materials. Fluctuating tariff policies, for steel and aluminum in particular, are leading to delayed investment decisions by businesses. In recent months, several multi-billion-dollar projects have announced delays or cancellations because of tariffs and the uncertainty surrounding federal funding. S&P Global Market Intelligence expects more projects to follow this trend. (S&P Global)
 

JULY 25

$10M Speculative Industrial Development Advances in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Projects - Industrial  |  New Construction
WI Development Partners recently closed on 10.79-acres in the Klement Business Park, where it plans to build a 90,000-square-foot speculative industrial development in Fort Atkinson in Jefferson County. Developers said the project will be a $10-million investment and will be located on the southern corner of Janesville Avenue and Commerce Parkway. The project will feature two 45,000-square-foot buildings, which developers said can be tailored for future users' needs for spaces such as offices and warehouses. Available floor plan configurations range from 6,000- to 86,400-square-feet. So far, plans for the general site, elevation and layout have been completed. Design and engineering will take several more months and then the project will go through final permitting. After that process, the developer hopes to break ground in early 2026. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Affordable Housing Planned Near Rockwell Automation in Milwaukee
Wisconsin Projects - Affordable Housing  |  Mixed-Income Housing  |  Multi-Family
The Milwaukee Common Council will decide on a zoning change for 1435 South First Street in the Walker's Point neighborhood. Bear Development submitted a request to rezone the site from industrial light to industrial mixed to allow multi-family residential development. The proposed development will include 69-units of mixed-income housing that would be partially financed by housing tax credits through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. Bear is planning a five-story building with 69-units with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. The developer hopes to be ready to start construction in the second quarter of 2026. All the units will be affordable and the developer plans to target units to households earning 60% of the area median income on average across the development. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Corps of Engineers Selects Fargo, North Dakota Resident for National Award
People Behind The Projects
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters selected Maj. Kyle Volk, St. Paul District, resident engineer and Fargo, N.D. resident, as its 2025 recipient of the Construction Management Excellence Award. The Construction Management Excellence Award is a national award that recognizes construction personnel exhibiting excellence in construction management - contract administration activities. Volk was honored in large part for his work on the Fargo, North Dakota / Moorhead, Minnesota, Metro Area Project. He is the subject matter expert for managing numerous challenges with the project. Additionally, he completed the district's first risk analysis of a project during construction. His risk register model and the analysis process have become the district's standard for analyzing risk during construction. (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service - DVIDS)
 

Minneapolis OKs Outdoor Amphitheater Run By First Avenue; Construction Begins This Fall
Healthcare  |  Multi-Family  |  Parks & Open Spaces  |  Recreation & Entertainment
Minneapolis officials gave the go-ahead for an 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater along the city's riverfront, clearing the way for construction to begin as early as this fall. Minnesota Public Radio reports Mayor Jacob Frey signed the measure near the city's Upper Harbor Terminal site after the City Council unanimously approved funding for the project --- a key element of a planned $350-million redevelopment of the former industrial property. Construction is expected to start in September, with the first events at the amphitheater set for 2027. Other portions of the Upper Harbor redevelopment include a 20-acre park, a health center and housing. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Scheel's Will Open 250,000-SF Store in Blaine, Second Location in Twin Cities
Commercial & Retail  |  Recreation & Entertainment
Scheels, a chain of gigantic sporting goods stores, said it plans to open a 250,000-square-foot location in Blaine. It's the retailer's second Twin Cities store and its sixth in Minnesota. The new location will be located in Blaine's 105th Avenue Redevelopment District, just north of the city's National Sports Center Campus. Work on the ground and pad for the store are already underway; full-scale construction is expected to begin in mid-2026. The retailer is working with co-developers Bader Cos. and Elevage Development of Blaine. Scheels stores do, in fact, offer a lot more than shopping. The Eden Prairie location, for example, includes a 16,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, 45-foot-tall Ferris wheel, and taxidermy menagerie posed on a mountain. A Ferris wheel, candy store and aquarium are also planned for the Blaine site. The store is expected to open in Spring 2028. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

JULY 28

Buffalo Plans $3M Community Center with Room to Grow
Community Center  |  Municipal  |  Parking Structure  |  Playground  |  Renovation  |  Youth Amenities
A "bigger and better" community center with room for expansion and a modest $3-million price tag is on the cusp of construction in Buffalo. The city plans to accept construction bids beginning in August for the project, which will convert and existing building at 114 Commerce Circle into a gathering place for residents. Constructed in 2008, the building was previously occupied by PenRad Technologies, a medical imaging company. Working with engineering firm Bolton & Menk and construction manager at-risk H+U Construction, the city hopes to begin construction in October and open the new facility in May or June next year. The first phase will include installation of an elevator, additional building exits, renovation of the main entrance and office area, a new 40-stall parking lot, a youth play area and "select interior updates," such as wall removals and new doorways. Sitting on a nearly 4-acre site, the 11,934-square-foot building will offer more space and natural light, with planned amenities such as meeting rooms, a game area, a media room, an art room, and an indoor play structure. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Corps of Engineers Set to Reroute the Red River Through Diversion Control Structure
North Dakota Projects - Army Corps of Engineers  |  FM Diversion  |  Red River Control Structure  |  Tainter Gates
A major milestone for the F-M Diversion project: the Red River of the North will be rerouted through the Red River Control Structure on August 7th. A special program will beheld that morning at the construction site near County Road 81 south of Fargo. The concrete control structure includes three 50-foot-wide Tainter gates which will be used to regulate flows into the FM metro. The gated structures will not be used to control flooding until the entire diversion is complete and approved for operation. The diversion, when operational in 2027, will protect 70-square-miles of infrastructure in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Horace, and Harwood. The Corps of Engineers awarded a $115-million contract to Ames Construction of Burnsville, Minn., on March 16, 2022, to build this structure. (KVRR Local News)
 

JULY 29

Industrial Building to Become Hindu Center
Industrial Conversion  |  Religious
After outgrowing their Brooklyn Center meeting place, members of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir paid for a larger Brooklyn Park light industrial building, where they plan to make their new home. The group, which has been meeting at 2300 Freeway Boulevard in Brooklyn Center, closed July 22nd on the acquisition of the property at 8700 Wyoming Avenue North. The new Brooklyn Park property includes 51,877-square-feet of warehouse space, 17,246-square-feet of office, and 7,424-square-feet of mezzanine space with one dock, two drive-in doors, and 19-feet of clear height. The sale came after the city approved conditional use permits allowing the conversion to a religious center and rectory. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Inver Grove Heights Plans $61M Maintenance Facility
Facility  |  Municipal  |  Public Infrastructure  |  Public Works
The Inver Grove Heights City Council held a public hearing and approved a resolution adopting a bond capital improvement plan to allow for construction of a new $61-million central maintenance facility, which would be built on part of the existing campus adjacent to city hall. The exact size is to be determined, but planning documents call for a building of about 100,000- to 110,000-square-feet, which would be more than three times as big as the existing roughly 35,000-square-foot main structure. The plan is to reuse the main existing building for storage and potential future police training needs. The main building was built in 1985 and a "cold storage" structure was added in 1991. Located at 8168 Barbara Avenue, the central maintenance facility houses Inver Grove Heights' "streets, fleet, parks, and utilities divisions," including full-time staff who "maintain and repair the city's critical infrastructure," according to a project narrative. The city is working with Wold Architects on design and Kraus-Anderson on construction. Construction could start in Spring 2026 with completion by December 2027. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Life Time's Plans Advance in Maple Grove
Athletic Facility  |  Community Center  |  Fitness Center  |  Healthcare  |  Multi-Family  |  Playground  |  Wellness Facility
A 115,000-square-foot fitness and wellness facility cleared the Maple Grove Planning Commission, moving Life Time one step closer to building its new center. The building would replace a 2005-built facility that currently sits near the city's center that was recently acquired by the city of Maple Grove in a land exchange agreement. The new Life Time property sits in the Minnesota Health Village, a 100-acre site near Interstate-94 and Highway 610. The planning commission recommended approval for a planned units development, which now goes to the Maple Grove City Council for approval. According to planning documents, the facility would have two floors and an outdoor area. The first floor would include locker rooms, a kids' academy, a spa and three pools. The second floor would be a fitness floor, with a gym, classroom studios, indoor pickleball courts and a recovery area. Outside would feature an amenity deck that would include a bistro, outdoor pickleball courts, another pool, and a kids area. The Minnesota Health Village will be a phased project, with the first phase focusing on the fitness facility. The second phase would be residential development, where planning documents show that between 200-400 units of multi-family are being planned. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Trump Plan Weakens NEPA to Fast-Track AI Data Centers
Government Legislation - AI Action Plan  |  Artificial Intelligence  |  Climate Impact  |  Data Center  |  Environmental Policy  |  Public Infrastructure  |  National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)  |  Permitting Reform
When President Trump rolled out a plan to boost artificial intelligence and data centers, a key goal was wiping away barriers to rapid growth. And that meant taking aim at the National Environmental Policy Act --- a 55-year-old, bedrock law aimed at protecting the environment through a process that requires agencies to consider a project's possible impacts and allows the public to be heard before a project is approved. Data centers, demanding vast amounts of energy and water, have aroused strong opposition in some communities. The AI Action Plan announced last week would seek to sweep aside NEPA, as it's commonly known, to streamline environmental reviews and permitting for data centers and related infrastructure. Signed into law by President Nixon in 1970, NEPA requires federal agencies proposing actions such as building roads, bridges, or energy projects to study how their project will affect the environment. In recent years, the law has become increasingly important in requiring consideration of a project's possible contributions to climate change. (Finance & Commerce)
 

JULY 30

81-Unit Housing Project Planned for Downtown Hutchinson
Affordable Housing  |  Multi-Family  |  Tax Increment Financing (TIF)  |  Trails  |  Urban Revitalization
A blighted former medical center site in Hutchinson could be the landing spot for a project that would bring some much-needed new housing to the city. GC Real Estate Partners is pitching plans for the 81-unit apartment project, which would rise on a site framed by the Crow River on the north, Glen Street on the west, First Avenue on the South and Franklin Street on the east. The project will go before the planning commission in August. A conditional use permit and a couple of variances will be up for consideration. Known as The Landing, the project would feature an outdoor recreational area for residents on the north side of the building, which faces the river, according to the city. For its part, the city plans to build a public trail connecting the site to Girl Scout Park and Cedar Park. GC Real Estate initially pitched a concept plan for 79-units, but later determined that 81-units were needed to make the project financially feasible. The project will also need to be supported by a Tax Increment Financing District, according to the staff report. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Burnsville Toyota Plans Larger Dealership Rebuild
Car Dealership  |  Commercial & Retail  |  Dealership Redevelopment  |  Demolition  |  Indoor Vehicle Storage  |  Industrial  |  Parking Structure
Burnsville Toyota is looking to tear down its current building and raise a new dealership building. The new dealership, which was put forward by builder RJ Ryan on behalf of the site's owner, was recommended for approval unanimously by the Burnsville Planning Commission at its latest meeting. If given the green light by the Burnsville City Council, the proposed building would have a footprint of 36,286-square-feet, about 14,000-square-feet larger than the existing property. The site is located at 14730 Buck Hill Road. The new construction would add a carwash to the property, planning documents show, which would be used by employees to clean inventory vehicles as part of the dealership's operations. This would replace the car wash that the dealership operates across Burnhaven Drive. The 36,000-square-feet would be spread across two structures, planning documents day, split between a three-story showroom and a four-story indoor vehicle storage ramp. According to planning documents, the existing dealership has 373 parking stalls, 10 of which are indoors. The new dealership would increase the number of stalls to 523, with 177 of them indoors. The project will now go before the Burnsville City Council for a final stamp of approval for the conditional use permit. The council is set to take up the item at its August 19th meeting. This structure is in contention for largest dealership building in the Midwest, according to its architect, as well as being the tallest auto showroom in the nation. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Trellis Co. Plans Housing at Flour Exchange Building in Downtown Minneapolis
Affordable Housing  |  Historic Preservation  |  Mixed-Income Housing  |  Multi-Family  |  Residential Conversion
Affordable housing owner and developer Trellis Co. plans to build 110-units of affordable and mixed-income housing at the historic Flour Exchange Building in downtown Minneapolis. Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority plans to give the nonprofit $600,000 to help fund the housing project, according to documents with the city of Minneapolis. The Minneapolis City Council last week approved the county's financial assistance to the project, alongside other proposals. The 12-story building is located at 310 Fourth Avenue South near Minneapolis City Hall. The building was the first steel-and-concrete high-rise constructed in Minneapolis. The original architect of the 1892 building was Long and Keys in Minneapolis, the firm that also designed Minneapolis City Hall. The typical floor size spans about 7,800-square-feet. Features like smaller floor plates and subtle U-shaped of the building make it more suitable for a residential conversion. The building is also on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning the owners could tap into historic tax credits to help fund a residential conversion. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

JULY 31

Bids Come in High for Customs Facility at St. Paul Airport
Airport  |  Customs Facility  |  Green Building  |  LEED Gold  |  Mass Timber  |  Solar  |  Sustainable Construction
The Metropolitan Airports Commission's Planning, Development and Environment Committee will review construction bids on August 4th for a new sustainably designed customs and border control facility at the St. Paul Downtown Airport. The MAC recently opened five bids for the project, including the apparent low of $15.545-million from Shaw-Lundquist Construction. Other bids ranged from $15.59-million to $17.43-million. MAC staff is recommending approval of the Shaw-Lundquist bid, which came in 27% higher than the $12.24-million estimate. A 5.2% contingency for "project adjustments" is baked into the budget, bringing the total cost to $16.35-million. Materials for August 4th's commission meeting blame the difference between the low bid and the estimate on "several factors," including higher-than-expected material costs and site conditions. Included in the project are waiting rooms, a passenger processing area, office space, utility rooms, and restrooms. Also planned are "revisions" to the aircraft apron, new utility connections to the building, new sidewalks, native planting, chain link and decorative metal fencing, and "additional landscape improvements." Building materials include cast-in-place concrete, mass timber columns and beams and a structural wood ceiling / roof. A 1,000-square-foot intensive green roof system, geothermal heat pumps, and "rooftop and adjacent solar panels," are also among the signature design elements. (Finance & Commerce)
 

Headwaters Development Plans 72 New Apartment Units in Chanhassen Across Two Projects
Multi-Family  |  Parking Structure  |  Renovation  |  Trails
Headwaters Development seeks to develop 28 residences across two buildings just north of downtown Chanhassen, as well as a 44-unit apartment building across from Minnetonka Middle School West. The company is expected to go before the Chanhassen Planning Commission on August 12th. Headwaters is working with Kaas Wilson Architects and Measure Group, which is the engineer and landscape architect, on both proposals. Headwaters seeks to build 28 new townhome-style flats on a nearly 4-acre property, which currently includes an existing 18-unit apartment building called Santa Vera Apartments. The existing building, located at 621 Santa Vera Drive and built in 1968, would remain and be renovated. Headwaters also plans to develop a 44-unit apartment complex at 6440 Hazeltine Boulevard. The vacant site spans 5.5-acres. The unit mix would include 17 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedrooms units, and 5 three-bedroom units, ranging from 704-square-feet to 1,307-square-feet, according to the developer's memo. Most of the units in this complex would have private balconies. All of the units would have in-unit washers and dryers, and each resident would have access to at least one enclosed garage stall. Community amenities include a sky lounge, dog spa, pet play area, trail connectivity, an outdoor patio and grilling stations. Headwaters expects construction to start in the fourth quarter of this year and on a 14-month timelines. (Minneapolis - St. Paul Business Journal)
 

Wisconsin to Update Commercial Building Code This Fall
Industry News - Climate Goals  |  Code Update  |  Commercial Building Code  |  Energy Efficiency  |  Infrastructure Safety  |  International Code Council  |  Wisconsin  |  Wisconsin Building Code
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services announced the new Wisconsin Commercial Building Code will be published by the Legislative Reference Bureau on September 1st. To ease the impact of the update on the building industry, DSPS will accept plans under the current code through the month of September, officials said. Contractors have a hard deadline of October 1st for all commercial building plans submitted to DSPS to match the updated code, officials said. The new code establishes standards for commercial buildings, including multi-family and residential buildings. Supplemental sub-submissions to DSPS, including fire suppression, HVAC, boilers, elevators and refrigeration, must be aligned with the code under which the commercial building plan was approved regardless of how many months they follow, officials added. (Finance & Commerce)