Mortenson, MSR to team up on city office building – Finance and Commerce

Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle and Mortenson Construction are poised to design and build the city of Minneapolis new downtown office building, an up to 10-story structure that will consolidate city employees.

The citys staff is recommending Minneapolis-based MSR Design, teaming with Copenhagen-based Henning Larsen Architects, for the $6.2 million architecture and engineering contract. The staff is going with Golden Valley-based Mortenson for the $4.7 million construction management contract.

The recommendations, based on a competitive bidding process, are expected to go before the City Council on Thursday. The citys Ways and Means Committee approved the recommendation Monday.

A parking ramp at 501 Fourth Ave. S. in downtown Minneapolis will be torn down to make way for the new building, which will be seven to 10 stories high with 250,000 to 300,000 square feet of interior space. The site is diagonally across from City Hall, at 350 S. Fifth St.

The city hopes to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold-level certification for the new building. LEED Gold is the U.S. Green Building Councils second-highest certification level for resource-efficient buildings.

Josh Stowers, principal and architect with MSR, said in an interview that its too early to share specifics on the design. But he said the new tower will be a very sustainable building that will last the test of time.

I am a true believer in what they are trying to do, Stowers said.

In a press release, the city said it has been exploring plans for a new downtown office building since 1999. At present, several hundred city employees work downtown in seven leased or city-owned buildings. Some of the buildings need maintenance and renovation.

Sarah McKenzie, the citys media relations coordinator, said the project will be financed by city bonding. The projects cost hasnt been determined yet, she said.

The city plans to sell two buildings in connection with the project: the City of Lakes building, 309 Second Ave. S., and the Public Service Center, 250 S. Fourth St., McKenzie said.

Schematic design for the new building is expected to begin in September, followed by parking ramp demolition in summer 2018 and construction in fall 2018. The new building will be complete by summer 2020, according to the city.

A designer-selection panel considered factors that include experience, key team members, the proposers understanding of the project objectives and other factors, according to city documents.

Thirteen teams responded to the citys request for qualifications for design services, and the city received four proposals for the construction-management contract, according to city documents.

Perkins + Will provided predesign and planning services.

The new office building will house offices, public service areas, break and staff spaces, a public lobby, conference rooms, and short-term parking, according to a request for proposals. One level of underground parking is planned for staff and building visitors.

Demolition is expected to cost $2.5 million, not including abatement, soft costs and contingency, the RFP noted.

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Mortenson, MSR to team up on city office building - Finance and Commerce