Month: April 2021

Mayo Clinic’s New Research Building Growing to 11 Floors

Press Releases

The long tradition of biomedical innovation that makes up Mayo Clinic’s DNA will continue with the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Building on the Rochester, Minnesota, campus, set to open in the fourth quarter of 2023. Research is the engine that drives advances in medical care, and the new facility will enable the team-based scientists of Mayo to continue finding care solutions for patients.

Funded in part through a gift from the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation as well as other generous benefactors, the energy-efficient structure will feature 11 floors and 176,000 square feet of flexible laboratory space. Philanthropy will play a key role in its completion. The building will be located at the intersection of 3rd Street SW and 4th Avenue SW with underground connectors to the Opus and Baldwin Buildings.

Hyatt House Rochester Mayo Clinic Area: Introducing Downtown Rochester’s Newest Hotel

General

Take an inside look at the newly opened Hyatt House Rochester Mayo Clinic Area with general manager Mike Fox. The hotel is owned by PEG Companies and managed by In-Group Hospitality: A PEG Company. The hotel adds value to the City of Rochester as the first ever Qualified Opportunity Zone project and is a vital part of the Destination Medical Center (DMC) initiative to revitalize Downtown and fulfill the strong demand for extended stay accommodations for patients of Mayo Clinic and their families. DMC supported this development with public infrastructure funding.

Urban Evolution Episode 12: Shrpa: A New Online Source for Travel and Exploration

Urban Evolution Podcast

A Rochester, Minnesota startup is helping to fill a void in community exploration. Shrpa.com connects travelers with self-guided adventures created by locals. It’s a unique online resource that is gaining traction and subscribers. Shrpa.com co-founders Chris Lukenbill and Andy Vig are software developers who met at a co-working space. They both struggled to find a source for new experiences. Not finding a usable platform, they created their own with a long-term vision for Shrpa.com to be the platform for local travel and exploration.

Download a transcript of this episode.

Urban Evolution Episode 11: Launch Minnesota: A Launching Pad for Startups

Urban Evolution Podcast
Neela Mollgaard, Launch Minnesota Executive Director

In Minnesota, a new initiative is providing a launching pad for entrepreneurs.

Launch Minnesota is a pilot program that is fostering an innovative ecosystem across the state and is helping to get capital in the hands of startups. Over the past two years, Launch Minnesota has provided several millions of dollars in grant funding for early stage startups.

The executive director of Launch Minnesota, Neela Mollgaard, has been a leader at the local and state level helping entrepreneurs as they start and scale their business. She discusses Minnesota’s commitment to the startup community and why entrepreneurship is a key part of the economy and needs greater focus.

Download a transcript of this episode.

 

Launch Minnesota Kick-Off event on October 1, 2019.
Pictured (left to right): Minnesota State Sen. Eric Pratt, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove, Launch Minnesota Executive Director Neela Mollgaard, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Minnesota State Rep. Tim Mahoney.

Discovery Walk Project Updates

General

Planning for the future by creating a connected city

What is Discovery Walk? 

Discovery Walk is a four-block linear parkway in downtown Rochester, MN along 2nd Avenue SW that will serve pedestrians as well as vehicle traffic. This multipurpose public space and streetscape is the first of its kind in Rochester. The vision for this project is to create a high amenity landscaped road and utility reconstruction project in the middle of downtown that prioritizes pedestrian experience while also maintaining flexibility for bike and vehicular access, civic events, and supports future development.