Press Release: First Building Announced in Discovery Square

ROCHESTER, Minn. (Apr. 27, 2017) – Representatives from Mortenson announced today to members of the Destination Medical Center Corporation (DMCC) Board of Directors the specific location where construction will take place on its hallmark Discovery Square project.The planned 60,000+ square foot, state-of-the-art research and development complex, currently being designed by RSP Architects and HOK, will be built at the corner of 4th Street SW and 2nd Avenue SW, according to Mortenson representative Jeremy Jacobs.

An integral part of the DMC vision, the 16-block sub-district in downtown Rochester known as Discovery Square will become one of the leading life science research campuses in the United States. The densely organized, mixed-use neighborhood will consist of life science businesses, new start-ups, and residential options anchored by a signature space.

Discovery Square will be a bridge to the mission of Mayo Clinic, serving as an extension of the Mayo Clinic’s team-based model of care and providing a new address for the future of life science, research, education, technology, and innovation. Over the next 20 years, Discovery Square is expected to expand Mayo’s research and product development space by more than two million square feet.

In 2016, Mayo Clinic selected Mortenson Company as its development partner for the first phase of its Discovery Square initiative. In January, Mortenson selected RSP Architects and HOK to design the facility. Mortenson expects to begin construction later this year and complete the project by 2019.

“The DMC vision for Discovery Square is coming to life,” said Lisa Clarke, executive director of the Destination Medical Center. “The vibrant life sciences hub will bring forward-thinking business professionals, students, educators, and innovators from around the world together in Rochester to accelerate research, improve delivery, and advance patient care.”

The next scheduled meeting of the DMCC Board of Directors will take place on July 27, 2017.

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