Development and construction firm Mortenson has announced the design and location for the first building in Rochester’s Destination Medical Center Discovery Square district.
Designed by RSP Architects and HOK, the 60,000-plus-sq.-ft. life sciences research and innovation building features a tenant-focused, amenity-rich environment. The building will help tenants accelerate the translation of promising health-related therapies and technologies to provide solutions that create better health outcomes for patients. Flexible, open workspaces will enable tenants to adapt to ever-changing needs in the life sciences industry.
“Innovation and collaboration are the bedrock of Discovery Square, yet both require a great deal of intentionality,” said Jeremy Jacobs, development executive at Mortenson. “RSP and HOK have integrated best practices from across the world to ensure that tenants will have unrivaled access to spaces that facilitate and encourage collaboration.”
“Development of Discovery Square is a major step forward for the world of life science research,” said Eli Hoisington, AIA, LEED AP, HOK’s design principal. “Discovery Square will be a bridge to the mission of Mayo Clinic. Anchored by Mayo Clinic, the first phase will provide a new address for the future of life science, research, education, technology and innovation. We are extremely excited about this opportunity to bring our experience designing innovative research environments to this globally important project.”
“One of the project’s guiding design principles is to create something completely different for Rochester and for life science research,” said Jon Buggy, AIA, principal, RSP Architects. “Life-enhancing scientific and therapeutic breakthroughs will happen here. Appropriately, this first life science building is planned and designed to establish a very strong visual and programmatic presence for the promise of Discovery Square. Science and discovery will be on display—open to, engaging and committed to the innovation community and public realm of Rochester.”
Pending final approval, the building will be located at the corner of 4th Street SW and 2nd Avenue SW in the 16-block Discovery Square sub-district, near the historic Mayo Clinic campus. The building orientation, massing, wall and roof construction, and mechanical systems will integrate high-performance systems for increased energy efficiency. Groundbreaking is planned for late 2017, with a target completion date in 2019.
Destination Medical Center (DMC) is the largest public-private economic initiative in Minnesota’s history. The 20-year plan to transform Rochester into a global destination for health and wellness will attract developers, investors, startups, and entrepreneurs to live, work, and play in America’s City for Health.