Dive Brief:

• Minneapolis has begun looking for a construction manager who will run a renovation of the 12-block downtown Nicollet Mall in a project whose initial cost estimate is $50 million and that the city hopes to do with minimal disruption.
• General design work has been done by James Corner Field Operations of New York and is expected to take a year.
• The construction manager will handle cost estimating and preparation of two construction bid packages, one in April for site modifications and utilities work and one next summer for other construction.

Dive Insight:

The Nicollet Mall is bordered by 34 million square feet of office space used by 130,000 workers, which is why the city wants to do the project with as little disruption as possible. Abutting property owners along the mile-long mall are being assessed $25 million for the project along with money from a state bond issue and local government.