"We have filed an EAW (environment assessment worksheet) with the city, and in doing so, we need to project the amount of space we may need," he says. The second phase, for which Forsythe said there is "no timeline," calls for an additional 270,000-sf office building. The company's 50-acre site -- located on the northeast corner of Interstate 394 and Highway 169 --could handle additional development beyond those two phases, but Forsythe says none is anticipated at this point.

General Mills, the food and cereal giant, is waiting for regulatory approval for its proposed $10 billion merger with Pillsbury, the food company with roots and major operations in the Twin Cities. Forsythe epxects the Federal Trade Commission to rule on the merger in May.

The merger plans has led to the speculation that the expansion is part of a move to consolidate Pillsbury's operations at the Golden Valley campus.But Forsythe says his company's expansion plans were in the works long before the proposed merger. He anticipates both companies would continue to operate in their current locations if the merger goes through -- at least on a short-term basis.