MINNEAPOLIS—The City of Minneapolis has just approved Kraus-Anderson's plan to build a new five-story, 100,000-square-foot headquarters at 8^th St. and 5^th Ave. in downtown Minneapolis' Elliot Park neighborhood. The company will double the number of employees it currently has working downtown by consolidating its suburban operations into the new building. In doing so, KA will be just one of the many firms to take advantage of the desire of many in the modern workforce to adopt urban lifestyles.

KA has been headquartered in downtown Minneapolis since 1897. Its current building at 525 S. Eighth St. was constructed in the mid-1970s. Last year, the company announced plans to consolidate its Twin Cities operations under one roof in a new, build-to-suit LEED facility. Groundbreaking ceremonies will take place at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 28.

“Our satellite offices were a result of Kraus Anderson's growth over the years and a lack of space to appropriately accommodate the team,” Mike Hille, KA's senior vice president for development, tells GlobeSt.com. “The KA Block project allows us to continue our commitment to the city of Minneapolis, strengthen our relationship as a community member in Elliot Park, and bring our team together in a collaborative and inspiring environment. This location will also centralize our businesses bringing all of us closer to our clients and business partners also located in downtown Minneapolis.