Address: 595 Aldine St., St. Paul
Type: Office
Size: 14,000 square feet
Developer: Capitol Region Watershed District
Architect: MSR Design
Details: A project team and timeline have been announced for the $7.2 million rehabilitation of a former industrial building in St. Paul's Midway area into the new headquarters of the Capitol Region Watershed District.
Leaders of the watershed district, which covers 40 square miles including portions of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville and St. Paul, last year purchased the former MacQueen Equipment building at 595 Aldine St. It plans to move there from leased office space in St. Paul's Energy Park.
Their vision encompassed not just a retrofitting of the former street-sweeper maintenance facility but also the transformation of a sprawling paved area at its rear. They want to turn that area into one that illustrates the ideas of cleaning up stormwater runoff. The district's mission is to help keep Como Lake, Crosby Lake, Loeb Lake, Lake McCarrons and the Mississippi River free of runoff pollutants.
Work on the facility is now scheduled to start in March, with a move-in date set for this fall. MSR Design has been tapped as the architect while J.E. Dunn Construction Group, which led the State Capitol rehab, has been selected as construction manager.
The district said the new "community watershed learning center" will offer "on-site educational opportunities" with interactive elements meant to draw neighbors and visitors to the new facility.
Don Jacobson
