An architecture firm with a portfolio of public projects from Eagan to Washington, D.C., has been tapped to design an office building for the city of Minneapolis.

City staff have recommended Minneapolis-based MSR, in partnership with the New York office of Henning Larsen Architects, to design the city's new Consolidated Office Building. A City Council committee will review the recommendation Monday, and the full council will vote on final approval Aug. 31.

The office building will be located across the street from City Hall on a site now housing a parking ramp, and will provide office space for city employees who are scattered across downtown. The goal is to make it easier for government employees to work together and for members of the public to access city offices.

According to a city news release Friday, the Consolidated Office Building is expected to measure between seven and 10 stories and cover between 250,000 and 300,000 square feet. The exact size and cost will be finalized during the design process, the release said.

City staff tapped Golden Valley-based M.A. Mortenson as construction manager for the project, a recommendation that will also go before the council committee Monday.

A committee meeting document shows the contract with MSR will total $6.2 million, and the contract with Mortenson will total $4.7 million. The city is planning to cover that $10.9 million with proceeds from tax-exempt bonds.

City officials have been exploring the idea of a single municipal office building for nearly 20 years, according to the release. Construction is expected to start in fall 2018, and the building will be open and occupied by fall 2020.

Emma Nelson • 612-673-4509