Hot Property: University of Minnesota Tate Science and Teaching Building

Type: Education

Size: 230,049 square feet

Cost: $92.5 million

Architect: Alliiance

Contractor: J.E. Dunn Construction

Details: Work on a $92.5 million renovation of the University of Minnesota's Tate Science and Teaching Building will begin in June after last month's approval by the Board of Regents.

The project will kick off with hazardous materials abatement and demolition by general contractor J.E. Dunn Construction. When completed in May 2017, the 1926 building will have 151,000 square feet of renovated space and 78,500 square feet of new construction. About $57 million of the funding came from the state bonding bill last year.

Known for decades as the John Tate Laboratory for Physics, the Northrop Mall building has been the home for the U's School of Physics and Astronomy since its opening 89 years ago. Because of the building's outdated mechanical, electrical and computer systems, the school's research labs were moved to the new Physics and Nanotechnology Building in April.

The renovated Tate will house offices for about 350 faculty and researchers; create 33 teaching labs for physics and the relocated Department of Earth Sciences; and add three new lecture halls. About 2,000 people per day are expected to use the rehabbed building.

Also as part of the plans designed by Minneapolis-based Alliiance, the Tate building's exterior will be renovated, with a prominent new entry added off Church Street. Its mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems will all be replaced and modernized.

Don Jacobson is a freelance writer in St. Paul. He can be contacted at hotproperty.startribune@gmail.com.