Fox21 News
DULUTH – The 425 Project Partners, AtWater Group, Maurices and the City of Duluth, have selected McGough Construction as construction manager for the proposed 15-story building and parking ramp to be built at 425 West Superior Street in downtown Duluth.
McGough, headquartered in Roseville, Minn., works on projects nationwide.
As construction manager, McGough will be responsible for building the ramp and tower, coordinating construction activities among the 425 Project partners, and overseeing budget and schedule for the project.
“We’re incredibly excited to be working on this project and look forward to working with the City, AtWater and Maurices,” said Brad Wood, executive vice president at McGough. “Through partnering with all of the team members, we will make this project a great success for Duluth.”
McGough has built towers and ramps similar in size and scope to the 425 Project, including buildings for Travelers and Securian in St. Paul and ING in Minneapolis.
McGough has also worked on several projects in Duluth.
Its most recent local project was a 40,000 square-foot expansion of the Science Center at The College of St. Scholastica, which was completed in May 2012.
“McGough’s experience and work style is a great fit for this project,” said Brian Forcier, president of AtWater Group. “The company will immediately begin working through pricing of the schematic design. Looking ahead toward construction, McGough will implement their Local First approach, which is really important to us. This approach ensures utilization, where possible, of local labor, materials suppliers, and other local vendors and consultants.”
Maurices has chosen two firms to design the company’s interior space in the 425 Project.
Interior design firm HGA, headquartered in Minneapolis, will be the lead firm, in partnership with DSGW Architects, headquartered in Duluth.
HGA is a full-service architecture, interior design and engineering firm with a specialty in workplace design.
HGA has a long-standing relationship with the project’s architect, RSP Architects, as previously announced.
DSGW Architects has completed hundreds of projects in the Duluth area, including working with Maurices over the past eight years on several renovations in the company’s current corporate office buildings on Superior Street.
“HGA’s and DSGW’s experience and commitment to creating office space that’s an extension of the company’s brand and culture – that supports attracting and retaining the best and brightest employees – really resonated with us,” says Brian Thun, Maurices CFO who is leading the project for his company.
The interior designers will begin immediately digging into the user needs and culture of Maurices to identify current and future space needs and work styles.
The 425 Project is a joint private-public venture.
The City of Duluth is matching an $8.5 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to help pay for infrastructure work and construction of the parking ramp.
Maurices is investing approximately $30 million in the project.
The project is slated for completion in 2015.
