Rasmussen College is moving its Eden Prairie campus to Bloomington, saying it wants to avoid the disruption of the upcoming construction at the Hwy. 169 and Interstate 494 interchange.
The school, one of a number of for-profit colleges and universities in the state, has signed a long-term lease for about 30,000 square feet at Two MarketPointe, a new eight-story office building at 4400 W. 78th St. in Bloomington, near I-494 and France Avenue.
Minneapolis-based Ryan Cos., which developed and owns the building, announced the deal Tuesday and said it's tailoring the space for Rasmussen.
That includes adding a lab for the school's medical laboratory technology program as well as a lab for game design and simulation, a library and an expanded student lounge, among other things, a Rasmussen spokeswoman said.
Jeff Brosz, the Eden Prairie campus director, said the school aims to start the spring quarter in April at the new location. The move shouldn't disrupt any classes for the 600 students that campus serves, he said. The Eden Prairie campus is one of five Rasmussen campuses in the Twin Cities.
Rasmussen College started in St. Paul more than 100 years ago and has been expanding in recent years. It now has 21 campuses in the Upper Midwest and Florida, with about 15,000 students, Brosz said. The school recently moved its main Minnesota administrative offices from Lake Elmo to another spot in Bloomington, a larger site at the 8300 Tower at Normandale Lake Office Park.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation could start construction on the $125 million Hwy. 169/I-494 interchange project as early as this fall.
Jennifer Bjorhus • 612-673-4683
