The City of Rochester is seeking a construction firm to build its $79-million Mayo Civic Center expansion.
This is just latest development in a recent flurry of infrastructure investment to the city's downtown area. Rochester plans to issue a request for proposals Friday, with hopes of beginning construction during the first quarter next year.
The civic center will comprise more than 200,000-square-feet of event space, nearly doubling the size, once the planned expansion is complete.
A Grand Ballroom, 14 breakout rooms, renovation to the existing Presentation Hall and a widening of the Rochester Civic Theater are some of the additions.
"The new space is specifically designed to meet the needs of today's meetings and conventions, and to bring larger events to Rochester," said Brad Jones, director of the Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau, in a news release.
Meanwhile, 85 miles west, Mankato Civic Center is also undergoing a $30-million expansion.
