University of Minnesota seeking $84 million from lawmakers for new St. Paul Campus Center

More than a quarter of the University of Minnesota’s facility needs are on its St. Paul campus due to the condition of the 60-plus-years-old buildings there.

The current campus center was built in the 1970s and still uses the original HVAC system. A recent string of leaks in the Magrath Library have also damaged books in the collection there.

The construction of a new St. Paul Campus Center is among the University of Minnesota’s $284 million in capital investment requests. Rep. Keith Allen (R-Kenyon) is sponsoring HF3438, which requests $84 million for the project.

The House Capital Investment Committee didn’t act on the bill Thursday.

“The proposed facility will create a modern, centralized space for students to collaborate, access resources and build relationships that are critical to the success of agriculture and related industries in our state,” Allen said.

The 94,000 square-foot project would include a campus library, student health services, updated dining options, and additional meeting, event and social spaces. The project is expected to cost about $126 million, with $42 million in matching funds from the university. Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2026 and last until March 2029.

“It would hit so many different things that we need on the St. Paul campus. The students would be overjoyed,” said Maija Tollefson, a senior at the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.

The St. Paul campus is of particular significance for the College of Biological Sciences, with half of the program’s faculty and graduate students based there, said the college’s dean, Saara Dewalt.

“The new St. Paul Campus Center will be a vibrant hub needed to continue attracting and keeping our top researchers and bright students together in one space to solve the state’s agricultural, biological and environmental challenges.”