Towerside and a World's Fair

Our own “innovation district” is emerging east of the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus.  Buoyed by 4 light rail stations, and - at last count - 4 craft beer breweries, new housing and a grocery store, Towerside is a laboratory for lifelong learning, research and innovation, and sustainability and resilience. MDC prepared a district framework plan and developed design guidelines for the district in 2016.   We are assisting private and public projects advance within this framework, including EXPO 2023, for which Minneapolis is one of 3 finalist cities to host the event. If chosen in November 2017, much of the World’s Fair’s complex - buildings, activities and events - would take place on a 60-acre site in the Towerside district, east of TCF Bank stadium.  Over 3 months, EXPO 2023 would offer a collection of local and international exhibits and activities addressing the theme of “Wellness and Well-Being for All.” It is predicted to draw 150,000 visitors per day. Outcomes could include the new Granary Parkway and the completion of the Grand Rounds missing link, which is part of the Towerside vision.

Tim Griffin