Construction for Minnesota Carlson’s building reimagination, known as Connecting Carlson, began in December 2024 and can be seen—and heard—going strong as the transformation and modernization of critical facilities and learning spaces continues.
A new space for the Carlson Analytics Lab is already open for business on the west bank of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities’ Minneapolis campus. In the lab, Master of Science in Business Analytics student consultants use analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science to solve business challenges for client companies.
Crews transformed space in the northwest corner of the first floor into a larger space for the lab, which was previously located in the lower level of the school. The new lab features an open workspace, a meeting room, breakout rooms, and offices. Professor Ravi Bapna, the Carlson Analytics Lab academic director, says the bigger space provides more room for collaboration.
“The new space enhances collaboration, fosters innovation, and opens doors for faculty and students to build corporate and community partnerships and co-create a better future with AI and analytics,” said Bapna, the Curtis L. Carlson Chair Professor in Business Analytics and Information Systems.
One of the most significant areas to see change is the space that will soon be the Glaser Family Experiential Learning Suite. There, four experiential learning programs, known as the Enterprise programs, will share more than 5,600 square feet in a prominent location on the first floor. The programs will bring together small teams of MBA and undergraduate students who will work on client organizations’ real-world challenges. While each Enterprise program will have its own dedicated space, the suite will provide collaborative work environments and research focus group rooms.
Connecting Carlson intends to promote collaboration, elevate experiential learning opportunities, strengthen a sense of belonging, and enhance connections with the greater business community.
The $40-million Connecting Carlson project is being entirely funded by philanthropy, the only project with that distinction on campus at this time. To date, more than 90 percent of the fundraising goal has been completed, thanks to alumni, partners, and friends of the school who have invested in the future of business at Minnesota Carlson.
Once completed, the building will be named in honor of Marilyn Carlson Nelson. The former CEO of Carlson Companies and a highly esteemed business and community leader, Carlson Nelson has been a champion of this project and the impact it will have on students and the broader Minnesota business community for years to come.
Construction continues on the school’s auditorium, atrium, and roof, as well as breakout rooms, restrooms, and lower-level common areas. The full project is expected to be complete in fall 2026.
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