Kraus-Anderson's Duluth regional office celebrates 20 years of shaping the northern landscape
June 19, 2019
DULUTH, Minn. (June 2019) – In the big scheme of things, 20 years is not a lot of time. But since Kraus-Anderson opened its regional office in Duluth in 1999, the company is playing a central role contributing to the region as builder, employer, developer and community booster.
The 122-year-old industry leader opened its Duluth office two decades ago following a steady surge in new business opportunities from Superior, Wis., across the Minnesota range, and up to the Canadian border.
KA actually has been involved in the Duluth region for more than 40 years. In 1976, KA was the initial developer and builder for Lyric Block Shopping Complex and Normandy Inn, which included a 16-story hotel, 66,000-square-foot shopping center and 240-car parking ramp. The project served as a significant catalyst for redevelopment in downtown Duluth. Then, 20 years later in 1996, KA built the 226,000-square-foot Northwest Airlines hangar and maintenance facility, currently an aircraft maintenance facility for AAR.
“We recognized the growing construction demand in the greater Duluth area,” said Rich Jacobson, executive vice president of Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. “As importantly, we also understood the need for a regional presence and area representation, and opened an office in Duluth in 1999.”
Today the company has stamped its ubiquitous footprint in the region having built thousands of major projects in Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin in robust industry sectors, including healthcare, housing, education, to name a few. Some of the more notable projects include:
– St. Luke’s Lakeview (2004) – 88,000-square-foot medical center;
– Canal Park Lodge completed (2007) – three-story, 75,000-square-foot hotel;
– Glensheen Estate Flood damage repair (2012-14) – One of the many projects KA has performed for its long-time client, the University of Minnesota;
– Lincoln Park Middle School (2012) – LEED Silver, 202,000-square-foot school;
– Duluth International Airport (2014) – 110,000-square-foot terminal, compliant with FAA, Department of Homeland Security, ADA and Customs and Border Protection requirements. Winner of the Minnesota Construction Association’s 2014 “Choice Award of Excellence” and named one of the Midwest’s “Best Projects” by Engineering News Record.
KA is more than a business partner. The company also invests in the success of communities it serves by creating opportunities for employment and seeking ways to give back. One example is the Bike Duluth Festival.
Since 2013, the Kraus-Anderson Community Foundation has organized and sponsored the family-oriented Bike Duluth Festival, which showcases Duluth’s scenic trails. The annual event has given back more than $184,000 to area nonprofits. Last year, the KA Community Foundation presented $50,000 to two beneficiaries of the festival, whose profits support community organizations that make Duluth a better place for its residents and visitors. Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) and the Gary New Duluth Development Alliance (GNDDA) each received $25,000.
“We’re looking forward to the next 20 years of growing along with this community,” Dan Markham, director of operations for the KA Duluth office.
About Kraus-Anderson
Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson® Construction Company (www.krausanderson.com) is one of the nation’s premier commercial general contractors and construction managers. Kraus-Anderson, an Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison, Wis., Bismarck, N.D., and Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn.