Mayo Clinic Rolls Out Massive Investment Plans for Rochester, MN
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Mayo Clinic has unveiled a plan regarding massive investments that would transform downtown Rochester.
Mayo officials described the plan on Monday as a multi-year strategic initiative that they say will help achieve Mayo Clinic’s strategy to cure, connect and transform health care while reinforcing the health-care providers commitment to Rochester and Minnesota. The initiative, dubbed Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester, focuses on “reimagining” Mayo’s campus in downtown Rochester.
It involves plans to add state-of-the-art physical spaces that Mayo says will allow for full integration of digital technology that will support Mayo’s patients, staff and communities, including plans for a new clinic complex connecting to the western side of the Gonda and Mayo Buildings.
The initial work on the initiative calls for the demolition of several Mayo-owned properties, including the former Lourdes High School. The plan also includes the Ozmun Building and the Damon Parking Ramp. Mayo Clinic also identified several other parcels of land currently for parking and an open space adjacent to the Baldwin Building for future construction projects.
While not releasing specific renderings of the proposed structures, Mayo says the new buildings would create a horizontal connection across the downtown campus. Mayo says the connectivity will enable their ability to provide transformative healthcare and treat more patients with complex medical conditions.
A previous version of the plan obtained by KROC News also featured new buildings on the Baldwin site and the Mayo Medical Sciences Building. Under the proposal unveiled Monday, those buildings would not be affected.
Mayo Clinic has been a leader in healthcare transformation for 150 years, and patients across the world rely on Mayo Clinic to cure their serious and complex diseases,” says Craig Daniels, M.D., physician leader of Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester. “We must continue transforming healthcare to fulfill our obligation to our patients, support our staff and ensure we continue to make the Mayo Clinic we inherited better for the next generation.
Dr. Daniels did not disclose a dollar amount regarding the planned investments saying it has not yet been approved by the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees but said Mayo is planning a large monetary investment. Mayo officials say the next step is to work with the City of Rochester and community members as part of the planning process through the end of the year.
Last month the board did approve a series of what officials are calling "enabling projects" that will get the initiative off the ground. Some of the enabling work includes site surveys, efforts to seek redevelopment of current sites and getting approval for street closures.
The proposed timeline calls for work to begin next year and extend into 2030. Mayo leaders say the final project has not yet been finalized. Project teams are planning to adapt and respond to new information that may come forward during the planning process.
Monday’s announcement follows a legislative victory for Mayo Clinic last month. The healthcare provider warned lawmakers of billions of dollars in investments being in jeopardy if nurse staffing and financial growth caps legislation became law. Lawmakers stripped those bills out of the final package before gaveling out of session.