Graham Park exhibition center and surrounding work moving forward with $42 million budget

Yahoo

19-02-2025

Feb. 18—ROCHESTER — A preliminary design for Olmsted County's new exhibition center in Graham Park is moving forward, with a potential August groundbreaking.
"I've sat here for two years and never thought I'd see this day," county commissioner Dave Senjem said Tuesday of the $42 million project planned for the southwest corner of the county park that hosts the Olmsted County Fair on an annual basis. "There's been a lot of churn on this."
The proposed design features a single building housing a 125-foot by 250-foot performance arena and a 80-foot by 110-foot practice arena, with the ability to unite the two spaces for a single use, if needed.
The main arena will provide seating for 1,450 people on bleachers that can be retracted when not in use.
While the new facility is replacing some existing and former buildings used for livestock shows, Mat Miller, the county's director of facilities and building operations, said the design provides more opportunities to activate Graham Park throughout the year.
Additional uses would range from catered banquets to indoor motorcycle events. The space would also provide the ability to create six full-size basketball courts in the main arena and another two in the practice arena.
In addition to the arena and practice space, the exhibition center will have office space for a contracted operator and a concessions area. Restrooms will be available for access from inside the building for events, as well as some outside access, which would likely be used during the fair and other activities outside the new facility.
"It looks really nice," commissioner Michelle Rossman said Tuesday as elected officials got their first look at renderings that have been developed ahead of a move toward design needed for future construction.
Miller said continued design will add heating and cooling features to the arena, which will alter some of what was shown Tuesday. Additionally, he said additional design and engineering will determine final finishes for the interior of the building.
However, he pointed out the basic construction is not as elaborate as it might seem.
"It's a pre-engineered metal building that doesn't look like one, hopefully," he said.
The exterior of the building is expected to include a section of sloped roof to allow solar panels to provide some power, and landscaping is being designed to include native plants, similar to areas near the farmers market site at Graham Park.
The project's budget also includes plans to install geothermal wells for heating and cooling the facility, as well as the creation of an outdoor activity pad and resources that will meet the needs of grandstand-style programming.
The exterior work increases the project's cost from $37.5 million for the exhibition center to $42 million for the overall project. The Minnesota Legislature has approved $8 million in state funds to support the project.
The next steps will be a presentation to the Olmsted County Fair Board as documents for construction are prepared. Miller said the goal is to seek a construction contractor in April or May with plans to start construction following this year's fair, which will be held from July 22 to July 28.
Construction is expected to continue through 2026, with a potential grand opening of the exhibition center in January 2027.