University of Minnesota seeks $200 million for HEAPR and $20 million for FARM; requests $8 million for Washington Avenue bridge suicide-deterrent barriers

Alice Roberts Davis, vice president for University Services at the University of Minnesota, told the Capital Investment Committee the university’s top 2025 capital priority is $200 million for HEAPR (Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement) to address deferred maintenance across the system.

Roberts Davis said HEAPR funding would target renewal and upkeep of existing buildings and infrastructure across the university’s campuses. She said the system manages about 30,000,000 square feet of space, of which roughly 8,800,000 square feet is in poor or critical condition. “With full funding of our $200,000,000 HEAPR request we could fund more than 100 projects in 75 buildings across the state,” Roberts Davis said.

The university’s second request is a $20 million design request for FARM, a proposed 1,300‑acre center in Mower County for agricultural research and outreach. Roberts Davis said FARM would use modern technologies — including predictive analytics, robotics and artificial intelligence — and partners with the Hormel Foundation.

Roberts Davis also briefed the committee on the Washington Avenue Bridge, a double-deck bridge that crosses the Mississippi River and carries large pedestrian and bicycle volumes between the U of M campuses. Hennepin County owns the bridge; the university maintains certain pedestrian-level elements, Roberts Davis said. The university is seeking funding to install higher, non-scalable railings and improved lighting to deter suicides and reduce attempts; the university’s current estimate is about $8,000,000, which would cover railings and lighting and include permitting and coordination with Hennepin County.

Roberts Davis said the university has spent about $78,000 on temporary fencing and contracted another $25,000 to maintain fencing while a permanent design proceeds. If funding becomes available, Roberts Davis said, the university expects design and county approvals would take roughly 90 days and construction about 12 months, with phased work to keep the bridge functional for users during installation.

Committee members questioned whether HEAPR priorities by campus were available; Roberts Davis said she would leave a campus-level list of HEAPR priorities with the committee. Representative Scrabba asked about funding comparisons with other states; Roberts Davis and members discussed the unpredictability of state bonding and the University’s case that steady HEAPR funding preserves assets and retains workforce talent.

No committee vote on the university’s bonding requests occurred at the hearing.