Department of Administration recommends demolishing Centennial Office Building as part of statewide space consolidation plan

At a Feb. 25 House State Government Finance and Policy Committee hearing, Department of Administration officials told lawmakers their strategic facilities plan recommends demolishing the Centennial Office Building, consolidating tenant agencies onto the Capitol complex where possible, and exploring regional hub locations in Greater Minnesota.

The recommendation stems from a 2021 engagement with commercial real estate firm CBRE that resulted in a strategic facilities plan finalized and distributed to agencies in 2023. Assistant Commissioner Wayne Waslowski said the plan found "the building systems are at the end of their useful life," and evaluated whether the cost to renovate the Centennial Office Building is justified compared with relocating tenants and backfilling state‑owned space.

The plan frames space decisions around the agencies' business needs rather than a 1:1 staff‑to‑desk model. Department officials described new space…