Sparks fly as a construction worker welds metal beams.

Connecting Carlson construction passes halfway point

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Two new spaces are open to Minnesota Carlson students, faculty and staff, as the Connecting Carlson building project passes the halfway point in the construction process.

This winter, donor support surpassed the project’s $40-million goal. Connecting Carlson is fully funded by philanthropy, powered by the generosity of 55 benefactors, and furthers the school’s mission to empower business leaders.

Connecting Carlson Construction Milestones

Construction for the Connecting Carlson building project is more than halfway completed. Check out the progress and watch for a surprise inspection by a certain Gopher.

Starting in January, students can work in the Glaser Family Experiential Learning Suite, a new 5,600-square-foot home base for the Funds, Ventures, Brand, and Consulting Enterprises. In these programs, students receive hands-on learning experience while working through real-world business challenges. In the new suite on the first floor, each Enterprise has its own dedicated space with breakout rooms and offices to connect with clients and more.

Also, the new auditorium opens for limited use this semester. The space is outfitted with new video screens and new seating platforms optimized for collaboration.

In 2026, construction crews are focusing on the core of the project: the atrium. Once finished, the atrium will provide more common spaces for the Carlson community to gather, including a new connection with the auditorium for large-scale events.

Already in use is the new Carlson Analytics Lab, which opened over the summer. The space has become a hub for transformative learning and research by the Carlson Analytics Lab team and the Master of Science in Business Analytics program.

Construction for Connecting Carlson is on track for completion by the start of the fall semester. Once finished, the building will be renamed Marilyn Carlson Nelson Hall in honor of the former CEO of Carlson Companies and a highly esteemed business and community leader, who has championed the project.

The auditorium is brightly lit with lights and has large video screens at the front.

The updated auditorium is outfitted with new video boards and seating optimized for collaboration. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

A room with tables and chairs and a stock ticker mounted on the top of the walls.

The David S. Kidwell Funds Enterprise space in the new Glaser Family Experiential Learning Suite. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

A room with tables and chairs and monitors on the walls.

One of the Enterprise spaces in the new Glaser Family Experiential Learning Suite. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

A small meeting room with a table, chairs, a monitor, and a white board.

A breakout room in the Glaser Family Experiential Learning Suite. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

A common space with a couch, ottomans, a table, and a monitor.

A common space in the Glaser Family Experiential Learning Suite. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

A construction works on his hands and knees applies the terrazzo flooring.

A construction worker applies terrazzo flooring in the atrium. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

Sparks fly as a construction worker welds a metal beam on the new staircase in the atrium. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham

The atrium with scaffolding stacked high in a construction zone.

The scaffolding stands tall in the construction area in the atrium under the new skylight. Photo: Pat Vasquez-Cunningham