BLUlabs™: Mortenson Opens Advanced Research Facility to Accelerate Construction Innovation
40,000-square-foot R&D center in Minneapolis dedicated to experimentation, prototyping, and low-volume manufacturing
Mortenson has opened BLUlabs™, a state-of-the-art research and development facility in the Northern Stacks industrial park in Fridley, Minnesota. This milestone investment underscores Mortenson’s commitment to continuing to transform the construction industry through innovation, industrialization, and hands-on exploration.
Mortenson notably helped pioneer virtual design and construction in the 1990s and has been at the forefront of construction innovation for decades. The newly opened BLUlabs™ provides 40,000 square feet of configurable industrial space designed to support real-world testing, prototyping, and product development—without disrupting ongoing project work.
“BLUlabs is an incubator for the ideas that will shape the future of construction,” said Gene Hodge, Vice President of Innovation at Mortenson. “We needed a dedicated space where teams could test tools, technologies, and processes in a controlled environment. This new facility is a testament to our belief that innovation thrives when given space to grow.”
“Innovation isn’t a side project at Mortenson—it’s embedded in how we work, think, and deliver,” added Derek Cunz, CEO of Mortenson. “From early VDC efforts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to advanced industrialization on energy and data center projects, we’ve always pushed what’s possible in construction. BLUlabs is our next leap forward.”
About BLUlabs™
- Dedicated Footprint: 40,000 sq. ft. of configurable bays and workspace
- Advanced Equipment: Outfitted with 3D printers, CAD equipment and software, CNC machines, a plasma cutting table, and tools for carpentry, metal, concrete, and electrical work
- Expert Support: Dedicated engineering and fabrication staff to assist with designing, prototyping, and equipment operation
- Open Access: Available to all Mortenson team members to foster experimentation and cross-functional collaboration
About Mortenson’s Innovation Program
Mortenson’s innovation team empowers project teams to develop and scale new products, technologies, and businesses across its portfolio. Ideas submitted by team members are evaluated, prototyped, and tested in real-world conditions before being deployed broadly. Innovations have included advances in electrical integration, precast concrete, VDC, AI tools, and more.
Within Mortenson’s solar business, a dedicated “industrialization” team is rethinking how utility-scale solar projects are built. Working full-time out of BLUlabs™, the team develops custom tools, robotics, and software to make work more efficient and safer for craft professionals—particularly on remote, large-scale job sites.