January 20, 2017

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Mortenson named construction manager

MILWAUKEE — Marquette University has selected Mortenson to build its proposed athletic performance research center, in partnership with Aurora Health Care. Mortenson has wide-ranging experience in constructing both athletic and health care facilities, and the project will be led by the company's Milwaukee office.

Mortenson is the largest sports builder in the country having completed over 170 sports projects in the U.S. The firm has also worked with Marquette University on a number of recent projects.

"Mortenson is an excellent partner for this innovative project, and we are looking forward to collaborating with them to construct a world-class facility that becomes a destination for both scientific researchers and athletes," said Lora Strigens, Marquette's vice president for planning and strategy.

Most recently, Marquette and Mortenson partnered with Habitat for Humanity to salvage seven tons of material when they demolished five buildings on campus totaling 149,000 square feet. The profits from the materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity to help reduce the price of houses for first time homebuyers in the area.

Strigens said that Mortenson will team with the architect of record, Sink Combs Dethlefs, who was announced in August. Sink Combs Dethlefs portfolio includes work on more than 40 NCAA Division I campuses. Milwaukee's largest architecture firm, HGA, is part of this team, bringing expertise in lean process management, health care design, and urban and exterior design.

"We are pleased to serve as Marquette's building partner for their new athletic performance research center," said Scott Heberlein, vice president and general manager at Mortenson. "The center will advance athletics and research at the university by combining fitness and health care into a collaborative space that will not only serve Marquette, but our entire community."

"Mortenson has a long and successful history of constructing large, technically complex projects, including athletic and health care facilities," said Kelly Noel, director of construction management for Aurora Health Care. "Their experience includes a number of projects for Aurora, and their work has been instrumental in adding energy to downtowns and revitalizing cities. We look forward to collaborating with Mortenson and the design team to bring this exciting project into reality."

The university announced in January 2016 that Aurora will be making an investment of $40 million toward the APRC project — the single largest investment it has ever made with a partner in its headquarter community.