Rochester Civic Center North is a transformative mixed-income riverfront development located in the heart of downtown Rochester adjacent to Mayo Clinic and the Zumbro River. Developed through a public-private partnership between Sherman Associates, the City of Rochester, and Destination Medical Center (DMC), the project marks Sherman Associates’ entry into the Rochester market and supports the continued evolution of downtown Rochester as a mixed-use neighborhood and welcoming destination city.
The development will deliver 349 new homes through a 273-unit market-rate residential tower and a 76-unit affordable senior housing community connected by a shared 350-stall parking structure. The market-rate tower includes 221 traditional apartment homes and 52 furnished short-term and month-to-month residences designed to serve healthcare professionals, visiting medical staff, patient families, and others seeking flexible housing near Mayo Clinic. The affordable senior housing community addresses a critical housing need while providing convenient access to healthcare, transit, and downtown amenities.
Transforming a former surface parking lot into a vibrant residential neighborhood, the project supports Rochester’s vision of integrating housing, healthcare, employment, hospitality, entertainment, and public spaces within the downtown core. The transit-oriented development provides direct access to the Link Bus Rapid Transit system, Rochester’s riverfront trail network, and pedestrian skyway system connecting residents to Mayo Clinic, the Mayo Civic Center, shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The development will also feature a new publicly accessible riverfront walking path along the Zumbro River, expanding community access to the waterfront while enhancing connectivity throughout downtown Rochester.
Sustainability is a key component of the project. The market-rate tower is pursuing National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Silver certification, while the affordable senior housing community is pursuing Enterprise Green Communities and ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction certifications. The development incorporates ENERGY STAR appliances, solar-ready infrastructure, and high-performance building systems designed to meet Minnesota Sustainable Building 2030 (SB2030) standards.
Rochester is a city located along rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River’s south fork in Southeast Minnesota. It’s the birthplace of the renowned healthcare organization, Mayo Clinic. Rochester is the third most populous city in Minnesota.
