Mortenson opens research and development center to accelerate construction innovation

The Minneapolis-based construction and development company designed and built the facility, outfitted with 3D printers, CNC machines, and other advanced equipment.

By Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor

Aug. 28, 2025
2 min read
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Pictured: Mock-up of Mortenson’s next-generation field office. Mortenson's future field office initiative (F2O) is a strategic project that aims to transform the team member experience for those working on project sites by providing facilities comparable to a corporate office. The modular field office ships in two pieces and can be installed and operational within a few hours. It also features integrated technology, furniture, and mechanical and electrical systems. Photo courtesy Mortenson

Construction and development company Mortenson has opened BLUlabs, a 40,000-sf research and development center near Minneapolis that will help accelerate construction innovation. Mortenson designed and built BLUlabs in house.

With configurable bays and workspace, the R&D center, available to all Mortenson team members, enables experimentation, real-world testing, prototyping, product development, and low-volume manufacturing.

“BLUlabs is an incubator for the ideas that will shape the future of construction,” Gene Hodge, Vice President of Innovation at Mortenson, said in a statement. “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.”

The facility’s advanced equipment includes 3D printers, CAD (computer-aided design) equipment and software, CNC (computer numerical control) machines, a plasma cutting table, and tools for carpentry, metal, concrete, and electrical work. Dedicated engineering and fabrication staff will help with designing, prototyping, and equipment operation.

Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Pictured: The “angry bird” is a remote-controlled vehicle platform that is used on utility-scale solar projects. Mortenson designed and built this piece of equipment to be low profile so that it can pass under the rows of solar trackers, carry materials, and assist with physically demanding tasks like pulling collection cable over long distances. Photo courtesy Mortenson

Mortenson helped pioneer virtual design and construction in the 1990s. Previous Mortenson innovations have included advances in electrical integration, precast concrete, VDC (virtual design and construction), and AI tools.

In Mortenson’s solar business, a team is rethinking how to build utility-scale solar projects. Working full-time in BLUlabs, the team develops custom tools, robotics, and software to make work safer and more efficient, especially on remote, large-scale job sites.

“Innovation is engrained in how we work, think, and deliver projects for our customers,” Derek Cunz, President and CEO of Mortenson, said in the statement. “From our early VDC efforts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, to building manufacturing facilities, to advanced industrialization on energy and data center projects, we’ve always pushed what’s possible in design and construction. BLUlabs is another step in our journey.”

Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Pictured: Mortenson’s solar team builds and tests specialized equipment at BLUlabs to make the work easier for the craft in the field. They are currently developing a smaller, more nimble angry bird that runs on battery power. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Derek Cunz, Mortenson President & CEO, spoke at the grand opening event. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Pictured: BLUlabs is an environment for construction teams to test new products and processes. Mortenson’s solar team has a demo area to train crews on standard processes for installing materials and products that are new to the market. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Mortenson opens BLUlabs research and development center to accelerate construction innovation. Photo courtesy Mortenson
Photo courtesy Mortenson
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