Security technology company Alula plans to move its headquarters and production center from Hudson, Wis., across the river to the Midway area of St. Paul.
The change will bring 120 Alula employees to the Twin Cities with plans to add more in the coming years.
“The Twin Cities market has proven to be a dynamic place to scale a tech company,” Alula chief executive Brian McLaughlin said in a statement. “We look forward to growing here.”
Alula, which provides software and hardware for security, alarm and video automation, will lease 68,000 square feet on the first floor in the Midway Innovation Center I, part of a two-building complex located near the intersection of Hwy. 280 and Energy Park Drive. Alula plans to move into the building after renovations are completed for its space at the end of February.
Access to talent was a major reason for the private company’s relocation, said Brad LaRock, vice president of marketing for Alula.
“We really love the tech scene if you will in Minneapolis-St. Paul,” he said, in an interview Wednesday. “It’s growing.”
The Twin Cities offices will also be larger and more modern than its Hudson facility, LaRock said.
The building used to be occupied by an office of computer security company McAfee, but it has been vacant since last May.Midway Innovation Center I is about 107,000 square feet, most of which will be taken up by Alula and another smaller tenant who will occupy about 25,000 square feet. Fairview Health Services is vacating the Midway Innovation Center II in May of this year freeing up about 60,000 square feet of additional office space.
The Midway Innovation Center is owned by CSM Corp., which built the two-building complex in 2007 and recently refurbished the space.
“We are excited to have a new technology company in the portfolio,” said Bruce Carland, CSM’s director of leasing operations. Read the full article by the Star Tribune here.