"We don't consider our campus a monolithic entity," MinnesotaLife spokeswomen Maggie Jensen told GloteSt.com. Given its growthpattern, Minnesota Life eventually plans to occupy all the space inthe 400 and 401 buildings. Until it is big enough to occupy thebuildings, plans were to lease the extra space in its new buildingto outside tenants and hired Welsh Cos. as its leasing agent. If aprospective tenant is interested in space at the 400 building (nowfilled with Minnesota Life employees), which is less expensive thanthe new 401 building, Minnesota Life would likely try toaccommodate them, Jensen says. Likewise, if a prospect wereinterested in its Lafayette Center, the company would consider adeal. But Jensen adds that the leasing strategy currently isfocused on the 401 and 400 buildings, which need to fill from200,000 sf to 250,000 sf.

Minnesota Life plans to open its new 401 Robert building on Oct.18 to coincide with the debut of the new skyway connection to thebuilding; originally, it planned to delay moving into the buildinguntil January 2001. That means the retail shops on the bottomfloors and the underground parking ramp have to be ready to gothen, too.