A few years back, the Twin Cities-based University of Northwestern identified Rosedale Square North as a good fit for its additional space needs. Northwestern’s adaptively reused space within the office building has been a success — so much so that the Christian university recently decided to buy the property.

The University of Northwestern, which occupies a 107-acre campus overlooking Lake Johanna in Roseville and Arden Hills, paid $7 million for the 41,903-square-foot Rosedale Square North building, according to a certificate of real estate value made public this week.

Located west of Snelling Avenue at 2701 and 2729 Lincoln Drive, Rosedale Square North is just south of Northwestern’s main campus.

TaTonka Real Estate Advisors represented Northwestern on the transaction, said Greg Johnson, Northwestern’s vice president of strategy.

Saryday LLP, an entity related to RTF Consulting, is the seller.

RTF Consulting occupies space in Rosedale Square North, a 35-year-old multitenant building with 96% occupancy, according to Catylist. Other tenants include an insurance agency, the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, a hair salon, and a staffing and recruiting company.

For its part, Northwestern has been in the building for “several years,” Johnson said. Specifically, the building holds classrooms and labs for Northwestern’s engineering program.

Northwestern has had “a great relationship with the prior owner. Given our usage of the space, its proximity to our other campus buildings between Lydia Avenue and Terrace Drive, and our intended strategic directions, it made sense to purchase this property when approached with the opportunity,” Johnson said in an email.

The university worked with design firm BWBR to build out the engineering space at Rosedale Square North. In a project narrative, BWBR said the school was looking at “several satellite locations” on or near its main campus to address STEM program growth.

Completed in 2019, the 9,000-square-foot buildout at Rosedale Square North “transformed an underutilized retail space, while bringing the STEM program physically closer to the UNW nursing program, which is located in the same retail district,” the narrative states.

“Abundant glass and windows,” the narrative continues, “combined with integrated UNW branding, showcase the engineering department for visual recognition in the department’s new non-traditional setting.”

Northwestern has been “very pleased” with BWBR’s work, Johnson said.

Rosedale Square North’s estimated market value for tax purposes is $5.3 million, according to Ramsey County property records.

A marketing brochure boasts that the property has “abundant free parking,” “meticulously maintained building and grounds” and “easy access” to the freeway system. The building is south of Interstate 694 off Snelling Avenue and County Road C.

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