F&C Top Projects: Memorial Blood Centers – Apple Valley

Wednesday, May 21st, 2025

Memorial Blood Centers – Apple Valley was selected as one of Finance & Commerce’s Top Projects of 2024, recognizing Minnesota’s top design and construction projects for the year.

An independent panel of judges selected 52 honorees for the annual program. Projects are judged on their degree of difficulty, creativity in design, innovative construction techniques, cooperation among contractors and management, and sustainability efforts. Judges noted the construction industry continued to experience challenges in 2024, from ongoing labor shortages to supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty requiring flexibility and commitment to get projects successfully completed.

Memorial Blood Centers – Apple Valley Donor Center
7495 145th St W, Apple Valley, MN 55124

Memorial Blood Centers is a nonprofit community-based blood center that provides lifesaving blood and blood products to hospitals and other organizations. They did not have a donor center south of the Mississippi River, so unlike their other recent facility projects in the Twin Cities area which have included renovations or replacements of existing donor sites, the Apple Valley Donor Center is a brand-new location. This meant the location needed to be easily accessible and designed to make a bold statement to the community. The objective of this project was to add value to the south metro, while furthering Memorial Blood Centers’ mission of saving lives.

The new Apple Valley Donor Center expands lifesaving blood donation to a new Twin Cities suburb, combining healthcare with hospitality by providing donors with a modern facility with many amenities. Located in a new retail development, the center features an airy welcoming lounge and cafe for donors with a variety of seating options.

The space includes a fireplace, beautiful wooden slats, and ample daylight provided by the building’s expansive glass exterior. Three interview rooms, spacious donor bays with state-of-the-art equipment and lab areas support the donation process. A breakroom and back-of-house offices create an efficient workplace for staff. The new location’s warm and welcoming design along with the increased square footage allows Memorial Blood Centers to offer a pleasant experience for donors and increased functionality for staff to help meet the ongoing need for blood in local hospitals.

The design took advantage of the natural light but also had to balance privacy for donors with window graphics and blinds. With privacy shades and strategic planning, the team created an environment that supported the comfort of donors while inviting daylight into the space.

The Apple Valley Donor Center represents Memorial Blood Centers’ expanding reach and commitment to serving more donors and patients in the south metro area. It allows the organization to engage with the local community on a deeper level while providing an accessible location for donors. This facility is a one-stop shop for donating whole blood, platelets, plasma, or red blood cells. The new location makes it easy and pleasant for new and returning donors to donate blood for patients in local hospitals in the Apple Valley, Lakeville and surrounding south metro communities.

The welcoming space encourages donors to relax and enjoy a snack or beverage in front of the fireplace, and creates the feeling of a third space. Additionally, this new donor center provides an exceptional work environment for employees, many of whom live in the community. The new location’s increased square footage and spacious donor bays allow MBC to offer an increased functionality and pleasant work environment for staff members to help meet the ongoing need for blood in local hospitals.

PROJECT TEAM

  • Owner & Tenant: Memorial Blood Centers – NYBC Enterprises
  • Landlord: Hempel Real Estate
  • General Contractor: Anderson CC
  • Architect & Interior Designer: Pope Design Group
  • Electrical Engineer: KFI Engineers
  • Furniture: Intereum
  • Signage: LeRoy Signs
  • Photographer: Nate Johnson Studio

See the rest of this year’s honorees on the Finance & Commerce’s announcement.

This year’s Top Project will be featured in a special magazine and in a series of stories and photos in the Finance & Commerce daily newspaper and on the F&C website starting in July 2024.

See more images of Memorial Blood Centers – Apple Valley on our project page.

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