Barr Engineering made it official Wednesday. It is moving its growing staff to offices in Canal Park.
The firm will keep leasing a field office on West Michigan Street but will move its main office from West Superior Street to Waterfront Plaza, home of The Suites Hotel.
The employee-owned company came to Duluth in 1996 and has experienced rapid growth in recent years, said Sheryl Filby Williams, who manages the Duluth office.
The company expects to be moved in by spring.
There are more than 100 employees at Barr, which has offices across the Midwest and in Canada with 700 employees.
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The lease transaction is one of the largest in the city. Barr had expressed interest in taking space at the AtWater Group's planned new tower at 425 W. Superior Street. Barr has outgrown space in the nearby Providence Building.
Filby Williams said it was important for the company to remain in the core business district in Duluth. AtWater introduced the Waterfront Plaza option.
"Barr is committed to supporting the greater downtown and Canal Park business areas," Filby Williams said. "It is exciting to see the growth in the Twin Ports business community and we are happy to be a part of it."
"This move reflects the growth and health of Barr," said Brian Forcier the president of the AtWater Group. "But it also says a lot about our community when such a strong company commits to expanding here."
In October, the Duluth Economic Development Authority agreed to a 10-year lease agreement with Barr on two parking lots DEDA owns near the new office.
Barr employees would have parking rights in the Steam Plant and Irvin lots from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday for 10 years. Parking studies have shown little use for the lots during weekdays. By 4 p.m., any open spots in the lots would be available for public use.
