New University of South Dakota Discovery District building has interested tenants

Three organizations have written letters of interest to become the first tenants at the new University of South Dakota Discovery District building on the north side of Sioux Falls, which is set to be completed by January 2025.

Discovery District chief operating officer Ryan Oines said leases could be executed for those potential tenants in the next 30 to 45 days before their names are released publicly, a huge move for the research park, which was officially incorporated in 2013.

Oines told the Argus Leader on Thursday that the District will continue to market companies to come to Sioux Falls and be part of the research park. That marketing includes homegrown companies in Sioux Falls or the state to expand operations, or recruiting companies from outside the state to work with the District.

Companies at the District could also offer internships or employment to students at USD-Sioux Falls, too, Oines said.

In the coming years, the District is also in communications with the city and an architecture and engineering firm to design a concept for a second, mixed-use building at the District to potentially include Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, Oines said.

Oines also told the Argus Leader that the District received an approved proposal to expand its sewer infrastructure, allowing it to expand utilities to another site to be shovel-ready if another developer looks to expand at the District.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: New University of South Dakota Discovery District building has interested tenants