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    1. Alarms & Monitoring
    2. Alarm Systems & Intrusion Detection

    Alula to move its headquarters to Minnesota

    Jan. 10, 2019
    Company slated to move into 68,000-square-foot facility in St. Paul

    By Nicole Norfleet

    Source Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

    Alula plans to move its headquarters and production center from Hudson, Wis., across the river to the Midway area of St. Paul, Minn.
    Alula plans to move its headquarters and production center from Hudson, Wis., across the river to the Midway area of St. Paul, Minn.

    Alula plans to move its headquarters and production center from Hudson, Wis., across the river to the Midway area of St. Paul.

    The change will bring 120 Alula employees to the Twin Cities with plans to add more in the coming years.

    "The Twin Cities market has proven to be a dynamic place to scale a tech company," Alula Chief Executive Brian McLaughlin said. "We look forward to growing here."

    Alula, which provides software and hardware for security, alarm and video automation, will lease 68,000 square feet on the first floor in the Midway Innovation Center I, part of a two-building complex located near the intersection of Hwy. 280 and Energy Park Drive. Alula plans to move into the building after renovations are completed for its space at the end of February.

    Access to talent was a major reason for the private company's relocation, said Brad LaRock, vice president of marketing for Alula.

    "We really love the tech scene if you will in Minneapolis-St. Paul," he said. "It's growing."

    The Twin Cities offices will also be larger and more modern than its Hudson facility, LaRock said.

    The building used to be occupied by an office of computer security company McAfee, but it has been vacant since May. Midway Innovation Center I is about 107,000 square feet, most of which will be taken up by Alula. Fairview Health Services is vacating the Midway Innovation Center II in May, freeing up about 60,000 square feet of additional office space.

    The Midway Innovation Center is owned by CSM Corp., which built the two-building complex in 2007 and recently refurbished the space.

    "We are excited to have a new technology company in the portfolio," said Bruce Carland, CSM's director of leasing operations.

    Renovations for Alula's office build out are estimated to cost about $1.8 million. Alula received a $175,000 job-creation grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to help with the costs.

    According to DEED, the company expects to create 135 jobs within the next three years with an average wage of $33.82 per hour, though LaRock said some of those jobs may be added to the company's other facility in Texas.

    After the 2017 merger of Texas software company ipDatatel and Wisconsin company Resolution Products, the combined entity was rebranded as Alula in March.

    CSM Corp. was represented in the leasing negotiations by brokers Eric Rapp, Eric Batiza, and Brian Bruggeman of Colliers International. Alula was represented by Eddie Rymer, Phil Kluesner, and Jack Storry of Avison Young.

    "Midway Innovation Center's proximity to universities, restaurants and public transit options positions Alula to attract great talent," said Rymer, senior vice president at Avison Young.

    ———

    ©2019 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

    Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com

    Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.