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A Look Inside The Star Tribune's New Home

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- As the new Vikings stadium goes up in downtown Minneapolis, a historic building next to it is going to come down.

The Star Tribune building will be demolished this summer to make way for new development next to the stadium.

Last year, the newspaper sold four blocks of land it owned to developer Ryan Companies, and a fifth block to the Sports Facilities Authority.

The Star Tribune is now setting up shop in a new space in downtown Minneapolis: the Capella Tower, just a few blocks away.

WCCO-TV got a tour of the old and the new locations.

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The largest newspaper in Minnesota is about to leave the place that's been its home since 1919.

"People have a lot of nice memories. It's ink-stained in a charming way," said Rene Sanchez, the Star Tribune's executive editor. "It's a little emotional for some of us to move, but I think there is widespread enthusiasm and excitement."

The newspaper hired architects and engineers to design a first-class newsroom and office space on three floors inside the Capella Tower.

An open staircase connects the levels and features a mosaic with more than 22,000 Star Tribune photos on it.

The newsroom hub is where key decision makers will be able to communicate with one another more easily.

"We are pretty excited that this will be a big jolt in how we produce the news," Sanchez said.

The old newsroom on Portland Avenue is noticeably darker and much more cramped.

In the basement, the WCCO-TV crew saw, to their surprise, a collection of vinyl albums sent to music critics over decades.

"25,000 vinyl records, very hot right now," said Steve Yaeger, the vice-president of marketing and public relations for the newspaper.

"There is a lot of value in this room," he added. "They are going to be sold to a local buyer, and we are going to use that money create a scholarship in arts criticism for aspiring young journalists. Our journalists will mentor those people."

While some staff members say they are excited about their future home, others admit they'll miss their old digs.

Some departments will start moving next week, and by March 30 everyone will be at the new location.

As for what will replace the Star Tribune building after it's demolished, there are plans to overhaul that entire area. A four-acre park is going in, and the construction of two nearby office towers is already underway.

Wells Fargo is moving some of its employees there.

There's also talk of shops, apartments and a parking ramp.

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