Towerside is the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Innovation District. Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, the district covers 370 acres that stretch from the University of Minnesota on the west to 280 and the Creative Enterprise Zone on the east, spanning two cities and two counties. Towerside Innovation District is dedicated to growing and leading a collaborative asset-based approach to the redevelopment of this regional hub into a high-intensity, high-density mix of places and spaces.

The organization’s work has focused on facilitating equitable development, real estate investment, and sustainable infrastructure - including the planning and implementation of district-wide systems for stormwater management, a connected public realm, parking and mobility, and energy (heating, cooling, and electrification). Hear from Towerside Innovation District’s Executive Director Stephen Klimek on the past ten years of work and what the future holds.




Speaker Bio:
Stephen is a strategic organizational leader and city building professional dedicated to advancing equitable community & economic development through place-based design and planning, impact-driven projects, and systematic approaches to civic challenges. 

His experience spans planning and policy, real estate development and district systems, public realm planning, placemaking, and community engagement. Stephen works as a Senior Planner with the Metropolitan Council’s Housing & Livable Communities team and manages grant programs focused on implementing regional policy for transit oriented development. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Creative Enterprise Zone in St Paul and provides expertise in real estate development, fundraising, and communications. He previously served as Board Chair for the Association for Community Design as well as an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow. 

Stephen's work has advanced community-based development efforts at a variety of scales through public-private partnerships and nonprofits including Towerside Innovation District, The Cornerstone Group, Van Alen Institute, Hester Street, and Syracuse University. Stephen is an EcoDistricts Accredited Professional and holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University along with a major in Public Policy through the Maxwell School of Citizenship.