After more than a century in St. Paul, Luther Seminary will relocate to downtown Minneapolis at the end of the 2026–27 academic year. The seminary has signed a long-term lease with River Parkway Place at 1101 West River Parkway starting on July 1, 2027. 

“Today’s announcement represents the culmination of a tremendous amount of discernment,” said Luther Seminary President Robin Steinke. “None of the decision-making around this beloved campus—our home for more than a century—has been easy. At the same time, it’s clear that the fulfillment of our mission is calling us to a new chapter in a new space.” 

River Parkway Place sits adjacent to Gold Medal Park, the Mississippi River, and the Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis. The seminary will occupy the third and fourth floors of the LEED Gold-certified building and will house its library on the first floor. The new site features a more consolidated footprint for the seminary’s daily operations, a large atrium space for worship and special events, and the technological infrastructure needed to modernize the learning environment while supporting the seminary’s growing portfolio of digital ministries. Housing for residential students, including international students, will be offered at nearby Augsburg University.

“We reviewed dozens of potential properties over the last year,” said Steinke. “On paper, we knew that River Parkway Place fit our space requirements. But when we visited and saw the proximity to the river, the nearby green space and access to transit, the walkability of the neighborhood, and our new worship space, we knew we had found Luther Seminary’s next home.” 

In September, the seminary announced the sale of its 16-acre main campus, following a decision by the board of directors in mid-2025 to seek new, more flexible physical space in the Twin Cities. In recent years, enrollment has shifted towards distributed learning options, changing the seminary’s need for and use of physical space. Today, 76% of students primarily engage online while working in churches and ministries in their local communities. 

“It’s exciting for Luther Seminary to be moving out of a period of intense, faithful deliberation and into a time of transition to a wonderful next chapter,” said Carlos Peña, chair of the seminary’s board of directors. 

RSP Architects will design the seminary’s new classroom, office, and community spaces in River Parkway Place. Renovations and construction will take place over the coming months, prior to an anticipated move in July 2027.

“We are pleased to welcome Luther Seminary to River Parkway Place. It is a wonderful fit for the building and the riverfront, and we look forward to a long relationship,” said Luigi Bernardi, president of Arcadia, the property owner.

About Luther Seminary

Luther Seminary educates leaders for Christian communities across the country and around the world. An innovator in theological education, the seminary is committed to exploring leading-edge approaches for Christian ministry, proclamation, and faith formation in a rapidly changing world. As one of the seven seminaries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Luther Seminary has educated more than one-third of ELCA pastors, lay professionals, and leaders of many global Lutheran and ecumenical churches, with millions more reached annually by digital ministries including God Pause, Enter the Bible, Faith+Lead, Word and World, and Working Preacher. Learn more about Luther Seminary.

More Information

For more information, browse frequently asked questions about this announcement or visit the Campus Relocation website. 

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Media contact: Rachel Farris, farrisr@augsburg.edu, 612-330-1476