Construction is officially underway on a major new research and technology development in downtown South Bend.

City leaders joined representatives from Notre Dame to break ground on Colfax Corner.

The five-story, 202,000 square foot innovation hub will be built at Colfax Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard.

The development is expected to focus heavily on artificial intelligence, data analytics and other technology fields.

The historic Tribune Building facade will also be preserved and incorporated into the project.

The development is backed by a $30 million Lilly Endowment grant and is expected to open in the summer of 2028.