Ancora Partners with University of Notre Dame on Colfax Corner

Ancora is planning to construct a vibrant research and innovation hub in South Bend, Ind. Created in partnership with University of Notre Dame, the City of South Bend, and the State of Indiana, Colfax Corner will bring together academic experts, startups, established companies, and students to shorten the pathway from idea to impact. A five-story facility will offer 202,000 sf of laboratories, offices, and gathering venues. Users will be able to customize these flexible and adaptable workspaces by integrating the necessary infrastructure for prototyping, iterating, and scaling initiatives from a wide range of sectors. 

Connected by a physical link on the second floor, the development will also encompass the restoration of the historic South Bend Tribune building to provide classrooms and further settings for discovery. Envisioned by Gensler as a catalyst for collaboration and knowledge exchange, one third of the complex will be occupied by the University of Notre Dame as anchor tenant. The institution will leverage its strength in applied research and its extended network to foster world-class experiential learning and industry growth in fields such as advanced computing, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). The dynamic center will also include studios, team rooms, lounges, event zones, ground-level retail, and an outdoor public plaza.

Representing the first phase of Downtown South Bend’s emerging Tech and Talent District, the project is estimated to exert a $750 million direct impact on the local economy and bring over 400 skilled jobs to the region. Vertical construction is slated to begin in summer of 2026, with completion following in summer of 2028.