diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json
index 014e2262e9faf661cf67c02b05282ed26e162288..faf28dcee8413435ff1155801a78c56bbd910273 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.Core": {
@@ -66,8 +61,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   },
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Internal/NativeExtension.cs b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Internal/NativeExtension.cs
index 509baf7cb1f3daa55b6d7b489b85febae562b01e..61d8b57c76a813a8d381ef9578d2a1b3182ac11f 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Internal/NativeExtension.cs
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Internal/NativeExtension.cs
@@ -100,19 +100,19 @@ namespace Grpc.Core.Internal
 
             // With old-style VS projects, the native libraries get copied using a .targets rule to the build output folder
             // alongside the compiled assembly.
-            // With dotnet cli projects, the native libraries (just the required ones) are similarly copied to the built output folder,
-            // through the magic of Microsoft.NETCore.Platforms.
+            // With dotnet cli projects targeting net45 framework, the native libraries (just the required ones)
+            // are similarly copied to the built output folder, through the magic of Microsoft.NETCore.Platforms.
             var classicPath = Path.Combine(assemblyDirectory, GetNativeLibraryFilename());
 
-            // DNX-style project.json projects will use Grpc.Core assembly directly in the location where it got restored
+            // With dotnet cli project targeting netcoreapp1.0, projects will use Grpc.Core assembly directly in the location where it got restored
             // by nuget. We locate the native libraries based on known structure of Grpc.Core nuget package.
+            // When "dotnet publish" is used, the runtimes directory is copied next to the published assemblies.
+            string runtimesDirectory = string.Format("runtimes/{0}/native", GetPlatformString());
+            var netCorePublishedAppStylePath = Path.Combine(assemblyDirectory, runtimesDirectory, GetNativeLibraryFilename());
+            var netCoreAppStylePath = Path.Combine(assemblyDirectory, "../..", runtimesDirectory, GetNativeLibraryFilename());
 
-            // TODO: Support .NET Core applications, which act slightly differently. We may be okay if "dotnet publish"
-            // is used, but "dotnet run" leaves the native libraries in-package, while copying assemblies.
-            string platform = GetPlatformString();
-            string relativeDirectory = string.Format("../../runtimes/{0}/native", platform);
-            var dnxStylePath = Path.Combine(assemblyDirectory, relativeDirectory, GetNativeLibraryFilename());
-            string[] paths = new[] { classicPath, dnxStylePath };
+            // Look for all native library in all possible locations in given order.
+            string[] paths = new[] { classicPath, netCorePublishedAppStylePath, netCoreAppStylePath};
             return new UnmanagedLibrary(paths);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json
index c0725a1468dff9573e8b0dcfbaeb60081bde520e..628f5329661b9f9eafe44e9ff2b399207a76be79 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.Examples": {
@@ -57,8 +52,10 @@
     "net45": { },
     "netcoreapp1.0": {
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json
index c0725a1468dff9573e8b0dcfbaeb60081bde520e..628f5329661b9f9eafe44e9ff2b399207a76be79 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.Examples": {
@@ -57,8 +52,10 @@
     "net45": { },
     "netcoreapp1.0": {
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json
index 1cd1848e99fb342f4f8294c7d8dd6b0f09d7ddff..0109617e6b51efc2395f796982e1e20fab960b87 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.Examples": {
@@ -62,8 +57,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json
index ce0cfa860dcdc48b7ed39d805a23c2ace83e9b84..21a730cb229d6e71b9e3aa65fbfc74db92c25aff 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json
@@ -1,11 +1,6 @@
 {
   "buildOptions": {
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.Core": {
@@ -22,8 +17,10 @@
     },
     "netcoreapp1.0": {
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json
index faa44003044bdf434e087ad95b8bd3ad4f661308..66dcd79a397cb444757b6baeebd0f982b9a5d9a2 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json
@@ -42,11 +42,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.HealthCheck": {
@@ -62,8 +57,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json
index e54b5bd29641aed130d7fb032f03b883686ece52..81faee63dc4a996d94f798d6dbbd2f636d399432 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.IntegrationTesting": {
@@ -62,8 +57,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json
index e54b5bd29641aed130d7fb032f03b883686ece52..81faee63dc4a996d94f798d6dbbd2f636d399432 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.IntegrationTesting": {
@@ -62,8 +57,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json
index e54b5bd29641aed130d7fb032f03b883686ece52..81faee63dc4a996d94f798d6dbbd2f636d399432 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.IntegrationTesting": {
@@ -62,8 +57,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json
index e54b5bd29641aed130d7fb032f03b883686ece52..81faee63dc4a996d94f798d6dbbd2f636d399432 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.IntegrationTesting": {
@@ -62,8 +57,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json
index abc217b092a8bf6111c05e5a9105a424e413a40f..db91a1614c2406f3dfe60f7acdf7998e3d00979f 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@
       }
     }
   },
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
 
   "dependencies": {
     "Grpc.Auth": {
@@ -75,8 +70,10 @@
         "portable-net45"
       ],
       "dependencies": {
-        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-        "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0",
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        },
         "System.Linq.Expressions": "4.1.0"
       }
     }
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/build_package_csharp_coreclr.sh b/src/csharp/build_packages_dotnetcli.sh
similarity index 68%
rename from tools/run_tests/build_package_csharp_coreclr.sh
rename to src/csharp/build_packages_dotnetcli.sh
index e1c363da50bfc1221589b936ec1ab665789c57f6..2807278de6d7bc3f6d879f6b5707208b7c33527b 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/build_package_csharp_coreclr.sh
+++ b/src/csharp/build_packages_dotnetcli.sh
@@ -30,11 +30,9 @@
 
 set -ex
 
-cd $(dirname $0)/../..
+cd $(dirname $0)
 
-mkdir -p artifacts/
-
-cd src/csharp
+mkdir -p ../../artifacts/
 
 # IMPORTANT: NuGet packages generated by dotnet CLI are considered experimental.
 # The official nugets are generated by src/csharp/build_packages.bat
@@ -43,6 +41,11 @@ mkdir -p nativelibs/windows_x86 nativelibs/windows_x64 \
     nativelibs/linux_x86 nativelibs/linux_x64 \
     nativelibs/macosx_x86 nativelibs/macosx_x64
 
+mkdir -p protoc_plugins/windows_x86 protoc_plugins/windows_x64 \
+    protoc_plugins/linux_x86 protoc_plugins/linux_x64 \
+    protoc_plugins/macosx_x86 protoc_plugins/macosx_x64
+
+# Collect the artifacts built by the previous build step if running on Jenkins
 cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=csharp,platform=windows/artifacts/* nativelibs/windows_x86 || true
 cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=csharp,platform=windows/artifacts/* nativelibs/windows_x64 || true
 cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=csharp,platform=linux/artifacts/* nativelibs/linux_x86 || true
@@ -50,10 +53,21 @@ cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=csharp,platform=linux/artifacts/
 cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=csharp,platform=macos/artifacts/* nativelibs/macosx_x86 || true
 cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=csharp,platform=macos/artifacts/* nativelibs/macosx_x64 || true
 
+# Collect protoc artifacts built by the previous build step
+cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=protoc,platform=windows/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/windows_x86 || true
+cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=protoc,platform=windows/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/windows_x64 || true
+cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=protoc,platform=linux/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/linux_x86 || true
+cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=protoc,platform=linux/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/linux_x64 || true
+cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=protoc,platform=macos/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/macosx_x86 || true
+cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=protoc,platform=macos/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/macosx_x64 || true
+
 dotnet restore .
 
 dotnet pack --configuration Release Grpc.Core/project.json --output ../../artifacts
 dotnet pack --configuration Release Grpc.Auth/project.json --output ../../artifacts
 dotnet pack --configuration Release Grpc.HealthCheck/project.json --output ../../artifacts
 
-tar -czf ../../artifacts/csharp_nugets_experimental.tar.gz ../../artifacts/*.nupkg
+nuget pack Grpc.nuspec -Version "1.1.0-dev" -OutputDirectory ../../artifacts
+nuget pack Grpc.Tools.nuspec -Version "1.1.0-dev" -OutputDirectory ../../artifacts
+
+(cd ../../artifacts && zip csharp_nugets_dotnetcli.zip *.nupkg)
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json.template
index 3452d6b4b025b7694373abf9b52ea512c5c6333f..8a3e0755ffb379144a95c386f9e14a3d9f5b930c 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/project.json.template
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     },
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json.template
index f0fc4b97da71c793145215921f71ebfb21de0048..ae4ea2aaac77cb70891680217e67a97737b31700 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathClient/project.json.template
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@
       "net45": { },
       "netcoreapp1.0": {
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json.template
index f0fc4b97da71c793145215921f71ebfb21de0048..ae4ea2aaac77cb70891680217e67a97737b31700 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.MathServer/project.json.template
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@
       "net45": { },
       "netcoreapp1.0": {
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json.template
index af13cb58501812c0cb397c5bc5553329512a90cc..0a9eb7c74d3db14514156e0d70ad15b8ea1d5932 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples.Tests/project.json.template
@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json.template
index 1e79c717101686acc123268fbc54da57a2dbae58..b8a8314de177ab7376c669d02f970c476e78c9f2 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.Examples/project.json.template
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
       },
       "netcoreapp1.0": {
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json.template
index 417b773a428982e15c4fb654506ff2d3c9572a7f..c63da96db75aa13d5fe268584ca5a35d267de3b8 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.HealthCheck.Tests/project.json.template
@@ -16,8 +16,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json.template
index 40300407ba2aafcf46c5410214273883f2925bbe..83b8a9befa366dc047160eca6ecf7487ba51addd 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Client/project.json.template
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json.template
index 40300407ba2aafcf46c5410214273883f2925bbe..83b8a9befa366dc047160eca6ecf7487ba51addd 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.QpsWorker/project.json.template
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json.template
index 40300407ba2aafcf46c5410214273883f2925bbe..83b8a9befa366dc047160eca6ecf7487ba51addd 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.Server/project.json.template
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json.template
index 40300407ba2aafcf46c5410214273883f2925bbe..83b8a9befa366dc047160eca6ecf7487ba51addd 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting.StressClient/project.json.template
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0"
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json.template b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json.template
index 6a32ddb2f33d00f6fe286aa77b273f710ee3de6a..3ce94e58387db8ba8c0f1d58e889230a13b457de 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json.template
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/Grpc.IntegrationTesting/project.json.template
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@
           "portable-net45"
         ],
         "dependencies": {
-          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": "1.0.0",
-          "NETStandard.Library": "1.6.0",
+          "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+            "type": "platform",
+            "version": "1.0.0"
+          },
           "System.Linq.Expressions": "4.1.0"
         }
       }
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/build_options.include b/templates/src/csharp/build_options.include
index 8597ae336757e5717056855c78e5c75e3b811572..2371f5a3c333805fc3b13f4d6698bae02f718f6a 100644
--- a/templates/src/csharp/build_options.include
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/build_options.include
@@ -52,8 +52,3 @@
     }
   },
   %endif
-  "runtimes": {
-    "win7-x64": { },
-    "debian.8-x64": { },
-    "osx.10.11-x64": { }
-  },
diff --git a/templates/src/csharp/build_packages_dotnetcli.sh.template b/templates/src/csharp/build_packages_dotnetcli.sh.template
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b8e40a090be748af9b380d3fe12ab59dfe787d31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/src/csharp/build_packages_dotnetcli.sh.template
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+%YAML 1.2
+--- |
+  #!/bin/bash
+  # Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+  # All rights reserved.
+  #
+  # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+  # modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+  # met:
+  #
+  #     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+  # notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+  #     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+  # copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+  # in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+  # distribution.
+  #     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+  # contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+  # this software without specific prior written permission.
+  #
+  # THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+  # "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+  # LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+  # A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+  # OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+  # SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+  # LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+  # DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+  # THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+  # (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+  # OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+  
+  set -ex
+  
+  cd $(dirname $0)
+  
+  mkdir -p ../../artifacts/
+  
+  # IMPORTANT: NuGet packages generated by dotnet CLI are considered experimental.
+  # The official nugets are generated by src/csharp/build_packages.bat
+  
+  mkdir -p nativelibs/windows_x86 nativelibs/windows_x64 ${"\\"}
+      nativelibs/linux_x86 nativelibs/linux_x64 ${"\\"}
+      nativelibs/macosx_x86 nativelibs/macosx_x64
+  
+  mkdir -p protoc_plugins/windows_x86 protoc_plugins/windows_x64 ${"\\"}
+      protoc_plugins/linux_x86 protoc_plugins/linux_x64 ${"\\"}
+      protoc_plugins/macosx_x86 protoc_plugins/macosx_x64
+  
+  # Collect the artifacts built by the previous build step if running on Jenkins
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=csharp,platform=windows/artifacts/* nativelibs/windows_x86 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=csharp,platform=windows/artifacts/* nativelibs/windows_x64 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=csharp,platform=linux/artifacts/* nativelibs/linux_x86 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=csharp,platform=linux/artifacts/* nativelibs/linux_x64 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=csharp,platform=macos/artifacts/* nativelibs/macosx_x86 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=csharp,platform=macos/artifacts/* nativelibs/macosx_x64 || true
+  
+  # Collect protoc artifacts built by the previous build step
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=protoc,platform=windows/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/windows_x86 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=protoc,platform=windows/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/windows_x64 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=protoc,platform=linux/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/linux_x86 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=protoc,platform=linux/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/linux_x64 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x86,language=protoc,platform=macos/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/macosx_x86 || true
+  cp $EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/architecture=x64,language=protoc,platform=macos/artifacts/* protoc_plugins/macosx_x64 || true
+  
+  dotnet restore .
+  
+  dotnet pack --configuration Release Grpc.Core/project.json --output ../../artifacts
+  dotnet pack --configuration Release Grpc.Auth/project.json --output ../../artifacts
+  dotnet pack --configuration Release Grpc.HealthCheck/project.json --output ../../artifacts
+  
+  nuget pack Grpc.nuspec -Version "${settings.csharp_version}" -OutputDirectory ../../artifacts
+  nuget pack Grpc.Tools.nuspec -Version "${settings.csharp_version}" -OutputDirectory ../../artifacts
+  
+  (cd ../../artifacts && zip csharp_nugets_dotnetcli.zip *.nupkg)
diff --git a/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/.gitignore b/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/.gitignore
index 1746e3269ed0fcf5cde6ed13a6543865137868c0..07f3d570e520c94638f6c1d34bb55f81883e4b98 100644
--- a/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/.gitignore
+++ b/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/.gitignore
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 bin
 obj
+*.lock.json
diff --git a/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/DistribTest.project.json b/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/DistribTest.project.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..422545ea8ff5353f462fad1cb28e1c1d23cf5a38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/DistribTest.project.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// This file exists only to prevent VS2015 from mistakenly picking up
+// project.json file when building .csproj project.
+// See https://github.com/Microsoft/msbuild/issues/394
+{
+  "frameworks": {
+    "net45": { }
+  },
+  "runtimes": {
+    "win": { }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/project.json b/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/project.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..09266e5d4d62654823a97615e29272ab9e540f6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/distrib/csharp/DistribTest/project.json
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+  "buildOptions": {
+    "emitEntryPoint": true
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "Grpc.Auth": "__GRPC_NUGET_VERSION__",
+    "Grpc.Core": "__GRPC_NUGET_VERSION__",
+    // Necessary for native deps to get copied correctly.
+    "Microsoft.NETCore.Platforms": "1.0.1"
+  },
+  "frameworks": {
+    "net45": { },
+    "netcoreapp1.0": {
+      "dependencies": {
+        "Microsoft.NETCore.App": {
+          "type": "platform",
+          "version": "1.0.0"
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/distrib/csharp/run_distrib_test_dotnetcli.sh b/test/distrib/csharp/run_distrib_test_dotnetcli.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f7080be9ad26d2e93d06fb11f77cab0eb02d5fff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/distrib/csharp/run_distrib_test_dotnetcli.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+# met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+# notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+# copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+# in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+# distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+# contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+# this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+# "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+# OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+# SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+# THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+set -ex
+
+cd $(dirname $0)
+
+unzip -o "$EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT/input_artifacts/csharp_nugets.zip" -d TestNugetFeed
+
+./update_version.sh auto
+
+cd DistribTest
+
+# TODO(jtattermusch): make sure we don't pollute the global nuget cache with
+# the nugets being tested.
+dotnet restore
+
+dotnet build
+dotnet publish
+
+# .NET 4.5 target after dotnet build
+mono bin/Debug/net45/*-x64/DistribTest.exe
+
+# .NET 4.5 target after dotnet publish
+mono bin/Debug/net45/*-x64/publish/DistribTest.exe
+
+# .NET Core target after dotnet build
+dotnet exec bin/Debug/netcoreapp1.0/DistribTest.dll
+
+# .NET Core target after dotnet publish
+dotnet exec bin/Debug/netcoreapp1.0/publish/DistribTest.dll
diff --git a/test/distrib/csharp/update_version.sh b/test/distrib/csharp/update_version.sh
index 189d0ad357245ebc9fb92a4a580230514085442c..2961d0c5ef3bfe577dc990dcdbd3f1167ee6b347 100755
--- a/test/distrib/csharp/update_version.sh
+++ b/test/distrib/csharp/update_version.sh
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ cd $(dirname $0)
 CSHARP_VERSION="$1"
 if [ "$CSHARP_VERSION" == "auto" ]
 then
-  # autodetect C# version
-  CSHARP_VERSION=$(ls TestNugetFeed | grep '^Grpc\.[0-9].*\.nupkg$' | sed s/^Grpc\.// | sed s/\.nupkg$//)
+  # autodetect C# version from the name of Grpc.Core.0.0.0-x.nupkg file
+  CSHARP_VERSION=$(ls TestNugetFeed | grep -m 1 '^Grpc\.Core\.[0-9].*\.nupkg$' | sed s/^Grpc\.Core\.// | sed s/\.nupkg$// | sed s/\.symbols$//)
   echo "Autodetected nuget ${CSHARP_VERSION}"
 fi
 
 # Replaces version placeholder with value provided as first argument.
-sed -ibak "s/__GRPC_NUGET_VERSION__/${CSHARP_VERSION}/g" DistribTest/packages.config DistribTest/DistribTest.csproj
+sed -ibak "s/__GRPC_NUGET_VERSION__/${CSHARP_VERSION}/g" DistribTest/packages.config DistribTest/DistribTest.csproj DistribTest/project.json
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_centos7_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_centos7_x64/Dockerfile
index 0ab12873f70c092d1d25b967cf678131e0fb23e4..658484572118e8dd3fa13cebc5891457c90857b9 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_centos7_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_centos7_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -34,6 +34,6 @@ RUN yum-config-manager --add-repo http://download.mono-project.com/repo/centos/
 
 RUN yum install -y mono
 RUN yum install -y unzip
-RUN yum install -y nuget
 
-RUN nuget update -self
+# --nogpgcheck because nuget-2.12 package is not signed.
+RUN yum install -y nuget --nogpgcheck
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x64/Dockerfile
index 9ef02721bb5ead3a5e9ce720ce0e1a642fa576fc..c8cd57563254b811be47995bc00bf42bc6d503db 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     ca-certificates-mono \
     nuget
 
-RUN nuget update -self
+# make sure we have nuget 2.12+ (in case there's an older cached docker image)
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y nuget
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x86/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x86/Dockerfile
index 2ccad44af29c404f5d9508e64fd8367f91afb1fc..28cc65468a7c22bafc341dd6d2379c1507c1ece2 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x86/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_jessie_x86/Dockerfile
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     ca-certificates-mono \
     nuget
 
-RUN nuget update -self
+# make sure we have nuget 2.12+ (in case there's an older cached docker image)
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y nuget
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1404_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1404_x64/Dockerfile
index d283ad2739b83a244a72bea2f260934ba43528b8..1f9a42e13f95f2d47e5fd94849981d1dd5b0a32c 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1404_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1404_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -37,6 +37,24 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     ca-certificates-mono \
     nuget
 
-RUN nuget update -self
+# make sure we have nuget 2.12+ (in case there's an older cached docker image)
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y nuget
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip
+
+# Install dotnet CLI
+RUN apt-get install -y apt-transport-https
+RUN sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://apt-mo.trafficmanager.net/repos/dotnet-release/ trusty main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dotnetdev.list'
+RUN apt-key adv --keyserver apt-mo.trafficmanager.net --recv-keys 417A0893
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y dotnet-dev-1.0.0-preview2-003121
+
+# Trigger the population of the local package cache for dotnet CLI
+RUN mkdir warmup \
+    && cd warmup \
+    && dotnet new \
+    && cd .. \
+    && rm -rf warmup
+
+# TODO(jtattermusch): without libc-dev, netcoreapp1.0 targets fail with
+# System.DllNotFoundException: Unable to load DLL 'libdl.so'
+RUN apt-get install -y libc-dev
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1504_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1504_x64/Dockerfile
index 351039878926f3c3b2fa623293b46e47b2c3cc94..fd39ab2b0a4c90656fe9925dffab5167ec508a38 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1504_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1504_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     ca-certificates-mono \
     nuget
 
-RUN nuget update -self
+# make sure we have nuget 2.12+ (in case there's an older cached docker image)
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y nuget
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1510_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1510_x64/Dockerfile
index ae2b678a04d6cc78205af117841ef108d3f235e2..1d86dbd4d8bc850f44ae998ec8e30f4ece0f8901 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1510_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1510_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     ca-certificates-mono \
     nuget
 
-RUN nuget update -self
+# make sure we have nuget 2.12+ (in case there's an older cached docker image)
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y nuget
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1604_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1604_x64/Dockerfile
index 597d7e4a7935affb0ce30765f479b55cb72e4956..05fa32b9862652d7a98460dd4d6857326853497b 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1604_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_ubuntu1604_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     ca-certificates-mono \
     nuget
 
-RUN nuget update -self
+# make sure we have nuget 2.12+ (in case there's an older cached docker image)
+RUN apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 3FA7E0328081BFF6A14DA29AA6A19B38D3D831EF
+RUN echo "deb http://download.mono-project.com/repo/debian wheezy main" | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mono-xamarin.list
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y nuget
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip
diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_wheezy_x64/Dockerfile b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_wheezy_x64/Dockerfile
index d9e64fe9d19afea6cbbccd5c22e82eef1d98bc55..0ab2a62a0846d7bf42738fa8bff7bc2be89f7457 100644
--- a/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_wheezy_x64/Dockerfile
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_wheezy_x64/Dockerfile
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@
 # (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
 # OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
-FROM mono:4.2.2.30
+FROM mono:4.4.2.11
+
+# make sure we have nuget 2.12+ (in case there's an older cached docker image)
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y nuget
 
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y unzip
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/build_csharp_coreclr.bat b/tools/run_tests/build_csharp_coreclr.bat
index cead6d0e02c56427e5cd20924f6b0edb664d5ca8..b6e3ccbd2b88d3cbb023de50aee2da84aba3f837 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/build_csharp_coreclr.bat
+++ b/tools/run_tests/build_csharp_coreclr.bat
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ cd /d %~dp0\..\..\src\csharp
 
 dotnet restore . || goto :error
 
-dotnet build -f netstandard1.5 --configuration %MSBUILD_CONFIG% "**/project.json" || goto :error
+dotnet build --configuration %MSBUILD_CONFIG% "**/project.json" || goto :error
 
 endlocal
 
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/distribtest_targets.py b/tools/run_tests/distribtest_targets.py
index 7930f2a0a4c424b2121436aaa757893606f23972..a16daac4fe9c04e2f56bf547fedc52d5d64231df 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/distribtest_targets.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/distribtest_targets.py
@@ -72,15 +72,22 @@ def create_jobspec(name, cmdline, environ=None, shell=False,
 class CSharpDistribTest(object):
   """Tests C# NuGet package"""
 
-  def __init__(self, platform, arch, docker_suffix=None):
+  def __init__(self, platform, arch, docker_suffix=None, use_dotnet_cli=False):
     self.name = 'csharp_nuget_%s_%s' % (platform, arch)
     self.platform = platform
     self.arch = arch
     self.docker_suffix = docker_suffix
     self.labels = ['distribtest', 'csharp', platform, arch]
+    self.script_suffix = ''
     if docker_suffix:
       self.name += '_%s' % docker_suffix
       self.labels.append(docker_suffix)
+    if use_dotnet_cli:
+      self.name += '_dotnetcli'
+      self.script_suffix = '_dotnetcli'
+      self.labels.append('dotnetcli')
+    else:
+      self.labels.append('olddotnet')
 
   def pre_build_jobspecs(self):
     return []
@@ -91,10 +98,10 @@ class CSharpDistribTest(object):
           'tools/dockerfile/distribtest/csharp_%s_%s' % (
               self.docker_suffix,
               self.arch),
-          'test/distrib/csharp/run_distrib_test.sh')
+          'test/distrib/csharp/run_distrib_test%s.sh' % self.script_suffix)
     elif self.platform == 'macos':
       return create_jobspec(self.name,
-          ['test/distrib/csharp/run_distrib_test.sh'],
+          ['test/distrib/csharp/run_distrib_test%s.sh' % self.script_suffix],
           environ={'EXTERNAL_GIT_ROOT': '../../..'})
     elif self.platform == 'windows':
       if self.arch == 'x64':
@@ -103,7 +110,7 @@ class CSharpDistribTest(object):
       else:
         environ={'DISTRIBTEST_OUTPATH': 'DistribTest\\bin\\\Debug'}
       return create_jobspec(self.name,
-          ['test\\distrib\\csharp\\run_distrib_test.bat'],
+          ['test\\distrib\\csharp\\run_distrib_test%s.bat' % self.script_suffix],
           environ=environ)
     else:
       raise Exception("Not supported yet.")
@@ -276,6 +283,7 @@ def targets():
           CSharpDistribTest('linux', 'x64', 'ubuntu1504'),
           CSharpDistribTest('linux', 'x64', 'ubuntu1510'),
           CSharpDistribTest('linux', 'x64', 'ubuntu1604'),
+          CSharpDistribTest('linux', 'x64', 'ubuntu1404', use_dotnet_cli=True),
           CSharpDistribTest('macos', 'x86'),
           CSharpDistribTest('windows', 'x86'),
           CSharpDistribTest('windows', 'x64'),
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/package_targets.py b/tools/run_tests/package_targets.py
index 5e6de2e317a92ceca16349d8aac6a22b6ed1d159..abbb5fa905a26bb46f65f3f39f2ce488c788f2b0 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/package_targets.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/package_targets.py
@@ -71,11 +71,11 @@ def create_jobspec(name, cmdline, environ=None, cwd=None, shell=False,
 class CSharpPackage:
   """Builds C# nuget packages."""
 
-  def __init__(self, use_coreclr=False):
-    self.use_coreclr = use_coreclr
-    self.name = 'csharp_package_coreclr' if use_coreclr else 'csharp_package'
+  def __init__(self, use_dotnet_cli=False):
+    self.use_dotnet_cli = use_dotnet_cli
+    self.name = 'csharp_package_dotnetcli' if use_dotnet_cli else 'csharp_package'
     self.labels = ['package', 'csharp']
-    if use_coreclr:
+    if use_dotnet_cli:
       self.labels += ['linux']
     else:
       self.labels += ['windows']
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ class CSharpPackage:
       return []
 
   def build_jobspec(self):
-    if self.use_coreclr:
+    if self.use_dotnet_cli:
       return create_docker_jobspec(
           self.name,
           'tools/dockerfile/test/csharp_coreclr_x64',
-          'tools/run_tests/build_package_csharp_coreclr.sh')
+          'src/csharp/build_packages_dotnetcli.sh')
     else:
       return create_jobspec(self.name,
                             ['build_packages.bat'],
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ class PHPPackage:
 def targets():
   """Gets list of supported targets"""
   return [CSharpPackage(),
-          CSharpPackage(use_coreclr=True),
+          CSharpPackage(use_dotnet_cli=True),
           NodePackage(),
           RubyPackage(),
           PythonPackage(),
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
index 146018ba3a365bdee32534950eb41a35b0516e97..c579f14f91d16829a8c9b2b04d6460e51a0667c8 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
@@ -654,15 +654,9 @@ class CSharpLanguage(object):
     assembly_extension = '.exe'
 
     if self.args.compiler == 'coreclr':
-      if self.platform == 'linux':
-        assembly_subdir += '/netstandard1.5/debian.8-x64'
-        assembly_extension = ''
-      elif self.platform == 'mac':
-        assembly_subdir += '/netstandard1.5/osx.10.11-x64'
-        assembly_extension = ''
-      else:
-        assembly_subdir += '/netstandard1.5/win7-x64'
-      runtime_cmd = []
+      assembly_subdir += '/netcoreapp1.0'
+      runtime_cmd = ['dotnet', 'exec']
+      assembly_extension = '.dll'
     else:
       nunit_args += ['--noresult', '--workers=1']
       if self.platform == 'windows':