Leaders at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, are working on a campus design plan that will raze several unused or underused buildings in the next two decades and create more defined, park-like pedestrian spaces.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the plan calls for the removal of nine buildings in the next five years and four more in the next six to 15 years.
The first slate of buildings includes North and South Benton Halls, Sherburne Hall, Ervin House and Whitney House — all of them closed now — as well as the Kiehle Visual Arts Center, the performing arts center and the education and engineering buildings. The second slate includes Wick Science Building, Headley Hall and Stateview Apartments.
The plan hinges on money from the Legislature earmarked for the demolition of buildings and site repurposing at institutions that are part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
“We’re asking for $25 million as part of our operating budget request,” rather than a bonding request for the demolition, said Bill Maki, vice chancellor for finance and facilities at Minnesota State.
Maki said 11 institutions have requests to raze buildings “that are past their useful life.” The requests exceed $40 million.
The cost to take down a building is dependent on its size and materials, but a ballpark cost to demolish a residence at St. Cloud State is cited as under $3 million, Maki said.
Kelly Bartlow, facilities planning and construction director at St. Cloud State, says that none of the buildings slated for removal are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Enrollment at St. Cloud State, which had grown to just over 17,000 in 1990, has dropped to about 10,000 students today.
A higher percentage of students are part-time, meaning the head count of 10,000 students is equivalent to just about 7,300 full-time students.
