In 1966, the University made a request to the Board of Higher Education, the Governor, and State Legislature for a new athletic complex. In 1967, it was announced that the State Legislature appropriated $1,750,000 towards the construction of the proposed $3,100,000 Field House and Physical Education Building. The remaining costs were paid by federal funds, contributions from alumni and friends and student funds (Dedication of the Fieldhouse and Physical Education Classroom Building, October 10, 1970, p. 3).
The plans called for a 320 feet by 320 feet building that was a multi-purpose structure. It offered ideal facilities for athletic events, conventions, name-shows, stage attractions and other events, as well as much-needed quarters for expanded physical education and intra-mural programs. A partial completion date was set for late 1969. The new sports center was to contain 2,000 chair-type seats, with about 10,000 bleacher seats also planned. Facilities within the building included - in addition to the large multi-purpose main area - an Olympic-size swimming pool, seven handball-paddle ball courts, a gymnastics area, wrestling area, locker room complex, training room, classrooms, a 220-yard (8-lap) oval running track on the main floor, and administrative offices for the physical education and athletic departments. The building represented the single largest appropriation made by the North Dakota Legislature for a structure within a state college or university. At the time, the new facility featured the largest indoor seating capacity of any building of its type in the state ("$2.5 Million Sports Center to be Built at NDSU", Bison Booster, October, 1967, UA Bldgs. File, Box 1, Folder 32).
The completed building had 150,639 square feet of space and was divided into three levels. The main floor consisted of an all-purpose gymnasium, track, offices, lockers, and classrooms, training and exercise room, swimming pool. The second floor included handball courts, basketball courts. The third level contained future office space and room for a press box ("No More Dim Lights...", Fargo Forum, Oct.4, 1970; Dedication of the Fieldhouse and Physical Education Classroom Building, October 10, 1970, p. 11).
There was a clever commentary that appeared in The Spectrum in 1969 that commented on the potential problems the new fieldhouse presented to the public. "UND fans will be proud to realize that Grand Forks provides the only effective weather break for the north entry. (This lack of protection may not be an oversight though, since it will be noticed only during the basketball season, the period of the arena's heaviest use.) The architects have also included special opponent seating, an afterthought design decision added 300 permanent seats, of which 160 have views obstructed by two major structural columns." The commentary noted that the numerous rooms contained within the building may "remind the average fan of the labyrinth" and that a "center for trained guides might have been squeezed in behind the facade" (Paul Erling, "New Fieldhouse Found Lacking," The Spectrum, September 25, 1969).
Despite the potential problems, the dedication of the new Fieldhouse took place on October 10, 1970 during the Homecoming ceremonies. The faculty and Spectrum were treated to a preview on October 7. The public received an invitation for an open house on October 11.
Today, the Fieldhouse is known as the Bison Sports Arena and is still home to the Athletic Department.
Architectural Information
"The new field house was designed by the Fargo architectural firm of Foss, Englestad & Foss Inc., and the general contractor on the project was J.D. Krieg & Sons, Inc., Fargo." (It's Happening at State, October 7, 1970, p. 2)
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University Archives, 701-231-8914 Published by the University Archives, NDSU Last Updated: 5/19/04 |