On December 5, 1931 the Bentson-Bunker Fieldhouse (Old Fieldhouse) was dedicated during half-time of the basketball game between the Agricultural College and the University of Minnesota. Nelson Suavain, chairman of the state board of administration, and A. C. President J. H. Sheppard both made remarks. Introducing Suavain was A. W. Fowler, a 1901 NDAC graduate, who introduced the appropriation bill to the State Legislature in 1929.
The 1931 dedication marked the culmination of student and administration's efforts to construct a suitable fireproof gymnasium in order to meet the College's athletic needs. The 18th Biennial Report (1926) stated there was "a general need for a big building for physical education, to be used as an auditorium for student assemblies, convocations, commencement exercises, and for instruction in military science and tactics, . . ." (p. 20) In the 19th Biennial Report (1928) the College reiterated the need for a new physical education building by stating that the Armory (Festival Hall) had undergone so many additions and that its woodframe structure made it a "veritable fire-trap, spread all over one corner of campus" (p. 16).
In late 1929 or early 1930, the State Legislature made an appropriation of $125,000 for the construction of a physical education building on the College's campus. The actual cost of the Physical Education Building, according the Spectrum, was $210,000.
The completed structure, which opened in September 1931, measured 111 by 260 feet. The main auditorium measured 111 by 56 feet and the stage measured 44 by 78 feet. The auditorium held three standard basketball courts with the center court used for intercollegiate athletic contests. The bleachers, when arranged around the center court, possessed a seating capacity of 3,600. When the auditorium was not being used for sporting events, chairs could be set up to accommodate 3,300 students. The basement was also impressive. It housed a sixteen lap indoor track, rifle range, locker rooms and showers, and a natatorium measuring 25 by 60 feet.
Although the main purpose of the Fieldhouse was to meet the needs of the students' physical education and the College's athletic programs, there was a short period of time when the U. S. Army used the building to help the war effort. In 1942, the Fieldhouse served as part of the twelve-week officer candidate school. The army had the building renovated in order to serve as barracks (Spectrum, May 16, 1952, p.5). The first class was on September 21, 1942 with 335 candidates present. Every four weeks saw a new class of 335 candidates and by the program's end in July 1943 approximately 1600 participants graduated as Second Lieutenants.
In 1976, the Fieldhouse underwent remodeling. The area beneath the stage became a dance studio, a new men's locker was installed and plans were made to update the heating system and add an elevator.
In November 1994, the Fieldhouse, now called the Old Fieldhouse after the building of the Bison Sports Arena in 1970, became the Bentson-Bunker Fieldhouse after the State Board of Higher Education approved the name change. The name change was in recognition of monetary gifts totaling $1 million from Fargo businessman Art Bunker and his wife Norene. Bunker requested that Bentson be added in recognition of his former coach and friend who recruited him [Bunker] to play basketball for NDAC in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Chuck Bentson was the head coach of the basketball team from 1949 to 1965, acting dean of men in 1967, dean of men in 1968, and associate dean of student affairs from 1975 to his retirement in 1981.
Today many of the sporting venues take place in the Bison Sports Arena, but the Fieldhouse is still used for physical education class as well as being the venue for the University's volleyball matches.
Architectural Information
"Art Moderne; four stories; yellow brick in American bond; south facing projecting front entry is gabled with three-part arcade faced with stylized Art Moderne brick patterns and recessed entry. Brick piers flank front entry and terminate in in marble bases. Pver the front entry is a large stone plaque inset with a carved stone bison in profile (the mascot from team sports at North Dakota State University). Decorative stone and brick bands run along the top of the second story windows. A decorative zig-zag brick pattern follows below the gable line at at the roof. The east and west sides of the building are divided into six bays by brick buttresses dividing each bay into two story-tall arched windows in pairs. Braseth and Houkom, architects." (National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form - Summer 1982, p. 5)
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University Archives, 701-231-8914 Published by the University Archives, NDSU Last Updated: 5/19/04 |