Minard
Hall, originally named Science Hall, was to be built in three stages as building
funds became available. It was noted in the 1902-03 NDAC Catalog that this first
section cost about $25,000. "This new building is 68x80 feet in size of ground
plan, three stories high and furnishes commodious quarters for the departments
of biology, geology, horticulture and mathematics. The entire building is finished
with quarter-sawed oak, is well lighted and ventilated and is one of the most
artistic buildings on campus. Science Hall, when completed, will be 80 feet
deep and 224 feet long and its central structure four stories high" (NDAC
Catalog, 1902-03, p. 13).
The second stage added a fourth floor, for which a museum was planned. It also added an arched central entry flanked by two large engaged pilasters. A gabled roof capped this central entry, with dormers at each side of it. In the Fourteenth Biennial Report of the Board of Regents, NDAC, 1918, it was reported: "There is at present time being erected the central part of Science Hall, one wing having been previously built. The part now under construction is 92x66 feet, four stories, and furnishes much needed class room facilities. One floor will be used ultimately for the Dept. of Geology, which for the past few years has been discontinued because of lack of proper facilities; laboratory and class room being unavailable in the institution. The fourth floor space will be devoted to museum purposes, now wholly lacking at the College. This addition will cost approximately $60,000, the funds for which were appropriated by the Legislature at the last session."
The
Spectrum reported that the new addition will compose the central unit
of the entire Science Hall when it is completed. It is in itself quite a structure,
being three stories in height and possessing a basement high and light enough
to be used for classrooms. All four floors are at present occupied, with classes
regularly reciting in the basement, first, and fourth, while the third is occupied
by the offices of the Extension Station which will be ultimately moved, however,
to the proposed Agricultural Building. The fourth floor caused no little interest
among the students as it was of such proportions that it would make an excellent
gymnasium. The Art department is at present in occupancy, however, it is planned
to place the college museum on this floor finally. A feature in the new building
is its fireproof structure, the skeleton being of brick, hollow tile and concrete.
The wide and spacious halls likewise impress the critic as being a truly college
structure. Science Hall, therefore, now becomes one of the big buildings of
our campus and one toward which we will be justified in looking with considerable
pride (The Spectrum, April 3, 1919, p. 6).
The third and final addition to Minard
Hall was built in 1929-1930. The north wing was intended to be an exact duplicate
of the original south wing, but instead it seems that it follows more closely
to the central wing. The north wing does duplicate the semi-circular bay at
the center of the east facade, however the semi-circular bay is lacking on the
north facade.
As part of the Commencement in June 1951, Science Hall was rededicated and named Minard Hall in honor of Dean A.E. Minard, who gave 46 years of service to the College. The College hymn, the words of which were written by Dean Minard, was sung at this time (Beacon Across the Prairie, p. 200).
There were numerous renovations to Minard Hall in the 1970s, but it was not until the new millennium that an addition was added. The $3.2 million addition, completed in the fall of 2003, connects the west side of Minard Hall to the east side of the Music Education Building . “The 23,000-square foot addition will be primarily a classroom building and will accommodate two Problem Based Learning laboratories.” ( It's Happening , June 11, 2003, p. 1)
Architectural Information
"Classical Revival. Originally planned to be built in three stages as building funds became available, the south wing was erected in 1901 from plans by William C. Albrant, Fargo. It is two stories above a raised basement, yellow brick American bond, with sandstone trim, red grout, red brick pilasters and beltcourses; and semi-circular bays at the center of each facade. Following the death in 1905 of Albrant the central portion was erected in 1917-1918 from plans by Frederick W. Keith. The 1917-18 addition has a central entry terminating in a gable with returned eaves and a Palladian window. The central entry facing east is flanked with engaged pilasters decorated with an egg and dart motif with pressed metal Roman ionic capitals. It is yellow brick with Bedford stone trim. Science hall was completed in 1930 with the addition of the north wing from plans by William F. Kurke, who generally followed the proportions, seim[sic]-circular bays and details of the original 1901 building." (National Register of Historic Places Inventory, Nomination Form, Summer 1982, pp. 3-4)
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University Archives, 701-231-8914 Published by the University Archives, NDSU Last Updated: 8/27/04 |