C. I. Nelson Building History
Construction on the Health Center began in August 1939, but took until the spring of 1940 to finish due to a labor shortage in the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A). When finished, the building was a one-story structure with a basement measuring 60 feet long and 40 feet wide. T. L. Hanson, head of the architecture department, and Paul Jones, Fargo architect and former NDAC faculty member, drew up the plans. The total cost for the building was $25,000 with the money coming from a $1 student contribution each term to the health fund and money coming from the W.P.A.
The interior of the building was finished in natural wood upper walls and had ceiling with soft colors and most rooms were air-conditioned. The first floor consisted of offices and equipment rooms for college physician and nurse, separate waiting rooms and wards for men and women students, an apartment for the resident nurse, diet kitchen and dispensary. The basement contained an apartment for assistant nurses.
The services provided by the Health Center consisted of physical examinations, vaccinations, medical tests and complete care of minor illnesses. "No surgery is done at the center and no cases of communicable diseases are cared for beyond diagnosis. Since the Health Center is designed to function as an infirmary, not as a hospital" (Spectrum, April 4, 1952, p. 7).
In 1963, the State Board of Higher Education approved an addition to the Health Center. The addition measured 21 feet by 34 feet and consisted of a six-bed ward with wardrobes, bath and a waiting room.
In May 1967 the Health Center changed its name to the Casper I. Nelson Health Center (referred to as the C. I. Nelson Health Center) in honor of Dr. Nelson a former faculty member. Dr. Nelson was the retired chair of the bacteriology department and during his 40 years at NDSU he dedicated much of his research to the field of public health (Spectrum, May 10, 1967, p. 7).
The C. I. Nelson Building has been
remodeled to accommodate classrooms due to the construction of the Wellness
Center on the northwest side of campus, which now handles student health and
wellness needs.
Architectural Information
"An uncluttered one story red
brick Praire Style building with low-pitched deeply overhung hipped roof.
Front entry rises above roof line to form a slab punctuated by a south-facing
front entry flanked by four-part horizontal windows. PAul Jones, architect,
construction supervised by T. L. Hanson, head of the Department of Architecture."
(National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form, Summer 1982,
p. 6)
