Mayville State University's Old Main in the preliminary stages of a renovation project

Nov. 4—MAYVILLE, N.D. — Mayville State University's oldest standing building is in the preliminary stages of a renovation project years in the making. The work, which is estimated to be finished by July 2026, has been a topic of conversation since before President Brian Van Horn came to the campus.

Van Horn is excited for what the project will do for the university and its students.

"This is a transformational project for a place like our university," he said. "Because it provides a modern facility with the beauty and aesthetics of the history of our institution to be blended together, to provide an atmosphere for young people to study and learn, to prepare for their profession."

Old Main, built in two phases in 1890 and 1905, will be fully under construction by fall 2024, and is expected to reopen at the beginning of July 2026. As of October, architects have been hired, and a construction manager will be on board by December. Van Horn said the project is right on schedule.

Old Main is the university's oldest building, dating back to when it was a teacher's college at the beginning of North Dakota's statehood. Amber Hill, Mayville's vice president for business affairs, said 41% of the university's classroom square footage is within the building.

While many students and faculty utilize the building, its age is visible. Van Horn and Beth Swenson, Mayville's public relations and marketing director, showcased some of the visible wear and tear Old Main has experienced through the ages, including water damage.

"When I came in 2018, I looked at our facilities and they were very different than what we saw at other educational facilities across the state," Van Horn said. "It became very much a priority and we have this as a large deferred maintenance project for the state as well."

Funding for the project came from the state through the Legislature and Gov. Doug Burgum.

"It was funded in the last biennium, spring of 2023 budget," Van Horn said. "We'll get our total amount and it'll be paid out. It's allocated with a line of credit for two bienniums. That gives us time to complete our project. ... We have a tremendous amount of gratitude for the individuals that helped support the renovation of this building for students."

Estimated costs for the project total around $50 million.

According to a recent column written by Van Horn

, the North Dakota Legislature has provided $52,254,901.

The renovation has been long anticipated. Van Horn said he had a hundred stories about the unique quirks of the building, such as the consistent sound of pipes popping as they contract and expand.

One particular story he told took place during the first week of the fall 2023 semester. An employee came into his office to say there was a water leak. Van Horn walked into the leaking classroom to see water filling the room as students fled into the hallway. The main water line had experienced a crack.

"It was a mess," Van Horn said. "I could give you 25 more stories just like that."

The project's goal is a complete renovation, with some points of focus being the HVAC system, plumbing system, technology, data and communication systems, infrastructure and an update and seal for the building exterior. The project will also address ADA compliance, reconfigure the interior stairway access, repair foundation deterioration and address life safety concerns like adding an emergency notification system. Old Main's theater will also get a renovation of its own.

Along with ensuring the building's stability, health and updated systems, the university also wants to modernize it for the students of today.

"We want to prepare students for their professional education career," he said. "In order to do that, you'd have to have facilities that somewhat replicate what they'll be working in."

Mayville State is planning for campus and community feedback sessions on current designs for the renovation so students, faculty, community members and others in the area can come and give their opinions on the architects' current plans.

"When they walk in, it needs to be what they want to see themselves doing," Hill said. "They need to see themselves being here and learning, hanging out, having that collegiate atmosphere. ... That design is going to be driven by this feedback."

These feedback sessions will happen throughout November, and their importance to the renovation is clear in one comment Van Horn made about the project's goal of improving Old Main for Mayville State's students.

"Students are our future," he said.