The founders would be pleased: Nicholson construction begins
in May
by Gayla Marty
The University of Minnesota was a young 39 years old when Nicholson Hall was
built for chemistry in 1890. After decades of wear and tear, protected by historic
status but losing floors and wings to condemnation, Nicholson finally won capital
bonding support in 2002.
With plans to rehabilitate Nicholson Hall approved by the regents on Feb.
12, bids will go out for construction in March. Late in 2005, Nicholson will
join an emerging humanities district east of the historic knoll.
The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) plans to make Nicholson the new home of
the Center for Writing, CLA Honors, and two academic departments--Cultural
Studies
and
Comparative Literature (CSCL) and Classical and Near Eastern Studies (CNES).
About a dozen new classrooms and seminar rooms will become available in time
for spring semester 2006.
"This is a proud moment," said CLA dean Steven Rosenstone. "We once feared that this historic building might come tumbling
down. But thanks to a groundswell of community support, it will soon house
a vibrant new learning community for our students. And another priceless campus
landmark will be preserved for future generations."
114 years of history
Nicholson Hall, known in U facilities language as Building 5, stands at the
corner of Pillsbury Drive and Pleasant Street. In 1890, the three-story brick
rectangle with heavy, stone-arched windows and doors joined Music Education
(1888), Pattee (1889), Eddy (1886), and Pillsbury (1889) halls in the semi-circular
drive off of the road to the capitol, University Avenue. The new building was
named after a chemistry professor, Edward Nicholson, who later became dean
of student affairs.
In 1914, when chemistry moved to the first building on the new mall that spread
to the south, a remodeled Nicholson become the men's union; the women's union
was nearby, in Shevlin. In 1924-25, Nicholson expanded, with east and west
wings added on the south side.
Then in 1929, Northrop Memorial Auditorium opened on the mall behind Nicholson,
facing the river. In 1940, the men's and women's unions both moved to the new,
co-ed Coffman Memorial Union. A few years later, an auditorium was built into
the U-shape between Nicholson's wings.
Over the years, Nicholson housed classrooms, the bookstore, General College
(1951-1989), international programs (1989-2000), Disability Services, a women's
center, and computer labs. But gradually it fell into disrepair, plagued by
heat, cold, mold, and fire hazards. Losing Nicholson, though, would have meant
breaking up of the set of historic buildings around Pillsbury drive, and contending
with the specter of Northrop's giant back side.
For years, the University sought funds to restore Nicholson Hall. Finally
in 2002, a capital bonding year, within a vision for undergraduate programs
and a humanities district, Nicholson's rehabilitation was funded.
"It was a hard fight, with many other capital projects competing for
state dollars," said Rosenstone. "Without the ardent and very vocal
support of our alumni and friends around the state, we might have had a gaping
hole where the building now stands awaiting renewal. In bringing this building
back to life, we are demonstrating in a very concrete way our commitment to
undergraduate education and to responsible stewardship of public assets.
"Instead of a wrecking ball, we're looking at construction equipment.
Instead of a crater, we're looking at a 21st-century teaching and learning
facility for our students."
Target completion date: fall 2005
Bids will be advertised beginning in March, and construction on Nicholson
will begin in May. November 2005 is the target date for completion.
Asbestos and lead will be abated, waterproofing and air conditioning added.
The east wing and auditorium will be razed. The elevator will be moved from
the art deco stairwell to the highly trafficked west wing, and the art deco
fireplace room of student union days will be restored. Three floors of large
classrooms will take up the west wing, and the third floor attic will become
seminar rooms--a total of about a dozen badly-needed classrooms. A total of
nearly 40,000 square feet of assignable space will become available.
"We are basically preserving the historic portions--the shell, the north-facing
profile, and a few key historic elements inside--and reconstructing everything
else," said project manager Paul Oelze.
With renovation of nearby Jones Hall (1901)--which will become a reception
facility for the Office of Admissions and the home the CLA Language Center--the
stage will be set for renovation of Folwell Hall.
"Nicholson and Jones are just the beginning," said Rosenstone. "When
our vision is fully realized, we'll have a vital historic humanities
district that will be the culmination of literally decades of planning and
dreaming. I like to think that fifty years from now--a century from now--students
who walk the halls of these venerable buildings will thank this generation
of Minnesotans for their commitment to preserving the University's heritage."
* * *
Watch the progress of Nicholson's rehab at the Facilities Management Web site .
See historic photos of Nicholson Hall on the North Trail link of the Heritage
Trail site .
What's up next for capital improvements? See the U's 2004 capital bonding
request .
More about Nicholson Hall:
From CLA Today , spring 2002:
From Access , the General College magazine, winter 2003
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