Rendering of the river-facing plaza to be built at Eastman Hall. Drawing courtesy RSP Architects, Minneapolis.
An $18.6 million renovation of St. Cloud State’s historic Eastman Hall will this fall, according to school officials.
The project was greenlighted May 26 by the Minnesota Legislature and signed into law May 30 by Gov. Mark Dayton.
Related links
The building will be re-purposed for health sciences academic programs and student health services.
Construction is expected to be complete by Fall 2018.
“We are grateful for this investment in experiential learning opportunities and health-care service for our students,” said Ashish Vaidya, interim president.
Vaidya thanked Gov. Mark Dayton and local legislators for their work. Central Minnesota’s state representatives include Jim Knoblach, Tama Theis, Tim O’Driscoll ’87, Jeff Howe ’98 and Dean Urdahl ’71. Our state senators include Senate President Michelle Fischbach ’89 and Jerry Relph.
The east facade of Eastman Hall near First Avenue and Ninth Street South, St. Cloud.
The building is expected to house classrooms and clinical-training space for programs in the School of Health and Human Services (SHHS).
“A renovated Eastman Hall will help St. Cloud State expand Minnesota’s future workforce in high-demand career fields such as medical lab science and nuclear medicine technology,” said Vaidya.
Among the services that are expected to move into the building are Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and UCHOOSE, a program that combats binge and underage drinking.
Design work is done, thanks to $865,000 from the 2014 Legislature. The project will renovate 43,291 gross square feet and build 15,562 gross square feet. Plans call for an outdoor plaza facing the Mississippi River.
SSHS offers 13 undergraduate-degree programs and 11 graduate-degree programs.
Built in 1929, Eastman formerly served as a facility for physical education, recreation and intercollegiate athletics.
