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Construction Projects

Integrated Science and Engineering Laboratory Facility (ISELF)

Image: Rafferty Rafferty Tollefson Lindeke Architects

PreDesign November, 2006 (pdf)

• A new $44.8 million science and engineering building will open for classes and research fall of 2013, according to St. Cloud State officials.
• Construction of the Integrated Science and Engineering Laboratory Facility, or ISELF, is expected to begin this fall, thanks to the capital improvements bonding bill (PDF) passed by the Legislature and signed July 20 by Gov. Mark Dayton.
• “ISELF will move St. Cloud State into the forefront of interdisciplinary education and the discovery of integrated solutions to complex practical problems,” said President Earl H. Potter III. “This is a great day for our university.”
  
• The university has spent $2.5-million planning ISELF, including $900,000 from the 2008 Legislature and $1.6-million in savings from the 2009 Brown Hall renovation. The bonding bill provides about $42.3 million.
  
• ISELF will be the largest single construction project, measured in dollars, in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system history, according to university officials.
• The construction project will create 900-950 on-site jobs, directly support nearly 320 off-site jobs and indirectly impact another 150 off-site jobs, according to Dan McKay of McGough, the St. Paul-based construction manager at-risk.
• The 100,000 square-foot science research and teaching facility will be built at 8th Street South and 2nd Avenue on the site of the 801 Building. Classrooms and labs are slated to serve mostly upper-level and graduate-level science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medical technology and radiology classes.
• Research in ISELF will support Minnesota companies that are global leaders in medical devices, pharma/biologics, animal science, bio-agriculture and renewable energy. St. Cloud State faculty and students will be able to do more collaborative research with businesses and earn more National Science Foundation grants, said David DeGroote, dean of the College of Science and Engineering.
• "ISELF is about putting people in the same physical space to interact and collaborate around projects that are cross-disciplinary," DeGroote said. "That's how work gets done in the real world."
• View the building's pre-design document (PDF) for details about how the building's large, flexible spaces, with movable benches and cabinetry, will promote collaboration and break down barriers among academic disciplines.
• The facility is also a response to rising enrollment in 10 science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors. Those majors saw enrollments jump from 749 to 1,032 between fall 2006 and fall 2010, according research by the university's Office of Strategy, Planning & Effectiveness.
• ISELF is the crowning jewel in St. Cloud State's three-part Science Initiative, which includes the $14.5-million addition to the Robert H. Wick Science Building and the $13.6-million renovation of Brown Hall, both completed in 2009.
• From start to finish, the ISELF project received unwavering support from St. Cloud area legislators, according to Potter.
• Potter said he is thankful for the support of alumni such as Joel Goergen ’86, chief scientist at Force Ten Networks in San Jose, Calif., the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and business partners, including Medtronic in Fridley and MicroBioLogics, Inc. of St. Cloud, and our Central Minnesota legislative delegation.
  
• University officials developed ISELF in partnership with Vice Chancellor Laura King and the staff at MnSCU offices in St. Paul.
• ISELF was designed by Rafferty Rafferty Tollefson Lindeke Architects, St. Paul. St. Paul-based McGough is the construction manager.
• The bonding bill (PDF) calls for the State of Minnesota to borrow $531 million for capital improvements by selling state bonds.
• In addition to the $42.3 million for ISELF, St. Cloud State will share in a $30 million building preservation appropriation to the MnSCU system, for roof replacements, mechanical and electrical system repairs, and health and safety improvements, according to John Frischmann, the university's facilities construction coordinator.
  
• MnSCU, which is composed of seven four-year universities and 24 two-year colleges, received $1.09 billion in system funding for the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years. View the higher education bill (PDF).

National Hockey & EVENT Center

Image: JLG Architects

• PreDesign October, 2008 (pdf)
• An appropriation of $6.5 million was made in the 2008 legislative session to design, construct, furnish, and equip an addition to the National Hockey Center.
• The addition, along with some renovation, is intended to improve spectator access and experience, building operating facilities, training and locker room facilities for on-ice participants, and increase flexibility of use.
• Final parameters of the project have been set, including expected fundraising goals to enhance the project.
• JLG Architects of Alexandria, Minneapolis, and Grand Forks, Minnesota, was selected as the architect in January, 2009.
• The St. Cloud firm of Hagemeister & Mack Architects, Inc., is the associated architect.
• Schematic design and design development are complete.
• Donlar Construction has been selected as the construction manager in January, 2010.
• Construction procurement for the first phase is expected to begin in the fall of 2011.

Case/Hill Residence halls

Image: Elness Swenson Graham Architects, Inc.

• Design drawings are in the Design Development phase.
• The current construction cost estimate is $8.7 million; total project cost is estimated to be $11.7 million.
• Mortenson Construction has been engaged to act as the Construction Manager at Risk.
• Construction is slated to begin in Case/Hill in February, 2012.
• Students and student health center will remain in the building until May, 2012. These services will temporarily relocate to Shoemaker West over the 2012 summer while Hill Hall is being remodeled and relocate back into Hill Hall for fall semester 2012.
• 340 beds will be returned for use.
• Highlights of the project include:
  • All residential room doors will be widened for improved accessibility
  • Improved heating controls
  • Safety upgrades, including cameras, card access doors and an area of refuge for improved safety for mobility-impaired students
  • Upgrade entire plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems
  • All new room furniture (beds, desks and wardrobes) are planned
  • The entire lower commons level will be remodeled to provide new study rooms, kitchen, laundry and TV viewing room. The upper level will be remodeled to improve security, create a more comfortable lounge area, and improve accessibility

Shoemaker North residence hall

Image: JLG Architects

• Renovations to Shoemaker North were completed on August 22, 2011.
• Almost 37,000 square feet were remodeled.
• The total project cost was $6.15 million. Construction cost was $5.2 million.
• Highlights of the project:
  • New south elevator and stair tower for improved accessibility
  • Improved heating controls
  • All residential room doors were widened
  • The entire plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems were upgraded
  • Existing hardwood floors were re-surfaced
  • All new room furniture
  • The entire lower level was gutted and remodeled to provide meeting rooms, video room, game room , laundry room, technology center, lobby and new entry
  • Safety upgrades, including cameras, card access doors and an area of refuge for improved safety for mobility-impaired students
• This project is the first of many residential hall upgrades. Next on the list is the renovation of Case/Hill residence hall.
• SCSU received $16 million dollars of revenue bond proceeds, approximately $5.7 million of which were used for the Shoemaker project. The remainder will be used to renovate Case/Hill residence halls.