March 7, 2025
For more than 100 years, Mayville State University (MSU) students have rushed to class, gathered for late-night study sessions, and built lifelong friendships within the walls of Old Main. As the university embarks on a bold transformation, the soon-to-be-renovated building will reshape the student experience, blending modern innovation with the heart of tradition.
With 41% of MSU’s classroom space in Old Main, the renovation will not only meet the needs of today’s students but inspire generations to come. From faculty members who have long envisioned this transformation, to architects who are bringing the ideas to life, to students eager to step into a new one-stop shop for student services, excitement is building as Old Main undergoes a vast transformation.
The grandest building on campus, Old Main has served as the heart of MSU for generations of students and boasts a rich 135-year history. But like any building that has stood against decades of howling North Dakota winter weather and hosted countless classes and student activities, the need for improvements has grown increasingly apparent. Whether it’s the sloping, shallow stairs, flood damage, banging radiators, or dust “smoking” between cracks in the windows and walls, a building as beloved as Old Main is past due for some tender loving care.
Current Student Senate member Grant Kocher recalled sitting in the middle of a Real Estate Law lecture with instructor Tom Moe bright and early one Tuesday morning when the ceiling started to leak.
“We thought there was a little leak, and then all of a sudden, the ceiling tile fell down and water came surging out of the ceiling,” Kocher explained. “We grabbed trash cans to catch it, but it was coming out so fast. Apparently, someone had flushed the toilet upstairs and there was enough pressure to bust a pipe and shoot clean water everywhere.”
Not all occupants of Old Main through the years have been human. Rhonda Nelson, long-time faculty member and current chair of the Division of Business, won’t forget her multiple encounters with bats swooping through the building.
“One day, the maintenance guys came up to the second floor with a ladder and wearing gloves,” remembered Nelson. “He grabbed a bat hanging out at the top of a door moulding, brought it down the ladder, and came out the door holding it. Another time, I was standing in the hallway talking to someone and one swooped through, and I closed the door so fast!”
Over the years, the MSU community has done its best to patch up problems that have arisen with the building. Boom trucks have been brought in to seal up holes caused by rain damage to drywall, ceiling tiles, and equipment. The layouts of some rooms have been challenging, with pillars in the middle of those rooms forcing students and faculty to move tables and chairs around so everyone could be seen. When laptops were issued to students, electrical outlets were added to accommodate charging cables, but only along the walls, leaving students seated in the middle of the room with none.
Over time, the answer became clear that the way forward for Old Main was to undertake a complete overhaul.
The process for the Old Main renovation project began with input from students, faculty, staff, and the Mayville community. The university enlisted Foss Architecture + Interiors to host several community engagement events where the public shared views about Old Main, learned about its history, and contributed ideas for its future. Through these sessions, architects Adam Peterson and Steve Skoblik learned that while the community loved Old Main’s historic character, there was also a desire for a more contemporary learning environment. As a result, it was decided that the treasured historic façade of Old Main would be preserved, while completely transforming its interior.
As the vision for the new building solidified into a plan, the project focused on accessibility, safety, energy efficiency, functionality, and technology.
Peterson explained how Old Main’s interior will transform into a contemporary yet timeless design.
“The building will be opened up to create a more spacious environment, while maintaining a connection to the past through features such as exposed historic brick walls, exposed historic timber trusses, and displays honoring Old Main’s history,” he said.
To preserve the balance between past and present, Old Main’s south side will retain its historic charm, while a new modern entrance on the north side will feature a contemporary central lobby.
Current students Rylee Heinen and Jocelyn Aasen will still be on campus when the renovated Old Main will reopen. With access to new technologies, reimagined outdoor spaces, student lounge areas, and the glass porch at the top of the building, the improved space will foster increased opportunities for learning and collaboration.
“Ask anyone on campus, and they will tell you that community and relationships are two of the greatest things that Mayville State provides for its students,” Heinen said. “The renovation of Old Main will preserve the university's history and strengthen school pride.”
While the project encompasses the past and present, it will also reach to the future and attract new students to join the MSU family.
“New students will be excited to come here because Old Main will stand out with its brand-new features, technology, and student resources,” added Aasen.
These features will include a variety of student study areas catering to different needs. Quiet collaboration rooms – equipped with tables and connectivity to monitors – will provide dedicated spaces for students wishing to study alone or in small groups. There will also be a student lounge for relaxation in larger groups, featuring a TV, comfortable seating, and vending machines. The space will be fully accessible for all with the addition of a central elevator.
After previously having to access services spread across campus, students and faculty alike are looking forward to having what they need in one central location. The first floor will boast a one-stop student shop, the theater will be relocated to the lower level, and its old space will become a new classroom wing.
The thoughtfully redesigned Old Main will allow MSU to step into a new chapter. Beyond the brick and mortar, it will build connections and relationships between students, faculty, alumni, and the greater community. Enhancing the feel of “home” of the many who live, study, and work here, Old Main will remain a staple of the Mayville State campus and inspire residents with its historic charm blended with modern amenities.
From the ceremony showcasing the golden sledgehammer breaking the wall that initiated the start of construction to the grand reopening, the new Old Main will inspire a deep sense of pride and be a place for all to create lasting memories.
Stay up-to-date with the Old Main renovation project at www.mayvillestate.edu/oldmain.
